Lehigh Valley Health Network and Jefferson Health announce plan to merge

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Big news today for health care in Pennsylvania - Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) and Jefferson Health announced they have signed a non-binding letter of intent to create a leading integrated care delivery system, including a national research university and an expanded not-for-profit health plan according to a news release.

The combined organization would have the ability to increase access to high-quality and affordable care, clinical research and health plan offerings and address health inequities for urban and rural communities in eastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey, according to the release.

LVHN currently runs 13 hospital campuses - four in Allentown, two in Bethlehem, one in Easton, one in East Stroudsburg, one in Hazleton, two in Pottsville, one in Dickson City. They also has one in Lehighton.

The merger would mean patients will have access to 30 hospitals and 700 outpatient sites. It would have a combined workforce of 62,000 people.

If this merger goes through, the new health system will be among the 25 largest in the country and if approved by regulators, it could be a done deal by the end of 2024, according to an article by WFMZ News.

An official name for the proposed network has yet to be chosen.