Sacred Heart HealthCare System and St. Luke’s University Health Network Announce Merger

ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Sacred Heart HealthCare System, a health network that includes Sacred Heart Hospital in downtown Allentown, Pa., primary care centers at ten sites throughout the Lehigh Valley and senior housing services, and St. Luke’s University Health Network, a regional health network with seven hospitals and more than 270 outpatient sites serving 10 counties in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, today announced plans for Sacred Heart HealthCare System to join St. Luke’s University Health Network.

The terms of the transaction will allow the combined health network to continue its relentless focus on quality and to enhance the level of health care services, develop new programs and service opportunities and increase access to physician specialists in the Lehigh County region, while maintaining its not-for-profit status. The terms also allow for Sacred Heart Hospital to maintain its Catholic identity.

“Sacred Heart is excited to enter into this affiliation with St. Luke’s,” John Nespoli, president and CEO of the Sacred Heart HealthCare System said. “St. Luke's has an incredible track record of working successfully with community hospitals. With the partnership of St. Luke’s, Sacred Heart will offer our physicians and employees growth opportunities and, most importantly, continue with our charitable mission in the heart of the city.”

The agreement between Sacred Heart HealthCare System and St. Luke’s University Health Network has been unanimously approved by the Boards of both organizations after a competitive selection process.

Paul Huck, chairman of Sacred Heart HealthCare System's Board of Directors stated, “This affiliation agreement was made with the best interests of our patients, our physicians, our employees and our community in mind. St. Luke's long history of enriching the hospitals that join its network make it the ideal partner. This collaboration will ensure that the health care needs of people in the Lehigh Valley and the region will continue to receive the quality, compassionate care that has been the mainstay of Sacred Heart for over 100 years.”

St. Luke’s University Health Network CEO and President Richard A. Anderson added, “Over the years, St. Luke’s has established a highly successful record of working collaboratively and forming successful partnerships with hospitals that have joined our network – in western Allentown, Quakertown and Coaldale, Pa., and in Phillipsburg, NJ. We have extended our nationally recognized quality programs to these locations, providing patients with cost-effective care and superior quality second to none as measured regionally and nationally. St. Luke’s will replicate at Sacred Heart the success it has achieved at its other campuses, resulting in a ‘win-win-win’ for all. The community wins. Sacred Heart wins. Our Network wins.”

The transaction is subject to certain conditions, including review and approval by various regulatory agencies. The transaction is expected to be completed early next year.

Media Contacts:

Barbara Wood, Marketing Coordinator, Sacred Heart Hospital, 610-776-5980, bwood@shh.org

Sam Kennedy, Corporate Communications Director, SLUHN, 484-526-4134, samuel.kennedy@sluhn.org

About Sacred Heart HealthCare System

With a rich history of more than 100 years, Sacred Heart Hospital is a Catholic medical center located in central Allentown, Pa. Founded in 1912, Sacred Heart Hospital offers a wide range of advanced medical services including bariatric surgery, vascular surgery, cardiology, endocrinology, rehabilitation and behavioral health services.  A network of physician practices throughout Lehigh and Northampton Counties provide complete primary and pediatric medical care to the region’s residents. Sacred Heart Hospital is ranked among the safest hospitals in the United States having received an “A”grade from the Leapfrog Group in 2016 & 2017, is a Center of Excellence in Bariatric Surgery and is a receipent of the American Stroke Association’s Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award.

About St. Luke’s

Founded in 1872, St. Luke’s University Health Network (SLUHN) is a non-profit, regional, fully integrated and nationally recognized network providing services at seven hospitals and more than 270 outpatient sites. The network’s service area includes Lehigh, Northampton, Carbon, Schuylkill, Bucks, Montgomery, Berks and Monroe counties in Pennsylvania and in Warren County in New Jersey. Dedicated to advancing health education, St. Luke’s operates the nation’s oldest School of Nursing and 23 graduate medical educational programs and is considered a major teaching hospital, the only one in the region. In partnership with Temple University, St. Luke’s created the region’s first Medical School. Repeatedly, including 2017, St. Luke’s has earned Truven’s 100 Top Major Teaching Hospital designation as well as 50 Top Cardiovascular program in addition to other honors for clinical excellence. St. Luke’s is a multi-year recipient of the Most Wired award recognizing the breadth of St. Luke’s information technology applications such as electronic medical records, telehealth, online scheduling and pricing information. St. Luke’s is also recognized as one of the state’s lowest cost providers in comparison to major teaching hospitals and other health systems.