Jefferson Health System, the not-for-profit system that is part of Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals, signed a definitive agreement to integrate with Kennedy Health, a three-hospital system (607 beds) in southern New Jersey. The transaction is expected to be completed following New Jersey’s Community Health Care Assets Protection Act review process.

The boards of Kennedy and Jefferson unanimously approved the agreement, which extends the shared governance model that was established with the integration of Abington Health (January 2015) and Aria Health (July 2016). Like Jefferson, Abington and Aria, Kennedy will have equal representation on the expanded Jefferson board.

With the addition of Abington Health, Jefferson gained two hospitals (704 beds combined), and another three hospitals (485 beds) with the integration of Aria Health. In July 2016, Jefferson acquired a majority interest in Rothman Orthopaedic Specialty Hospital, a 24-bed, physician-owned facility with six operating rooms, located in Bensalem, Pennsylvania.