Methodist News Archive Featured in the Media JeffNEWS

PHILADELPHIA – Jan. 28 – To better serve South Philadelphia's changing healthcare needs, Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals and Mercy Health System signed a letter of intent today enabling them to work together to explore ways in which they might expand and enhance healthcare delivery through Methodist Hospital, a division of Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals, and St. Agnes Medical Center, a Mercy Health System care unit. However, at this time no binding agreement has been reached.

"We are very excited about creating a new vision that will meet the current and future healthcare needs of South Philadelphia," said Tom Lewis, Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals CEO, and Gavin Kerr, Mercy Health System CEO.

"Through a comprehensive assessment of the South Philadelphia healthcare services, we have identified important unmet needs, particularly in programs for the elderly and others who need long-term care, and noted other areas in which duplicate or overlapping services exist that exceed the community's needs," said Kerr.

"The vision we have agreed to explore for the future of healthcare delivery in South Philadelphia would see Methodist Hospital as the provider of short-term acute care services and St. Agnes as the provider of continuing care services. By focusing our efforts in each of the two locations we will be able to better serve community needs, avoid duplication of services, create greater efficiencies and invest in enhanced facilities and new technologies," said Lewis.

To address unmet South Philadelphia continuing care healthcare needs, Mercy Health System would transform St. Agnes into the Continuing Care Medical Center at St. Agnes, which would include a new Long Term Acute Care Hospital, operated by a joint venture between Mercy Health System and Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals that would provide specialized services for long-term intensive care and chronically ill patients.

"We believe there is nothing quite like this Continuing Care Medical Center concept in healthcare today, and we are very excited about the opportunity to improve and expand continuing care services to meet the needs of a diverse and aging population in South Philadelphia," said Kerr. The new Continuing Care Medical Center at St. Agnes would expand existing services, such as skilled nursing and LIFE (Living Independently for the Elderly) services, continue established home health care and hospice programs, and invest in new services like long-term intensive care.

In the new vision, both Methodist Hospital and St. Agnes Medical Center would continue to serve the South Philadelphia community with the same quality and compassion as they have for more than 100 years. Both hospitals will continue normal operations as the discussions proceed.

Both Lewis and Kerr noted that while the changes under consideration will serve the community's ultimate good, this period of uncertainty as discussions are underway will be difficult for the physicians, nurses and employees. A top priority will be to preserve employment opportunities at Methodist Hospital and St. Agnes Medical Center.

Lewis and Kerr anticipate that it may take from 30 to 90 days for the discussions to progress to a point where they are in a position to make final decisions and announce an agreement. "We ask for the community's patience and support as we work to ensure the future healthcare needs of South Philadelphia will be met by two stronger and more vital hospitals, Methodist Hospital and the Continuing Care Medical Center at St. Agnes," they said.