Christiana Care Health System and Affinity Health Alliance, the parent of Union Hospital in Elkton, have signed a letter of intent for Union Hospital and its affiliates to join Christiana Care Health System.
With the signing of the letter of intent, the organizations have entered a period of exclusive negotiation and due diligence, expected to take several months. If a final affiliation agreement is reached, an additional period of several months will be required for regulatory approvals.
Union Hospital is a full-service, not-for-profit community hospital in Elkton, MD.
Union Hospital earlier entered into a similar agreement with a Baltimore-based health care system. However, talks ended with no agreement. Union-Affinity is one of a dwindling number of smaller health care systems in Maryland.
(See story below further details).
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Christiana Care Health System is a not-for-profit teaching health system based in Delaware that includes two hospitals, home health care, medical aid units and an extensive network of outpatient services.
“This is an exciting opportunity for Union Hospital, our employees, our providers and our community,” said Rich Szumel, M.D., Union Hospital president and CEO. “As an organization we continually strive to position ourselves for health care delivery of the future to meet the needs of our community for years to come. If a final agreement can be reached to become a part of the Christiana Care Health System, we would be joining one of the premier, forward-thinking health systems in the country, allowing us to further our mission of improving the health and well-being of our communities.”
“Christiana Care and Union Hospital have been serving the people of Cecil County as neighbors for many years,” said Janice E. Nevin, M.D., MPH, Christiana Care, CEO. “We welcome this opportunity to explore a closer relationship with an organization that shares our commitment to value and service to the community. Together, we have the potential to make an even greater positive impact on the health of the communities we serve.”
Christiana Care has two hospitals with 1,227 beds as well as a Level I trauma center Union Hospital has 72 beds. It also operates a cancer center, physician practices and other medical services.
