January 22, 2016
Thom Carroll/for PhillyVoice
Jefferson University Hospital in Center City Philadelphia.
Kennedy Health and Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals announced its signing of an official letter of intent Friday, which will open the door to a potential merger.
Jefferson tweeted the news with what appears to be a photo taken during the letter signing ceremony.
Great news: @KennedyHealth & Jefferson Leaders Sign Letter of Intent, Move One Step Closer to Integration! pic.twitter.com/tuRW3rvWpw
— Jefferson Hospitals (@TJUHospital) January 22, 2016
According to the joint statement from Kennedy and Jefferson obtained by PhillyVoice, the governing boards of both hospitals voted to authorize the signing of a letter of intent, which allows for discussion of a potential merger.
Related: Aria and Jefferson sign definitive merger agreement
If approved, the partnership would be the latest in a series of mergers by the Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals.
Just this week, Jefferson health systems, based in Philadelphia, signed a definitive merger agreement with Aria Health, which operates two hospitals in Philadelphia and in Bucks County.
Aria and Jefferson announced recently that they would merge in October. The announcement outlined its official plans, adding that the deal still needs regulatory approvals, but should be completed by late spring.
Less than a year ago, the Jefferson health system merged with Abington Health.
