Bon Secours Mercy Health and LifeBridge Health Announce Intent for LifeBridge Health to Acquire Bon Secours Baltimore Hospital: An Innovative New Future for Health Care Services in West Baltimore
Baltimore, Md. (Feb. 26, 2019) - Bon Secours Mercy Health and LifeBridge Health today announced they have signed a Letter of Intent for LifeBridge Health to acquire Bon Secours Baltimore Hospital. 
"Bon Secours has determined that partnership and a renewed focus on our innovative model of health care delivery is necessary to accelerate and improve health outcomes for the west Baltimore community," said Samuel L. Ross, M.D., chief community health officer, Bon Secours Mercy Health, and CEO of Bon Secours Baltimore Hospital. "Bon Secours and LifeBridge Health are committed to focusing on better access to quality health care services, wellness and prevention, addressing the root causes of health disparities, and transformational work to improve the health and wholeness of west Baltimore. I look forward to this 
collaboration with LifeBridge Health, and the expansion of our Bon Secours' Community Works and Unity Property Housing programs and services."
The proceeds of the acquisition will be paid over six years to Bon Secours Baltimore Foundation, and will be used exclusively for the establishment, continuation, or expansion of community-based programming at Community Works and Unity Properties, to address social determinants of health.
Bon Secours Community Works programs will remain active and continue its focus on community health and wholeness through work on social determinants of health such as affordable housing, community rebuilding, GED training, women's resources, job training, family support services, recidivism assistance, early childhood education, returning citizens and nutrition counseling. This continues the century-old legacy of the Sisters of Bon Secours, who worked in the community for 37 years before building the Baltimore hospital in 1919.
This pending acquisition ensures that 24/7 emergency services, primary care, behavioral health, community health and outpatient services remain in the west Baltimore neighborhood, providing patients with access to the vast network of local specialists in the LifeBridge Health network.
"Bon Secours Baltimore Hospital is a vital part of the west Baltimore community," said Neil Meltzer, president and chief executive officer of LifeBridge Health. "As a Baltimore-based health system, LifeBridge Health envisions building on Bon Secours' strong foundation to provide a comprehensive and enhanced plan for all levels of health care services. At the same time, we want to bring additional resources to the community to address needs related to employment, addiction and other challenges."
Bon Secours has worked for years to create sustainable solutions to health care for the west Baltimore community. This pending acquisition is not a new scenario but a continuation of discussions and approaches that have taken place for the past decade among health providers as well as local and state officials. The pending acquisition has the full support of Governor Larry Hogan, the Archbishop of Baltimore, William E. Lori, the Mayor of Baltimore, Catherine E. Pugh, the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission and the Maryland Department of Health. The Sisters of Bon Secours are supportive of the acquisition of acute and ambulatory health servi