Processing Your Payment

Please do not leave this page until complete. This can take a few moments.

December 10, 2012

Mercy scuttles Steward deal, seeks EMHS merger

Portland-based Mercy Health System of Maine has scuttled a deal to merge its Mercy Hospital with the for-profit Steward Health Care System. Instead, it's now pursuing a deal to merge with a not-for-profit Maine-based health care network.

In a press release sent Friday afternoon, Mercy officials confirmed they have signed a non-binding letter of intent to become a part of the Brewer-based Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems network.

In a separate release, Mercy officials confirmed they are no longer pursuing the merger with Massachusetts-based Steward, with which Mercy had signed a letter of intent to merge in August.

The tentative agreement with EMHS sets up the Portland medical center's integration into the network that currently includes more than 8,000 employees, including 500 physicians.

Mercy Health System of Maine includes the two Mercy Hospital campuses in Portland, nine primary care facilities in Greater Portland, the VNA Home Health Hospice and a medical staff of more than 800.

Mercy said in the release that if the deal with EMHS goes through, it would remain a Catholic hospital and keep its nonprofit status.

Sign up for Enews

Related Content

Comments

Order a PDF