UnityPoint Health, one of the state's largest healthcare systems, has announced it is pursuing a merger with South Dakota-based Sanford Health.
The companies said they have signed a letter of intent to join their brands and expect the merger to be complete by the end of the year, pending reglatory reviews.
The merger would make the company among the 15 largest non-profit health systems in the county, according to the release. It would employ more than 83,000 people and is estimated to bring in more than $11 billion in operating revenue annually.
"Our organizations share a deep commitment to exceptional patient care and a vision for transforming and sustaining health care in our communities," said Kevin Vermeer, president and CEO of UnityPoint Health said in the release. "We are approaching our discussions very purposefully, with a clear and common vision for success. First and foremost, our focus is on people. Working together, we will find new ways to broaden access to care – beyond the traditional settings – and take greater responsibility for the health of the populations we serve."
UnityPoint Health is based in West Des Moines. It operates 32 hospitals and 280 clinics in Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois.
Sanford Health is based in Sioux Falls, S.D. It operates 44 hospitals and 482 clinics in nine countries and 26 states.
