[KHTS] – Providence Health and Services and St. Joseph Health System today announced a merger that would create a single healthcare provider.

The merger would allow both Providence and St. Joseph to provide additional benefits and opportunities to patients, healthcare providers and communities, that would have otherwise not been possible, according to the letter of intent from Providence Health Services.

“Providence and St. Joseph Health’s mission are aligned to improve the quality of care, increase access and make care more affordable for everyone,” said Rod Hochman, M.D., president and CEO of Providence Health and Services.

Providence Health and Services is currently the largest healthcare provider on the west coast and the partnership with St. Joseph will make the new organization one of the largest catholic health care providers in the United States.

“We are two mission-focused organizations which truly have the potential of being better together, delivering outstanding clinical care and providing a compassionate presence in all the communities we serve,” said Deborah Proctor, president and CEO of St. Joseph Health System.

Providence and St. Joseph boast 263 years of combined healthcare experience and share a common catholic heritage. In addition, both organizations include non-catholic health care affiliates with a common goal to care for everyone, with an emphasis on those who are poor and vulnerable.

Both Providence and St. Joseph currently have 50 hospitals between them, Providence with 34 and St. Joseph with 16.
Discussions are in the early stages and specific details about a partnership have not been finalized, according to a press release.

St. Joseph Health and Providence expect discussions to take place during the next several months.

– Enzo Marino