Church and state have given final approval to a merger that will join St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center of Hartford with Trinity Health, a national Catholic health care system of 86 hospitals in 21 states.
“Today, we are very pleased to announce that both the Vatican and the state of Connecticut Department of Public Health’s Office of Health Care Access have provided approvals that will allow Saint Francis to complete its merger with Trinity Health,” said Fiona Phelan, a spokeswoman for the hospital’s parent, St. Francis Care.
St. Francis Care is becoming part of a newly created regional network with the Sisters of Providence Health System, which includes Mercy Medical Center in Springfield, Mass., and other facilities in Western Massachusetts. The deal is the latest in a series of Connecticut hospitals joining larger networks.
“We are excited about partnering with Trinity Health, an organization that is aligned with our mission, core values and strategic vision and at the forefront of people-centered care. We anticipate completion of all pre-closing requirements and a formal signing of our merger agreement in the early fall of this year,” Phelan said.