Johnson, Saint Francis Agree on Affiliation

A popular North Central Connecticut hospital and a major health care center in Hartford are joining forces.

Johnson Memorial Medical Center, the parent company of Johnson Memorial Hospital, Evergreen Health Care Center and Home & Community Health Services, and Saint Francis Care, Inc., the parent of Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center, have announced their intention to enter into an affiliation agreement.

The deal is designed to maintain Johnson as "an independent source of high-quality healthcare and expand its clinical services in North Central Connecticut," according to a news release issued by both institutions.

Under terms of the agreement, the Johnson network will become a Saint Francis Care partner, but both Johnson and Saint Francis will continue to be separately licensed institutions, each with separate boards of directors, the release states.

Saint Francis Care will be invited to participate in Johnson's board and has committed to provide capital to support daily operations at Johnson for up to five years, according to the release. 

Johnson had emerged from bankruptcy protection months ago.

The agreement calls for "a clinical integration of the two hospitals’ medical staffs and a review of Johnson's opportunities for business development, growth and process improvement," the release states.
   
“This affiliation agreement will help to secure JMMC’s market position in the future, and provide our patients with expanded access through services provided by Saint Francis Care,” said David Morgan, JMMC’s president and chief executive officer.  “With our independence assured, and access to new resources, we can now move forward to build and expand the services our community deserves.”
   
Christopher M. Dadlez, President and Chief Executive Officer of Saint Francis, called the deal "exciting."

He added, “This affiliation …  will ensure continued inpatient hospital services in North Central Connecticut so that the right care, in the right place, for the right cost will remain in place for local residents.  This affiliation will help to secure JMMC’s market position in the future and we are proud to be a part of this process.”
   
The hospitals must draft final clinical affiliation and business process outsourcing agreements, a process that is expected to take up to 60 days to complete.
   
The affiliation agreement is also subject to regulatory approval before it can become effective, both sides said.

Johnson is based in Stafford.