Northwestern Memorial HealthCare of Chicago has signed a letter of intent to affiliate with two-hospital KishHealth system in DeKalb, Ill.
Terms will be finalized in coming months, said Northwestern Memorial spokesman Christopher King. “It's too early to tell what this potential affiliation will look like.”
Northwestern Memorial's acquisition of Cadence Health in September 2014 paved the way for the latest potential deal. Cadence, which included Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield, Ill., and Delnor Hospital in Geneva, Ill., was previously in talks with KishHealth, King said.
Northwestern Memorial ended its last fiscal year before the Cadence deal with an operating surplus of $142.1 million on revenue of $2.4 billion. KishHealth ended its fiscal 2014 with an operating surplus of $6.6 million and revenue of $221.7 million.
A deal would further expand Northwestern Memorial's market even farther west. KishHealth operates Kishwaukee Hospital in DeKalb and Valley West Hospital in Sandwich, Ill., both about 60 miles from Chicago.
If a deal is approved, Northwestern Memorial Healthcare would operate six hospitals.