The two systems began discussing the prospect of joining forces in February.
“After a few months of discussion and review with Emory University, the WellStar board of trustees has determined a new strategic direction,” said Gary Miller, chair of the WellStar board of trustees, in a statement released to the Atlanta Business Chronicle. “WellStar has declined to enter the next stage of discussions with Emory University.”
Emory University showed disappointment over WellStar’s decision. The system released a statement saying, “Emory continues to believe that the proposed combination of Emory Healthcare and WellStar Health System would serve our communities well as a way to extend the benefits of our renowned academic medical center to a larger population of patients in Metro Atlanta, as well as the state of Georgia and beyond.”
With the deal called off, WellStar has plans to explore integration opportunities with other potential partners, according to the report.
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