BUS THINK SEASON.
A LOT OF FUN.
AS WE FIRST REPORTED PLANS
FOR A BIG HOSPITAL MERGE INNER
PHILADELPHIA ARE IN THE WORKS
AND THE OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
WAS MADE TODAY.
HEALTH REPORTER STEPHANIE
STAHL HAS MORE ON THE DEAL AND
HOW IT MIGHT IMPACT PATIENTS
AND JOBS.
TODAY WE ARE TAKING A
MONUMENTAL STEP.
REPORTER: STEP WOULD CREATE
SECOND LARGEST HEALTH CARE
NETWORK IN PHILADELPHIA AS
EXECUTIVES FROM JEFFERSON AND
EINSTEIN SIGNED LETTERS OF
INTENT TO MERGE.
TOGETHER WE WOULD BE,
BETTER ABLE TO MEET THE NEEDS
OF OUR PATIENTS.
THIS MERGER WOULD ENHANCE BET
OF OUR ABILITIES TO CARE FOR
THE POPULATIONS, AND THE
GREATER PHILADELPHIA AREA.
REPORTER: EINSTEIN WOULD BE
ADDED TO JEFFERSON'S GROWING
LIST OF RECENT PARTNERSHIPS
THAT INCLUDES ABINGTON AND
KENNEDY IN SOUTH JERSEY.
IT IS PART OF THE GROWING
TREND TO CONSOLIDATE HEALTH
SYSTEMS TO SPREAD INCREASING
COSTS OVER A WIDER PATIENT
BASE AND GAIN MORE LEVERAGE TO
NEGOTIATE WITH INSURANCE
COMPANIES THAT ARE REIMBURSING
FOR QUALITY OF CARE INSTEAD OF
QUANTITY.
HELPING TO CREATE A HEALTH
CARE INNOVATION REVELATION IN
PHILADELPHIA.
REPORTER: AMONG CHALLENGES
IN PHILADELPHIA WHICH IS
POOREST BIG CITY IN THE
COUNTRY A LARGE NUMBER OF
MEDICAID, UNINSURED PATIENTS.
IT IS COSTLY FOR HOSPITALS AND
PATIENT CARE SUFFERS.
WHETHER THAT IS REMEDIED WITH
CONSOLIDATIONS IS YET TO BE
DETERMINED, BUT IT IS A GOAL.
PHILADELPHIA IS ONE OF THE
GREATEST DESCREPANCY IN LIFE
EXPECTANCIES IN THE COUNTRY
BASED ON YOUR ZIP CODE.
SO WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT
IS FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, I
DON'T WANT THE HEADLINE IN THE
NEW YORK TIMES TO BE IN
PHILADELPHIA YOUR ZIP CODE IS
MORE IMPORTANT THEN YOUR
GENETIC CODE.
REPORTER: TRADITIONALLY
MERGERS LEAD TO LAYOFFS.
TODAY THERE WAS NO OFFICIAL
COMMENT ABOUT THAT BUT THERE
WERE LAYOFFS AT KENNEDY WHEN
IT JOIN FORCE WAS JEFFERSON.
PROCESS IS JUST STARTING WITH
THE EINSTEIN DEAL IT COULD BE
MONTHS BEFORE IT IS FINALIZED.
RIGHT NOW THERE ARE NO CHANGES
