Alexian Brothers Health System and Ascension Health Sign Definitive Agreement

ST. LOUIS, Sept. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Alexian Brothers Health System (ABHS) and Ascension Health have signed a definitive agreement for ABHS to become part of Ascension Health, the largest Catholic healthcare system in the nation.

"The signing of a definitive agreement to become part of Ascension Health is a significant step forward in the evolution of Alexian Brothers Health System," said Mark Frey, Executive Vice President of ABHS. "This partnership will help to provide us with the resources needed to grow as healthcare changes, and will also strengthen and enhance Alexian Brothers' healing ministry and commitment to providing superior care and service for residents in suburban Chicago and those we serve at our facilities outside Illinois."

"We are excited to have the Alexian Brothers Health System bring its tradition of caring and its expertise into Ascension Health," said Anthony R. Tersigni, President and CEO of Ascension Health. "We share a commitment to build on our mutual strengths along the full continuum of care, particularly senior and long-term care. These complementary capabilities combined with our common Mission of caring for those who are poor and vulnerable will result in strengthening our organization's abilities to provide a full range of person-centered care throughout the life cycle for all of the populations we serve."

The agreement now goes to the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board for review. When ABHS and Ascension Health announced the signing of a letter of intent in April, they said the goal was to complete a definitive agreement and get necessary state and federal agency approvals by the end of 2011. That remains the goal, according to both parties.

Terms of the agreement are confidential.

About Alexian Brothers Health System

The Alexian Brothers Health System (ABHS) is a diversified Catholic healthcare organization founded in 1866 and headquartered in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Governed by the 800 year-old Congregation of Alexian Brothers, ABHS oversees operations of acute and specialty care hospitals, physician services, and ambulatory care clinics in Illinois, as well as senior living facilities, rehabilitation services, and community-based programming for the elderly in Missouri, Tennessee and Wisconsin. For more information, visit www.alexianbrothershealth.org.

About Ascension Health

Ascension Health (www.ascensionhealth.org) is transforming healthcare by providing the highest quality care to all, with special attention to those who are poor and vulnerable. Ascension Health, which provided $1.2 billion in care of persons living in poverty and community benefit programs last year, is the nation's largest Catholic and nonprofit health system. Our Mission-focused Health Ministries employ more than 113,000 associates serving in more than 1,200 locations in 20 states and the District of Columbia.

SOURCE Alexian Brothers Health System

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