ChristianaCare and Virtua Health have announced their intention to co-found a regional not-for-profit health system through the signing of a non-binding letter of intent (LoI).

This collaboration aims to serve an area of ten contiguous counties across New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Maryland, US, with more than 600 care sites and around 30,000 employees.

The proposed health system would focus on delivering tailored and accessible healthcare.

Both organisations will introduce innovative care models, such as hospital-care-at-home, and aim to improve urgent, primary and behavioural health care access.

They also share a focus on maternal health, aiming to manage over 15,000 births annually.

Virtua Health president and CEO Dennis Pullin said: “We see this as a unique opportunity to shape the future of care in this region with innovation and intention.

“Together, we aim to create an integrated regional health system built on human connection, clinical excellence and a deep commitment to all people in the communities we serve.”

The two entities will now proceed with due diligence, aiming to enter into definitive agreements following negotiations and obtain necessary regulatory approvals.

During this phase, both ChristianaCare and Virtua Health will maintain their separate operations without any immediate changes to patient care.

ChristianaCare Health System Board chair George Foutrakis said: “Our vision for this new health system – when Medicare and Medicaid are facing cuts and many hospitals are struggling to stay open – gives me hope and excitement for our future and for the health of our neighbours.”

This announcement comes after ChristianaCare's joint venture with Atlas Healthcare Partners last year to develop a new ambulatory surgery centre network in Delaware and the mid-Atlantic region, aiming to enhance access to cost-effective and quality surgical care.