June 2, 2021 By: Lauren Patton
Sentara
Healthcare and Cone Health have mutually decided not to move forward with an
affiliation initially proposed in August 2020.
Since
announcing our intent to affiliate, both Sentara Healthcare and Cone Health
have remained committed to doing what is in the best interests of all those we
have the privilege to serve. Leadership from both organizations began working
in earnest on bringing our two organizations together in early 2021. As this
work progressed, we realized that each of our communities and key stakeholders
require support and commitments from our respective organizations that are
better served by remaining independent. The decision was a difficult one, but
both organizations remain dedicated to advancing our common goal of providing
outstanding care for our respective communities.
“Sentara
Healthcare and Cone Health are high performing, well respected,
community-focused organizations. Those similarities served as the basis for
efforts toward an affiliation. I am confident that this mutual decision will
not alter either organization’s ongoing commitment to meet the needs of our
respective communities. Sentara and Cone Health remain aligned and in agreement
that our first priority is to those we serve, and we believe this will be
better done as independent organizations,“ says Howard P. Kern, President and
Chief Executive Officer, Sentara Healthcare. “I have no doubt that Cone Health
will remain a top tier health system and will continue to pursue new and
innovative ways to provide value for North Carolinians for years to come.”
Terry
Akin, Chief Executive Officer of Cone Health, says, “We appreciate the efforts
of Sentara to work with Cone Health to determine whether an affiliation of our
two high-performing organizations is in the best interest of those we serve.
Recently, in the final analysis, we mutually decided that we can best serve our
communities by remaining independent organizations. We have developed a
high regard for the excellent services and outcomes Sentara delivers, and we
expect both our organizations to continue to advance our common goals of
providing outstanding care for our respective communities.”
The
Sentara Healthcare Board of Directors and the Cone Health Board of Trustees
came to the mutual agreement to end affiliation plans late last week.
“We
have appreciated the opportunity to work with another outstanding health system
toward furthering leading-edge, high quality health and health care across our
communities. After significant evaluation, we are certain that this is the best
path forward for the future of Cone Health and the many people throughout our
region who rely on us to deliver our very best,” says FD Hornaday III, Chairman
of the Cone Health Board of Trustees.
Dian
Calderone, Chairwoman of the Sentara Healthcare Board of Directors, says, “The
Sentara Healthcare Board of Directors is very appreciative of the efforts
undertaken by both organizations toward a shared goal of improving and
advancing healthcare in Virginia and North Carolina. We have learned a great
deal during our time together and I believe this will serve both of us well in
the future. Sentara will continue to concentrate on improving health and
well-being for the communities we serve and I am confident that Cone Health
will do the same.”
Both
Sentara Healthcare and Cone Health are not-for-profit integrated healthcare
systems committed to improving patient choice, access and affordability.
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