United Church of Christ-related Advocate Health Care to merge with Wisconsin-based Aurora Health Care

United Church of Christ-related Advocate Health Care, based in Chicago with nearly 400 sites of care, announced Monday (Dec. 4) its plans to merge with Aurora Health Care, a nonprofit health care provider serving communities throughout eastern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois. Both organizations are known for their track record on clinical quality and outcomes.

The new Advocate Aurora Health will be the 10th largest nonprofit, integrated health care system in the United States, and will serve nearly 3 million patients each year. Officials from both organizations cited several benefits of the merger, including enhanced scale, expanded access, greater efficiencies, and a shared commitment to transform the care delivery model.

“This merger is about transforming care delivery and reimagining the possibilities of health as bigger meets better and size meets value to benefit consumers,” said Jim Skogsbergh, president and chief executive officer of Advocate. “By joining forces, we will be able to expand our network to scale innovation and create a destination in the Midwest for patients and the talented clinicians who care for them.”

The new organization will operate 27 hospitals, more than 500 sites of care, employ more than 3,300 physicians and nearly 70,000 associates and caregivers. The current headquarters of both institutions will remain, and Advocate will retain its ties to the United Church of Christ.

“Advocate will remain faith-based and connected to the UCC, but it is not our assumption or expectation that Aurora will become so,” said the Rev. Kathie Bender Schwich, FACHE, senior vice president of mission and spiritual care at Advocate. “The Advocate part will remain a member of CHHSM, have UCC representation on governing councils and Advocate’s Mission and Spiritual Care Committee, and maintain our relationship with UCC congregations. In addition, there will be a UCC representative on the new Advocate Aurora board for at least the first four years of the new organization.”

Additionally, Schwich added, “servant leadership is strong in both Advocate and Aurora, and that will continue in the new organization.”

Both Advocate and Aurora are connected to and committed to the members of the communities they serve, Schwich said, and are deeply committed to diversity and inclusivity.

The Advocate and Aurora boards of directors approved the plan, and announced the decision to physicians, nurses, associates and caregivers in both organizations on Dec. 4. The merger will build on the 20-year relationship the two health systems have had through the joint ownership and operation of ACL Laboratories.

“We have a two-decade long relationship with Aurora and have great respect for the clinical and operational expertise that has made them a top tier provider and employer,” said Advocate Board Chair Michele Richardson. “Given our combined strength and stability, fueled by our talented physicians, nurses and staff, we are uniquely positioned to lead change in the health care industry.”

The agreement is subject to state and federal regulatory review and approval, including the Federal Trade Commission and agencies within Illinois and Wisconsin, and is expected by mid-year 2018.

Watch a video about the new Advocate Aurora Health.