BETHLEHEM, Pa. — “We are not for sale!”
That's the message St. Luke’s University Health Network’s chief executive officer is sending out to the health provider’s staff.
St. Luke's CEO Rick Anderson this week sent out that email to more than 20,000 employees, seemingly in response to news of a potential merger between Lehigh Valley Health Network and Jefferson Health, based in Philadelphia.
“I understand the board of trustees and leadership at LVHN made this difficult decision with the best interest of the community in mind,” Anderson wrote in the email.
The internal letter listed many of the accolades St. Luke's had gotten in the past year, including ending 2023 in the green financially.
“St. Luke's being one of only four major health systems in Pennsylvania to generate a positive operating margin."St. Luke's Chief Executive Officer Rick Anderson in email to employees
“St. Luke's being one of only four major health systems in Pennsylvania to generate a positive operating margin,” he said.
“I am pleased to report during July through December 2023, St. Luke's generated a positive operating margin of over 2%.”
Anderson credited the employees for the company’s “healthy financial performance.”
Note follows LVHN announcement
The note, with an air of reassurance, comes weeks after the Lehigh Valley’s other major health care employer, LVHN, announced its letter of intent to combine with Jefferson Health.
"I am sure you have heard the news regarding Jefferson Health's planned acquisition of Lehigh Valley Health Network," Anderson began.
If the deal is approved, LVHN and Jefferson will form a partnership that would result in a regional provider overseeing 30 hospitals and more than 700 outpatient care sites. It could take almost a year to complete.
“Our board and I have never considered any offers from any health systems expressing interest in acquiring St. Luke's. We are not for sale!”St. Luke's Chief Executive Officer Rick Anderson in email to employees
However, Anderson repeated in his closing that St. Luke’s is not considering any similar moves.
“Our board and I have never considered any offers from any health systems expressing interest in acquiring St. Luke's," he said. "We are not for sale!”
St. Luke’s provided services at 15 campuses and more than 300 outpatient sites in Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Montgomery, Monroe, Schuylkill and Luzerne counties in Pennsylvania; and Warren and Hunterdon counties in New Jersey.
