Northwestern Memorial HealthCare Finalizes Affiliation With Lake Forest Hospital

CHICAGO,Ill  — Northwestern Memorial HealthCare has completed its formal plans to affiliate with Lake County’s Lake Forest Hospital. Northwestern’s health system has obtained both federal and state approvals to proceed with an affiliation agreement that will make Lake Forest Hospital a wholly owned entity of Northwestern Memorial HealthCare along with Northwestern Memorial Hospital on February 1, 2010. Also at that time, Lake Forest Hospital will become Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital. 

“We are very excited about what the future holds for patients now that this affiliation is final,” said Dean M. Harrison, president and chief executive officer, Northwestern Memorial HealthCare. “With all necessary approvals in place, we are positioned to move forward with developing plans to expand access to medical care, clinical trials, and a host of other healthcare services for patients in Lake and Cook counties and surrounding regions.

“Northwestern Memorial and Lake Forest hospitals had many similarities going into the affiliation agreement that will be enhanced,” added Harrison, “particularly due to Northwestern’s century-long ties to Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine.”

Additionally both hospitals share:

* a patient and family-centered culture
* a commitment to clinical excellence and high quality standards
* an ongoing dedication to our neighboring communities to provide care regardless of one’s ability to pay

“We are excited about the prospect of combining our strengths with an excellent institution such as Northwestern Memorial to create a health system that will provide broader access to care for patients in our region,” said Thomas J. McAfee, president, Lake Forest Hospital.

On January 12, 2010, the Illinois Health Facilities and Service Review Board approved the Certificate of Exemption necessary to proceed with finalization of the affiliation.

About Lake Forest Hospital
Lake Forest Hospital is a 215-bed community hospital with 650 physicians board-certified in 60 medical specialties, conveniently located in offices throughout Lake County.  The hospital has been named the Consumer Choice hospital for Lake and Kenosha counties four years in a row by National Research Corporation for having the best doctors, best nurses, best image and reputation, and best overall quality.

The hospital’s mission is to provide communities the highest quality health care through exceptional access to state-of-the-art clinical services with compassionate and personal care.  Clinical services are delivered at the hospital’s Lake Forest and Grayslake campuses, and at facilities in Bannockburn, Gurnee, Libertyville, Lindenhurst and Vernon Hills.  At the main hospital in Lake Forest, exemplary care is provided in Cain Family Emergency Services, the Hunter Family Center for Women’s Health, the Posy Krehbiel Breast Care Center, the Waud Family Maternity Services and the Center for Advanced Radiation Therapy.  CareCoach, Lake County’s only mobile health program, provides care for the underserved at 26 locations throughout the region.  For more information, visit lfh.org.

About Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Northwestern Memorial Hospital is one of the country’s premier academic medical centers and is the primary teaching hospital of the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.  Along with its Prentice Women’s Hospital and Stone Institute of Psychiatry, the hospital comprises 854 beds, 1,603 affiliated physicians and 7,144 employees.  Northwestern Memorial is recognized for providing exemplary patient care and state-of-the art advancements in the areas of cardiovascular care; women’s health; oncology; neurology and neurosurgery; solid organ and soft tissue transplants and orthopaedics.

Northwestern Memorial possesses nursing Magnet Status, the nation’s highest recognition for patient care and nursing excellence, and it is listed in 11 clinical specialties in U.S. News & World Report’s 2009 “America’s Best Hospitals” guide. For 10 years running, it has been rated among the “100 Best Companies for Working Mothers” guide by Working Mother magazine. The hospital is a recipient of the prestigious National Quality Health Care Award and has been chosen by Chicagoans as the Consumer Choice according to the National Research Corporation’s annual survey for 11 years.

SOURCE Northwestern Memorial HealthCare