Jefferson, Abington Health reach merger agreement

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Leaders of two Philadelphia-area health systems, Abington Health and Jefferson, have reached a definitive agreement to merge the two organizations, officials announced Thursday.

The new organization includes 19,000 employees, 3,370 physicians, almost $3 billion in revenue, 1,751 inpatient beds, seven Outpatient Centers, and five hospitals: Abington Memorial Hospital, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Jefferson Hospital for Neurosciences, Lansdale Hospital, and Methodist Hospital.

The agreement was signed by Steve Klasko, MD, MBA, president and CEO of Thomas Jefferson University and Jefferson Health System, and Laurence M. Merlis, president and CEO, Abington Health, as well as the chairs of both organizations' Boards of Trustees, Stephen Crane of Abington Health, and Richard Hevner of Thomas Jefferson University.

The merger will see a shared governance model.

Klasko has been appointed President and CEO. Merlis has been named Senior Executive Vice President and COO.

Anne Docimo, MD, MBA, and John J. Kelly, MD, MBA, round out the leadership team as Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer and Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer, respectively.

Drs. Kelly and Docimo will continue in their respective roles as Chief of Staff, Abington, and Chief Medical Officer, Jefferson.

A study is currently being conducted on determining the new organization's branding.

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Abington Health

Jefferson