New England Baptist Hospital (NEBH) has begun the process of merging with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and Lahey Health by signing a letter of intent, according to a press release.
“We are always open to new opportunities to collaborate with providers that share our commitment to high quality, lower cost care,” said Trish Hannon, president and CEO of NEBH, according to the press release. “Lahey Health is a quality, high value provider who could complement the Baptist nicely, and it would be natural for us to explore joining these discussions with BIDMC, given our current relationship. The Baptist brings a unique strength as a specialized orthopedic and musculoskeletal institution and combining that with the strengths of these great systems could help us further our vision of being a national leader for orthopedic care.”
The letter of intent, signed by NEBH’s Board of Trustees, is the first step of a legal process in moving the merger forward, according to NEBH spokesperson David Passafaro. He said all three boards of trustees will be working towards a definitive agreement that will eventually be agreed upon and signed and that the merger will also require various state and federal reviews and approvals.
“We are excited about the potential of including a high-quality, well-respected institution like New England Baptist Hospital in the new health system we are exploring with BIDMC,” said Howard Grant, president and CEO of Lahey Health, according to the press release. “By combining three high quality, lower cost health systems, we can transform the region’s healthcare delivery system, creating a stronger, integrated organization with broad geographic coverage, designed to provide expert care, a superior patient experience and unparalleled value in a rapidly changing health care environment.”
NEBH, specializing in orthopedic care, is currently a member of the Beth Israel Deaconess Care Organization (BIDCO). The merger would create a combined system.
“Over the past several years we have been partners with the Baptist in a joint venture designed to set a nation-leading standard for orthopedic and musculoskeletal care,” said Kevin Tabb, CEO of BIDMC, according to the press release. “We believe we can build on the foundation established through our partnership and offer exceptional care at lower cost while significantly improving the health and mobility of the patients we will all serve together.”