The Midwest, and of course St. Louis, were both shocked to hear that Washington University premier institution BJC Healthcare, of St. Louis, was in talk to merge with Kansas City, MO’s St. Luke’s Healthcare system. A very shocking and unanticipated announcement, which comes as things looked to be going up with BJC, at the least.
There is not a day that goes by, that I don’t see cranes swinging up and down Forest Park Blvd., or near the Cortex district. Moreover, both are said to be non-profit organizations.
Two days ago, BJC announces plans for $10 billion merger with Kansas City health system. BJC Healthcare, which operates Barnes-Jewish Hospital and many other locations in the St. Louis region, has announces plans to merge with Kansas City-based St. Luke’s Health system.
BJC is the largest of the two and is based in St. Louis, on the vast campus of Washington University. Most of the complex can be seen across from Forest Park, with its towering medical centers and research facilities.
Here is what I have been reading, and things look very attainable and could work. The two have signed a nonbinding letter of intent and “are working toward reaching a definitive agreement in the coming months” with a targeted close before the end of the year, they said. The cross-market deal would be subject to regulatory review and other customary closing conditions.
A little about BJC:
Barnes Jewish Hospital, part of the BJC HealthCare system, is one of the largest hospitals and a nationally recognized academic medical center located in St. Louis, Missouri. The hospital has been providing comprehensive care and advanced medical treatments for more than 100 years and offers the most advanced healthcare services and technology available to patients. In addition to providing care for all types of medical needs, the hospital also offers advanced research programs and clinical trials.
The hospital is affiliated with Washington University School of Medicine as well as Saint Louis University School of Medicine, and offers residencies and fellowships to medical students and post-doctoral students. The hospital also operates several specialty centers dedicated to providing care for specific conditions and disorders.
These centers include a cancer center, a cardiovascular center, an imaging center, and an organ transplant center. Barnes Jewish Healthcare also employs several specialists who can provide care for a wide range of health issues.
A little about St. Luke’s Healthcare system Kansas City:
Saint Luke’s Health System of Kansas City is a network of 11 hospitals located throughout the state of Missouri and Kansas. Founded in 1882, Saint Luke’s is one of the oldest health care systems in the area and is now rated highly for cardiovascular care. In addition to a range of primary and specialty care services, the hospitals provide a range of leading-edge technology, research initiatives, and clinical trials. The hospitals are also home to a member research institute, the Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute. Saint Luke’s is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing quality, compassionate care to its patients.
For now, this is all that we can tell you about the merger, so just wait for new reports, in the coming months. All of this will unfold, and we will have more details to share with you.
