According to a news release emailed to the Lehigh Valley Press by Jon Brannan of St. Luke’s University Helath Network, Sacred Heart HealthCare System and St. Luke’s University Health Network have announced plans for Sacred Heart to join St. Luke’s network.

Sacred Heart HealthCare System includes Sacred Heart Hospital, Allentown, primary care centers at 10 sites in the Lehigh Valley and senior housing services.

St. Luke’s University Health Network includes seven hospitals and more than 270 outpatient sites serving 10 counties in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

According to the news release, Sacred Heart Hospital will continue to maintain its Catholic identity.

“Sacred Heart is excited to enter into this affiliation with St. Luke’s,” John Nespoli, president and CEO of the Sacred Heart HealthCare System said. “St. Luke’s has an incredible track record of working successfully with community hospitals. With the partnership of St. Luke’s, Sacred Heart will offer our physicians and employees growth opportunities and, most importantly, continue with our charitable mission in the heart of the city.”

The boards of both organizations unanimously approved the agreement.

“This affiliation agreement was made with the best interests of our patients, our physicians, our employees and our community in mind,” Paul Huck, chairman of Sacred Heart HealthCare System’s Board of Directors stated. “St. Luke’s long history of enriching the hospitals that join its network make it the ideal partner. This collaboration will ensure that the health care needs of people in the Lehigh Valley and the region will continue to receive the quality, compassionate care that has been the mainstay of Sacred Heart for over 100 years.”

“Over the years, St. Luke’s has established a highly successful record of working collaboratively and forming successful partnerships with hospitals that have joined our network – in western Allentown, Quakertown and Coaldale, and in Phillipsburg, N.J.,” St. Luke’s University Health Network CEO and President Richard A. Anderson said. “We have extended our nationally recognized quality programs to these locations, providing patients with cost-effective care and superior quality second to none as measured regionally and nationally.

“St. Luke’s will replicate at Sacred Heart the success it has achieved at its other campuses, resulting in a ‘win-win-win’ for all. The community wins. Sacred Heart wins. Our Network wins,” Anderson added.

The transaction, subject to certain conditions, including review and approval by various regulatory agencies, is expected to be completed early next year.