KishHealth joins Northwestern Memorial

DeKALB – Northwestern Memorial HealthCare announced Tuesday that it had finalized its acquisition of KishHealth System, making it the newest member of Northwestern Medicine. Geneva-based Delnor Hospital also is a member of Northwestern Medicine.

The deal to expand the Chicago-based health system to include six hospitals and 90 facilities across eight Illinois counties had no acquisition price, according to documents filed with the state. Funds belonging to KishHealth at the time of the acquisition will be designated for local use. Just how much money will go into the fund remains to be calculated, officials said.

“We are excited to welcome KishHealth to Northwestern Medicine,” Northwestern Memorial HealthCare President and CEO Dean M. Harrison said in a statement. “The addition of KishHealth to our growing integrated academic health system will allow patients in DeKalb County and northern Illinois even greater access to high-quality care, closer to where they live and work.”

The DeKalb-based health system, which was valued at more than $329 million, is the largest private employer in DeKalb County. It has two hospitals – 98-bed Kishwaukee Hospital in DeKalb and 25-bed Valley West Hospital in Sandwich – and more than a dozen area clinics and health facilities. This fall, KishHealth also acquired nonprofit behavioral health provider Ben Gordon Center.

The Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board unanimously approved the deal Nov. 17, despite concerns from some residents and law enforcement officials about how it would affect mental health services in DeKalb County. Officials from KishHealth told the review board that the health system’s commitment to providing mental health services wouldn’t change, but said inpatient mental health facilities weren’t needed in DeKalb County.

Northwestern’s acquisition of KishHealth grew out of talks that started in May. Industry experts have said the deal will benefit both systems. Northwestern Memorial stands to gain market share and a new pipeline for patient referrals to its specialists. In return, KishHealth would have better access to advanced specialists.

“Following a diligent process of research and evaluation, we believe the best partnership for our community and for our patients is Northwestern Medicine,” Kevin Poorten, president and CEO KishHealth System, said in a statement. “As a member of Northwestern Medicine, we will be able to address existing clinical gaps and drastically enhance the patient experience, quality of care, and safety for the communities we serve.”

Poorten will remain president of KishHealth.

Officials from the two systems have held preliminary discussions about how to fill health care gaps in DeKalb County, including “the growth of clinical areas such as neurology, pulmonology, cardiology and behavioral health services,” according to a news release.

While the deal was completed Tuesday, patients won’t notice changes immediately, said Christopher King, a spokesman for Northwestern Medicine. The Northwestern Medicine brand and logo will eventually replace the KishHealth signage, but even that will take time. King said officials would work to make sure patients are made aware of additional changes as KishHealth System is integrated into Northwestern Medicine.