To assess the degree of similarity between the two health systems, Aspirus Health & St. Luke’s (MN), we conducted an analysis of the largest hospital in each system—Aspirus Wausau Hospital and St. Luke’s Hospital Duluth. The analysis reveals that Aspirus Wausau Hospital and St. Luke’s Hospital Duluth have a SimilarityIndex™ M&A Score of 68.30, or a distance of 31.70. Said differently, using Aspirus Wausau Hospital as the index hospital, St. Luke’s Hospital is the 311th most similar hospital out of the 2,299 hospitals in the national analysis, revealing that there are potentially other hospitals that are operationally, financially and competitively more similar but unavailable. St. Luke’s Hospital and Aspirus Wausau Hospital data are sourced from FY2021 Cost Reports.

To assess the degree of similarity between the announced acquisition between University of South Alabama Health (USA Health) & Ascension, we conducted an analysis of the acquired hospital for USA Health (Providence Hospital) and the largest hospital for USA Health, USA Health University Hospital. The analysis reveals that Providence Hospital and USA Health University Hospital have a SimilarityIndex™ M&A Score of 73.30, or a distance of 26.70. Said differently, using USA Health University Hospital as the index hospital, Providence Hospital is the 229th most similar hospital out of the 2,299 hospitals in the national analysis, revealing that there are other hospitals that are operationally, financially and competitively more similar but are not available for acquisition. USA Health University Hospital and Providence Hospital data are sourced from FY21 Cost Reports.

To assess the degree of similarity between the announced acquisition between Guthrie Clinic & Ascension, we conducted an analysis of the acquired hospital for Guthrie Clinic (Our Lady Lourdes Hospital) and the largest hospital for Guthrie Clinic, Robert Packer Hospital. The analysis reveals that Our Lady Lourdes Hospital and Robert Packer Hospitalhave a SimilarityIndex™ M&A Score of 66.10, or a distance of 33.90. Said differently, using Robert Packer Hospital as the index hospital, Our Lady Lourdes Hospital is the 1132nd most similar hospital out of the 2,299 hospitals in the national analysis, revealing that there are other hospitals that are operationally, financially and competitively more similar. An M&A strategy driven by clinical, operational, and financial similarity would lead to different partners for each system. Our Lady Lourdes Hospital and Robert Packer Hospital data are sourced from FY21 Cost Reports.

To assess the degree of similarity between the two health systems, Vandalia Health & Davis Health System, we conducted an analysis of the largest hospital in each system—Charleston Area Medical Center and Davis Medical Center. The analysis reveals that Charleston Area Medical Center and Davis Medical Center have a SimilarityIndex™ M&A Score of 61.70, or a distance of 38.30. Said differently, using Charleston Area Medical Center as the index hospital, Davis Medical Center is the 991st most similar hospital out of the 2,299 hospitals in the national analysis, revealing that there are many other hospitals that are operationally, financially and competitively more similar. An M&A strategy driven by clinical, operational, and financial similarity would lead to different partners for each system. Davis Medical Center’s data is sourced from FY 2020 Cost Reports, and Charleston Area Medical Center’s data is sourced from FY2021 Cost Reports.

To assess the degree of similarity between the two health systems, Froedtert Health & ThedaCare, we conducted an analysis of the largest hospital in each system—Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital and Theda Regional Medical Center Appleton. The analysis reveals that Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital and Theda Regional Medical Center Appleton have a SimilarityIndex™ M&A Score of 70.90, or a distance of 29.10. Said differently, using Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital as the index hospital, Theda Regional Medical Center is the 1018th most similar hospital out of the 2,299 hospitals in the national analysis, revealing that there are many other hospitals that are operationally, financially and competitively more similar. An M&A strategy driven by clinical, operational, and financial similarity would lead to different partners for each system. Froedtert Memorial Lutheran and ThedaCare RMC Appleton data are sourced from FY2021 Cost Reports.

To assess the degree of similarity between the two health systems, UPMC & Washington Health System, we conducted an analysis of the largest hospital in each system—UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside and The Washington Hospital. The analysis reveals that UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside and The Washington Hospital have a SimilarityIndex™ M&A Score of 64.74, or a distance of 35.26. Said differently, using UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside as the index hospital, The Washington Hospital is the 811th most similar hospital out of the 2,299 hospitals in the national analysis, revealing that there are many other hospitals that are operationally, financially and competitively more similar. An M&A strategy driven by clinical, operational, and financial similarity would lead to different partners for each system. UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside and The Washington Hospital data are sourced from FY 2021 Cost Reports.

On May 31, BJC HealthCare and Saint Luke's Health System signed a letter of intent to form integrated Missouri-based health system. To assess the degree of similarity between the two health systems, we conducted an analysis of the largest hospital in each system—St. Luke’s Kansas City and Barnes-Jewish. The analysis reveals that St. Luke’s and Barnes Jewish have a SimilarityIndex™ M&A Score of 76.60, or a distance of 23.4. Said differently, using Barnes-Jewish as the index hospital, St Luke’s Kansas Cityis its 44th most similar hospital out of the 2,299 hospitals in the national analysis. This suggests there are several other hospitals that are operationally, financially and competitively more similar from an evidence-based perspective. An M&A strategy driven by clinical, operational, and financial similarity would lead to different partners for each system. St Luke’s and Barnes Jewish data are sourced from FY2021 Cost Reports.

To assess the degree of similarity between the announced acquisition between John Muir Health & Tenet Health, we conducted an analysis of the acquired hospital for John Muir Health (San Ramon Regional Medical Center) and the largest hospital for John Muir Health, John Muir Medical Center. The analysis reveals that San Ramon RMC and John Muir Medical Center have a SimilarityIndex™ M&A Score of 84.70, or a distance of 15.30. Said differently, using John Muir Medical Center as the index hospital, San Ramon RMC is the 7th most similar hospital out of the 2,299 hospitals in the national analysis, revealing that they have significant similarity in the operations, finances and competitive aspects, due in part to John Muir being the minority owner. San Ramon RMC and John Muir Medical Center data are sourced from FY21 Cost Reports.

To assess the degree of similarity between the announced acquisition between Centura Health & Steward Healthcare, we conducted an analysis of the acquired hospital for Centura Health (Jordan Valley Medical Center) and the largest hospital for Centura Health, Penrose St. Francis. The analysis reveals that Jordan Valley Medical Center and Penrose St. Francis have a SimilarityIndex™ M&A Score of 75.30, or a distance of 24.70. Said differently, using Penrose St. Francis as the index hospital, Jordan Valley Medical Center is the 542nd most similar hospital out of the 2,299 hospitals in the national analysis, revealing that there are other hospitals that are operationally, financially and competitively more similar. Penrose St. Francis and Jordan Valley Medical Center data are sourced from FY21 Cost Reports.

To assess the degree of similarity between the announced acquisition between Novant Health & Community Health Systems, we conducted an analysis of the acquired hospital for Novant Health (Lake Norman Regional) and the largest hospital for Novant Health, Forsyth Memorial Hospital. The analysis reveals that Lake Norman Regional and Forsyth Memorial Hospital have a SimilarityIndex™ M&A Score of 57.90, or a distance of 42.10. Said differently, using Forsyth Memorial Hospital as the index hospital, LakeNorman Regional is the 1,625th most similar hospital out of the 2,299 hospitals in the national analysis, revealing that there are many other hospitals that are operationally, financially and competitively more similar. An M&A strategy driven by clinical, operational, and financial similarity would lead to different partners for each system. Lake Norman Regional’s data is sourced from FY2021 Cost Reports while Forsyth Memorial’s data is sourced from FY2020 Cost Reports.

To assess the degree of similarity between the two health systems, Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady & Singing River Health Systems, we conducted an analysis of the largest hospital in each system—Our Lady of the Lake RMC and Singing River Gulfport. The analysis reveals that Our Lady of the Lake RMC and Singing River Gulfport have a SimilarityIndex™ M&A Score of 72.50, or a distance of 27.50. Said differently, using Our Lady of the Lake RMC as the index hospital, Singing River Gulfport is the 793rd most similar hospital out of the 2,299 hospitals in the national analysis, revealing that there are many other hospitals that are operationally, financially and competitively more similar. An M&A strategy driven by clinical, operational, and financial similarity would lead to different partners for each system. Our Lady of the Lake and Singing River Gulfport data are sourced from FY2021 Cost Reports.

To understand and evaluate current mergers and acquisition activity for U.S. health systems, Becker's Healthcare leveraged Trilliant Health's SimilarityEngine™ to analyze how similar — or dissimilar — top-performing hospitals of merged health systems are to one another.

To assess the degree of similarity between the two health systems, UF Health & Flagler Health, we conducted an analysis of the largest hospital in each system—UF Health Shands Hospital and Flagler Hospital. The analysis reveals that UF Health Shands Hospital and Flagler Hospital have a SimilarityIndex™ M&A Score of 59.30, or a distance of 40.70. Said differently, using UF Health Shands Hospital as the index hospital, Flagler Hospital is the 863rd most similar hospital out of the 2,299 hospitals in the national analysis, revealing that there are many other hospitals that are operationally, financially and competitively more similar. An M&A strategy driven by clinical, operational, and financial similarity would lead to different partners for each system. UF Health and Flagler data are sourced from FY2021 Cost Reports.

The planned takeover of Legacy Health by Portland, Ore.-based Oregon Health and Science University may improve transparency and be the best option, the Oregon Nurses Association said.

Marietta, Ga.-based Wellstar Health System and Augusta (Ga.) University Health System are officially one, effective Aug. 30. 

While the healthcare merger and acquisition environment may be cooling, independently owned private practices remain an appealing target for M&A transactions — especially in specialty areas like orthopedics, pain management and neurology, among others.

New Hyde Park, N.Y.-based Northwell Health will expand oral health services in New York through a strategic partnership with ProHEALTH Dental. 

Pullman (Wa.) Regional Hospital spent $2.45 million to purchase a bank building that it will use for administrative space.

Three physician groups left Proliance Surgeons network in July, and a fourth plans to exit in October, the Seattle-based physician group confirmed to Becker's.

While larger health systems tend to tout the supposed benefits of consolidation, cross-market mergers in particular could be leading to higher prices and potentially lower quality of care, according to an Aug. 23 KFF report.