Cleveland Clinic and the Sisters of Charity Health System are exploring the possibility of Mercy Medical Center in Canton becoming a full member of the Clinic system while it maintains its Catholic identity through sponsorship by the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine, according to a news release.
The Sisters of Charity Health System, which is the sole member of Mercy Medical Center, and Cleveland Clinic signed a nonbinding letter of intent and will work toward finalizing a definitive agreement.
"We are excited for this potential partnership of Mercy with a world-class health system that will maintain its roots in Northeast Ohio," Thomas J. Strauss, president and CEO of the Sisters of Charity Health System and interim CEO of Mercy, said in a prepared statement. "Joining with Cleveland Clinic, which has strong local presence, will help Mercy Medical Center strengthen its services to the community, provide expanded options for clinical services and support important growth initiatives that will provide for the long-term sustainability of Catholic health care in Canton."
Mercy Medical Center is one of two Catholic hospitals the Sisters of Charity Health System solely owns. It also owns St. Vincent Charity Medical Center in Cleveland.
Sisters of Charity and the Clinic will begin a careful and thorough review to complete the due diligence process. This will outline how they will move forward to best meet the health care needs of residents in Stark County and surrounding communities, according to the release. The timeline and further details of the transaction will all be informed by the due diligence and regulatory and church requirements.
The Clinic currently operates 11 regional hospitals in Cuyahoga, Lorain, Medina, Summit and Tuscarawas counties. Its most recent acquisition in Northeast Ohio was Cleveland Clinic Union Hospital, which became a full member of the Clinic system in 2018. The facility in Dover marked a significant stretch south for the system. Mercy Medical Center is about equidistant between Union Hospital and Cleveland Clinic Akron General, which the system acquired in 2015.
"Cleveland Clinic is committed to keeping Mercy Medical Center strong and ensuring that Catholic health care continues to be delivered in Stark County," Dr. Tom Mihaljevic, president and CEO of the Clinic, said in a prepared statement. "Our mission is to do what is best for our patients, and to maintain a commitment to safety, quality and exceptional outcomes at every one of our hospitals. We know how important Mercy is to the people of Stark County and we look forward to continue providing opportunities for growth."
Founded in 1908, Mercy Medical Center operates a 476-bed hospital serving Stark, Carroll, Wayne, Holmes and Tuscarawas counties, as well as parts of southeastern Ohio. It has 620 members on its medical staff and employs 2,500 people, according to the release.
The potential partnership could mean expanding high-quality services, expanding and improving technology at Mercy Medical Center, providing additional support and investment in addressing the community's unmet needs, building physician synergies and increasing the ease of access to highly specialized services for patients in Stark County if and when needed, according to the release.
"Our goal is to position Mercy so its caregivers, physicians and volunteers can continue to provide safe, high-quality Catholic health care to Stark County and beyond for generations to come," Sister Judith Ann Karam, congregational leader of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine, said in a prepared statement. "In our rapidly evolving health care environment, hospitals have a greater opportunity to successfully serve individuals, families and communities by working in clinically integrated systems of care. And Cleveland Clinic is Ohio's most comprehensive health care network."
"Sisters of Charity Health System signs letter of intent for Mercy Medical Center to join Cleveland Clinic" was originally published in Crain's Cleveland Business.
