Saint Joseph-Joliet Hospital getting new ownership, nurses union welcomes sale

A new owner is set to take over Ascension Saint Joseph – Joliet hospital.

Prime Healthcare will acquire the hospital located at 333 Madison St., Joliet, along with numerous other hospitals owned by Ascension throughout Illinois, according to a joint news release Thursday from Prime Healthcare and Ascension officials.

Prime Healthcare, a health care company based in California, operates 44 hospitals and more than 300 outpatient locations in 14 states, according to the news release. The company has almost 45,000 employees and physicians.

Unlike Ascension, which is a nonprofit health care organization, Prime Healthcare is a privately-owned company.

The transaction is expected to close sometime between Jan. 1, 2025, and March 31, 2025, and it is subject to “standard regulatory and canonical approvals,” according to the joint news release.

“Until that time, Prime Healthcare and the included Ascension Illinois facilities will continue to operate independently under a consulting agreement between the two organizations to ensure stability and continued exceptional patient care,” according to the joint news release.

The Joliet hospital will retain its name of Saint Joseph. It is known locally as St. Joe’s.

“Prime believes that all health care is local and honors the legacy of hospitals within their communities, therefore, each hospital will retain its name,” said Scott Barboza, a spokesperson for Prime Healthcare.

The Joliet hospital, founded in 1882 by the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart, has undergone several name changes and ownership since at least 1997. The hospital had been known as Provena Health Saint Joseph Medical Center until 2012.

A corporate merger led to the hospital being called Presence Health Saint Joseph Medical Center. A merger with Ascension led to the hospital to be named AMITA Health Saint Joseph Medical Center in 2018.

In 2022, the hospital’s name was changed to Ascension Saint Joseph – Joliet.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Ascension management and the nurses union have quarreled over numerous labor issues, including staffing and pay.

Ascension came under scrutiny by the New York Times in a 2022 article that said the health system spent years reducing its staffing to increase profits even though it is a nonprofit organization with “nearly $18 billion of cash reserves.”

In May, the nurses union approved a new contract with hospital administrators after contract talks that went on for a year. During that time, there were three two-day union strikes and three two-day lockouts.

Nurses union to Ascension: ‘Good riddance’

In a statement, officials with the Illinois Nurses Association said Thursday morning that their nurses were informed that St. Joe’s and other Ascension facilities were being sold to Prime Healthcare.

“Good riddance,” INA officials said.

INA officials said Ascension’s “track record in Illinois has been a disaster.”

“Here at St. Joe’s, Ascension bought a well-functioning community hospital, gutted our staff by over 300 nursing positions and recklessly short staffed our units while reaping the profits,” INA officials said.

A spokesperson listed for Ascension in Thursday’s joint news release did not respond to a message regarding INA’s statement.

INA officials said they are looking forward to building a “collaborative and successful relationship” with Prime Healthcare.

“We are encouraged that this company has never closed a hospital, and we will take Prime at their word that they are committed to strengthening community hospitals and reinvesting in their newly acquired facilities,” INA officials said.

The nurses union promised they will do their part to “ease this transition” and they look forward with meeting with Prime Healthcare officials in the “months ahead to work towards solutions for the myriad issues our hospital currently faces.”

Joliet mayor praises investment

“We are happy to learn Prime Health will be taking over Ascension Hospital because they have a strong record of investing in their hospitals nationwide,” Joliet Mayor Terry D’Arcy said in a statement.

D’Arcy said Prime Healthcare’s commitment to “invest $250 million should enable our local hospital to move forward and return to being one of the best community hospitals in the region.”

During past strikes, D’Arcy has voiced support for nurses and called for Ascension to negotiate a contract.

Town hall proposed by lawmaker

In a statement, state Sen. Rachel Ventura, D-Joliet, said after she heard that Ascension will switch with an “out-of-state” company, she immediately thought of “all the nurses and medical staff that I have been on the picket line with for months.”

“They are our friends, family, and the people who sacrifice everything to keep us safe and healthy. I remain steadfast in my support of all the staff at St. Joe’s,” Ventura said.

Ventura said she’s been in contact with Ascension to plan a town hall “in order to provide answers to the community.”

“When we have finalized more details, I intend to invite hospital employees and the community to attend. Ascension has assured me that all staff positions will remain during the transition,” Ventura said.

She said nurses are “our lifeline” and she will never stop fighting to “ensure their voices are heard and that they are treated fairly.”

“Day in and day out they fight for us – we should all fight for them too,” Ventura said.