Marinette, Wis. — Advocate Aurora Health announced today that the health system has signed an agreement to assume full ownership of Bay Area Medical Center. The hospital – to be renamed Aurora Medical Center – Bay Area – has operated since 2014 as a joint venture of Bay Area Medical Center and Aurora Health Care, which merged with Illinois-based Advocate Health Care last year.
The deal is expected to close in mid-year 2019, subject to regulatory approvals.
“A full transition under the Advocate Aurora Health umbrella is a natural evolution given our common vision and values about high quality, patient centered care,” said Ed Harding, president of Bay Area Medical Center. “This move will ensure the strength and stability of the medical center as all providers are navigating through uncertainties in the health care industry. The community will benefit from a wide array of coordinated services in the existing Advocate Aurora Health footprint, and patients and families can rest assured they’ll continue to receive the highest quality care.”
Aurora Medical Center – Bay Area will utilize the scale and expertise of Advocate Aurora Health to enhance care locally, furthering the hospital’s commitment to providing robust community health services and effectively responding to local health care needs. Focused on quality, safety, health outcomes and cost reduction, the system is committed to providing a signature patient experience in which health care consumers navigate more conveniently and seamlessly across the care continuum.
The agreement also calls for Advocate Aurora Health to contribute $25 million to the formation and development of a new foundation, whose primary purpose will be to support health and wellness programs in local communities and Aurora Medical Center – Bay Area.
For more than four years, community residents have benefitted from the organizations’ addition of urgent care services and expansion of patient access to primary care and specialized health services, a new state-of-the-art hospital and implementation of an advanced electronic health record system to enhance care coordination.
“We’ve been so privileged to serve the Marinette, Menominee and Peshtigo area and remain committed to delivering the safest, highest quality care here,” said Jeff Bard, executive vice president of North Wisconsin at Advocate Aurora Health. “As we accelerate our efforts to make expert care more accessible, convenient and cost-effective, we’ll continue to engage with the patients and communities we serve to ensure we’re providing the best service at the best value and that our medical center remains a pillar in the community for years to come.”
About Advocate Aurora Health
Advocate Aurora Health is one of the 10 largest not-for-profit, integrated health systems in the United States and a leading employer in the Midwest with more than 70,000 employees, including more than 22,000 nurses and the region’s largest employed medical staff and home health organization. A national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care, the system serves nearly 3 million patients annually in Illinois and Wisconsin across more than 500 sites of care. Advocate Aurora is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies and is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology and pediatrics. The organization contributed $2.1 billion in charitable care and services to its communities in 2018. We help people live well.
Media Contacts
Advocate Aurora Health
Adam Mesirow