DANVILLE - Officials at Geisinger Health System and Bloomsburg Health System announced Friday the signing of a definitive agreement to fully merge and integrate Bloomsburg Health System and its affiliates into Geisinger. Finalization of this agreement is pending regulatory approval.
"This affiliation is good news for Bloomsburg Health System, our patients and the community," said Bloomsburg Health System President and Chief Executive Officer Regis P. Cabonor. "It is very difficult in today's environment for small, independent hospitals to invest in the facilities, technology and staff necessary to maintain services. We are pleased that the affiliation with Geisinger will help to continue quality, not-for-profit care in the Bloomsburg community."
A similar merger has occurred between Geisinger and Shamokin Area Community Hospital. It will be official as of the new year.
Bloomsburg Health System includes Bloomsburg Hospital, Bloomsburg Health Care Center, Columbia Montour Home Health & Hospice, and Bloomsburg Physicians Services. Geisinger and Bloomsburg already collaborate in a number of areas: eight Geisinger doctors have full privileges at Bloomsburg Hospital, with 19 others on the consulting or courtesy staffs; a Geisinger physician serves as medical director of the psychiatry unit and Geisinger provides clinical engineering services at Bloomsburg.
Upon regulatory approval - which has already been granted for the Geisinger-Shamokin merger - and the closing of the proposed transaction, Bloomsburg Health System's approximately 800 employees will retain their positions and the Bloomsburg Hospital Board of Directors will become an advisory council for the new Geisinger-Bloomsburg Hospital campus. Approvals are expected in approximately six months.