On Tuesday, May 10, 2011 the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board (IHFSRB) approved the Certificate of Exemption application of OSF Healthcare System for a change of ownership of Rockford Memorial Hospital. When asked to comment on the Planning Board's decision, Kevin Schoeplein, CEO of OSF Healthcare System stated, "We are pleased with and appreciative of the Planning Board's approval of our COE application. As I referenced in my opening remarks, we are gratified by the level of support received for this project from the community and business leaders, from other hospitals in northern Illinois and in Wisconsin, from labor, from our elected officials, from the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford and from our medical staffs, including independent physicians who serve our patients. They share our vision for the future. And the Planning Board does too."
This is the first of two regulatory approvals needed before the affiliation between the Rockford Health System and the OSF Healthcare System can be completed. The second is pending with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC made a second request for information regarding the Hart, Scott, Rodino filing for affiliation that was submitted February 11, 2011. Both RHS and OSF continue to work on the final submission of all the information the FTC has requested. After the filing is deemed complete that would then prompt yet another 30-day waiting period for the FTC to review the information before the parties could close the transaction.
As we stated when the affiliation agreement was announced in early February, OSF Healthcare System and Rockford Health System believe that, in partnership, we can even further raise the bar on the quality of medical care in the Rockford region. By combining our talents, resources and technology going forward, we will best ensure the long-term viability of high quality, accessible and affordable health care in the Rockford region. This affiliation also makes sense strategically, especially in light of the struggles of our local economy and health care reform.
Further, we believe that our organizations can be integrated to create a comprehensive medical system that delivers high quality services in an efficient and cost effective manner. The benefits to the community and our patients include, among other things, enhanced access to primary, secondary and tertiary health care services and the creation of a regional destination center with outstanding clinical outcomes.
Fact Sheets
For more information on OSF HealthCare, OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center, and Rockford Health System, please download the following documents:
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mike Robinson, Director of Marketing/Communications - OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center - (815) 395-5347 - mike.robinson@osfhealthcare.org
Evonne Woloshyn, Vice President, Marketing/Communications - Rockford Health System (815) 971-5282- ewoloshyn@rhsnet.org
Mike Robinson, Director of Marketing/Communications - OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center - (815) 395-5347 - mike.robinson@osfhealthcare.org
Evonne Woloshyn, Vice President, Marketing/Communications - Rockford Health System (815) 971-5282- ewoloshyn@rhsnet.org
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