Carroll Hospital Center and LifeBridge Health Announce Letter of Intent to Partner
Westminster and Baltimore, MD - The boards of Carroll Hospital Center and LifeBridge Health announced today that they have approved a letter of intent to form a partnership, combining the strengths of their two health systems to move forward with the vision and resources to enhance and offer exceptional care to the people of Carroll County and the greater Baltimore region, while fostering a model system of quality in an industry undergoing fundamental transformation.
The alliance reflects a vision by leaders from two of Maryland's preeminent nonprofit health systems to form a strategic partnership, designed to meet the changing needs of patients, build a culture of quality and take advantage of extraordinary advances in clinical care. The geographic alignment of the systems will promote greater collaboration for treatments and increase patient access to high quality specialists.
"LifeBridge is a perfect partner for Carroll Hospital Center in so many ways; we are both nationally recognized for quality care initiatives and are dedicated to improving the health of our communities. Together, we will continue to honor and carry forward our combined commitment to be the quality health care provider to Carroll County residents, as well as patients from throughout the state and region," says Leslie Simmons, R.N., F.A.C.H.E., president and chief executive officer of Carroll Hospital Center.
"At LifeBridge Health, we are excited about the opportunity to partner with Carroll Hospital Center, an organization that shares our values of quality-based patient care and focus on community. We are committed to building on the success of Carroll Hospital Center's clinical services and offering expanded services to the people of Carroll County in locations that are closer to home. We look forward to working with our new partners as we build on our combined strengths and move forward together with an aligned focus to bring the highest quality care to the people in our communities," says Neil Meltzer, president and chief executive officer of LifeBridge Health.
With the signing of the letter of intent, the organizations have entered a period of exclusive negotiations and due diligence. The next stage in the transaction "” a definitive agreement "” is anticipated to be completed in early 2015.
The agreement will join Carroll Hospital Center and its affiliates with LifeBridge Health, remaining a nonprofit. The system's board of directors would include representation from each hospital.
The letter of intent outlines the parameters of the negotiations. It provides that LifeBridge Health will support Carroll Hospital Center's strategic plan, Vision 2020, to grow and advance health care in Carroll County and the surrounding communities with the physicians, services, staff and facilities required to meet forecast needs.
"Carroll Hospital Center has a half-century-long tradition of quality, innovation and community service. And in this time of great change in the health care industry, Carroll Hospital Center is looking forward and preparing once again to lead by joining forces with LifeBridge Health to create a new model of care," says Ethan A. Seidel, Ph.D., chair of the strategic planning committee and immediate past chair of the Carroll Hospital Center board of directors.
"Our proposed partnership reflects detailed discussions between our two like-minded systems on how we can work together to