Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center and The Pottsville Hospital and Warne Clinic Announce Signing of Letter of Intent

Pottsville (September 17, 2007) – The Pottsville Hospital and Warne Clinic and Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center have announced the signing of a Letter of Intent for both hospitals to undertake a detailed study to see if it is in the community’s best interest for the facilities to consolidate operations under a common local parent entity. 

“This Letter of Intent is the first step in determining if consolidating operations under a common, local entity would benefit the community,” said Sister Clarisse Correia, D.C., Board Chair of the Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees.  “We are pleased to work with Pottsville Hospital and Warne Clinic to begin the due diligence process to make this determination.”

“It is felt that a single hospital system could more easily adapt to the rapidly changing healthcare delivery system,” said the Honorable Joseph F. McCloskey, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Pottsville Hospital and Warne Clinic.  “We look forward to working with GoodSamaritan Regional Medical Center and the appropriate consultants in the coming months to determine whether coming together is feasible, and if so, how the new organization would be structured.”

It is expected that the feasibility study will take six to nine months to complete.  During the due diligence process there will be no announcements made concerning the process or its findings.

Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, a 159-bed acute care health care facility, is sponsored by the Daughters of Charity and is affiliated with Ascension Health, the largest non-profit Catholic health system in the country.  The Medical Center is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.  Visit www.gsrmc.com for more information about Good Samaritan.

The Pottsville Hospital and Warne Clinic is a 200-bed acute care health care facility serving the residents of Schuylkill County since 1895.  The Hospital is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditaiton of Healthcare Organizaitons.  Visit www.pottsvillehospital.com for more information about The Pottsville Hospital and Warne Clinic.