Independence Health System’s five hospitals, together with its affiliated physician groups and subsidiaries, are set to join the West Virginia University (WVU) Health System in late 2026, operating under the WVU Medicine brand.
The hospitals that will join the system are Frick, Butler Memorial, Clarion, Westmoreland, and Latrobe.
Under the agreement, the WVU Health System will invest $800m over the next five years to modernise the hospitals, including the emergency room at Butler Memorial Hospital and the Westmoreland Hospital campus.
The investment will also support the expansion of clinical services and improve access to care throughout the communities served.
Completion of the transaction is contingent upon standard state and federal regulatory approvals, as well as the consent of bondholders.
Independence Health System will benefit from the expertise, scale and infrastructure of the WVU Health System and preserve its focus on the community.
This integration will broaden access to specialists and clinical services and bolster financial sustainability through streamlined operations and shared capital resources.
It will also improve patient outcomes by implementing coordinated population health strategies via the WVU Health System’s affiliated health insurance organisation, Peak Health.
Independence Health System president and CEO Ken DeFurio said: “This is a transformational moment for our organisation as we take this first, critical step toward building a new future with a nearby health system that shares our values and is community focused.
“We are excited to make this announcement today in partnership with WVU Medicine, and even more excited to have our organisation become part of a progressive and innovative health system that has a proven track record in making deep investments in its people, clinical programmes, and infrastructure.”
Independence Health System provides care to a community of over 750,000 residents across ten Western Pennsylvania counties.
It comprises five hospitals and has a network of more than 1,000 physicians and advanced practice providers.
