Houston Healthcare, a community health system based in Warner Robins, Ga., will become part of Atlanta-based Emory Healthcare June 1.
The two organizations signed a letter of intent last August to combine, and finalized their definitive agreement in February. The Georgia Attorney General’s office granted approval for the combination, Emory announced May 28, and both parties are finalizing the paperwork to become one.
“We are excited we have reached this important milestone to bring our two organizations together,” Joon Lee, MD, CEO of Emory Healthcare, said in a news release. “The unification of our two health systems will allow us to strengthen and grow our services for patients in central Georgia, while providing continuous high-quality healthcare to the communities who need us most.”
Houston Healthcare will add 282 beds across two hospital campuses and seven outpatient facilities to Emory’s network. Houston Healthcare also has nine physician practices and 2,500 employees that will join Emory’s 26,400 employees across 10 hospitals systemwide.
“For more than 60 years, we have supported our community with their healthcare needs and we look forward to what the future holds,” said Charles Briscoe, president and CEO of Houston Healthcare.
Emory has made strides over the last few years to integrate and achieve more synergies as a large system. It also partnered with Apple on a variety of projects and in May launched the first Apple-powered hospital, Emory Hillandale Hospital, in Lithonia, Ga.
