Jefferson, a Philadelphia-based hospital system, and Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN), based in Allentown, Pa., have officially agreed to merge into a 30-hospital system with over 700 care sites. The decision to unite was made in December after signing a non-binding letter of intent.
As part of the merger agreement, Jefferson and LVHN will combine their identity, clinical care, and operations. This integration will result in a vast network of over 65,000 employees and will provide new educational opportunities for current physicians as well as recruitment possibilities. The collaborative system aims to enhance health plan access, improve financial stability and pave the way for greater investments in new technologies and improved patient outcomes.
Joseph Cacchione, MD, the current CEO of Jefferson, will retain his position after the merger. Brian Nester, DO, the president and CEO of LVHN, will become the executive vice president and COO of Jefferson overseeing the legacy LVHN as president. Both leaders will work closely together with Dr. Nester reporting to Dr. Cacchione.
Dr. Baligh Yehia will join Jefferson as the executive vice president and chief transformation officer as well as president of the legacy Jefferson health system. Dr Yehia will report to Dr Cacchione and play a key role in the leadership team
