Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1521114
46 TRANSACTIONS Big systems get bigger: 5 large hospital deals to know By Laura Dyrda Large health systems are continuing to grow as regional systems look to consolidate and prepare for the future. e landscape changes whenever two health systems combine, and independent physicians and surgery centers could see challenges and opportunities when a new system comes to town, especially as hospitals aim to sharpen their outpatient strategies. Here are five hospital deals from the last four months to know: 1. Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare, one of the largest chains in the nation with 186 hospitals, spent $635 million last year to acquire four hospitals in Texas and additional non- hospital healthcare facilities. HCA's Dallas-based Medical City Healthcare purchased a hospital in Sachse, Texas, that had declared bankruptcy last year. HCA also has a large surgery center footprint and acquired two Texas-based ASCs in January. 2. St. Louis-based Mercy announced plans in February to acquire Ascension Via Christi Hospital in Pittsburg, Kan. Mercy has two other hospitals in Kansas, as well as primary care clinics. e deal is going through regulatory approvals. Mercy also acquired SoutheastHealth in Cape Girardeau, Mo. 3. BJC HealthCare St. Louis merged with Saint Luke's Health System earlier this year, creating a 28-hospital system with $10 billion in revenue. 4. Froedtert in Milwaukee and edaCare in Neenah, Wis., also officially combined to kick off the year, creating an 18-hospital system. 5. In December, Philadelphia-based Jefferson Health signed an agreement to acquire Allentown, Pa.-based Lehigh Valley Health Network to create a 30-plus hospital system with more than 700 sites of care. e combination will strengthen and expand academic programs and sustainable cash flow. n Physician-owned network hopes to fill gaps left by 2 Wisconsin hospital closures By Patsy Newitt O akLeaf Medical Network, a physician-owned network based in Eau Claire, Wis., plans to open four clinics in Wisconsin following the closure of two hospitals. Springfield, Ill.-based Hospital Sisters Health System closed Chippewa Falls, Wis.-based St. Joseph's Hospital and Eau Claire, Wis.-based Sacred Heart Hospital on March 22. The OakLeaf clinics, which will open between May 1 and May 13, will be located in Cornell, Ladysmith, Menomonie and Rice Lake, all in Wisconsin, according to a March 28 news release from the organization. While OakLeaf was trying to open new hospitals in the region, it ran into obstacles as the Affordable Care Act banned new physician-owned hospitals, The Chippewa Herald reported April 2. In lieu of the hospitals, OakLeaf planned to create a community hospital managed by a board — that way, the organization would not own the hospitals. Additionally, multiple regional health centers HSHS operates with Green Bay, Wis.-based Prevea Health will end services April 2. n UCLA Health acquires hospital, ASC from HCA Healthcare By Cameron Cortigiano U CLA Health acquired West Hills Hospital and Medical Center, which includes a freestanding ASC, from HCA Healthcare. The facilities, renamed UCLA West Valley Medical Center, is located approximately 21 miles northwest of UCLA's main campus in Los Angeles, according to a March 29 news release from the health system. UCLA Health is focused on continuity for patients and is retaining the majority of the staff previously employed by HCA. The transaction was finalized March 28, the release said. n