Lehigh Valley Health Network and Jefferson Health marked a transformative chapter of health care in the area with the official completion of their merger in 2024. The union was the culmination of years of strategic planning and collaboration between the two health systems. It positioned the combined entity as one of the top 15 not-for-profit health care systems in the United States.

The idea of a merger between LVHN and Jefferson Health was first conceived in the wake of the Affordable Care Act’s passage in 2010, according to Dr. Brian Nester, now serving as executive vice president and chief operating officer of Jefferson and president of LVHN. Initial steps toward the collaboration began in December 2023, when both organizations signed a letter of intent to combine. Following months of discussions and planning, they reached a definitive agreement earlier in 2024, leading to the merger’s official completion during the summer.

“Today we look forward together to begin to forge the future of health care. … When two health systems come together, both nationally recognized by U.S. World Reports, and join forces, it creates one strong organization poised to give more access, more expertise, more options, and above all, exceptional care to our patients,” Nester said.

Under the terms of the merger, LVHN became part of Jefferson Health, adopting an initial name change to “Lehigh Valley Health Network, proudly part of Jefferson Health.”

“Together, we will offer the communities that we serve the highest quality of care to over 700 sites of care, 32 hospitals and countless associates. … That is a lot of concentrated impact that we can make, and our patients and our communities will be the beneficiaries,” Dr. Joseph Cacchione, chief executive officer of Jefferson Health, said.

The merger aimed to address pressing health care challenges, including access to care, health inequities and financial sustainability. The integration of clinical care, operations and identity, is expected to provide seamless access for patients while broadening their network of specialists and services, according to officials. The combined organization also plans to leverage groundbreaking technology and treatments to enhance patient outcomes.

The merger, Cacchione said, also brings expanded educational and career development opportunities for current and future clinicians. By integrating resources from Jefferson’s academic institutions, including the Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Jefferson College of Nursing, and the Kanbar College of Design, Engineering, and Commerce, the unified system aims to attract and nurture top talent in the health care field.

“This combination represents access, choice, innovation, opportunity, increased equity and stability – for patients, physicians, faculty, staff, students, and health plan members and our communities at large,” Cacchione said.

Nester echoed this sentiment, expressing optimism about the future.

“We could not be more excited about what lies ahead for communities across Eastern Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey. … Jefferson is the ideal partner for Lehigh Valley Health Network, our teams, and our patients. We look forward to continuing the important work of improving the health and well-being of our communities together.”