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Merger creates new health system in Michigan

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Beaumont Health and Spectrum Health are forming the BHSH System. The new organization dubbed For Michigan, By Michigan will combine 22 hospitals and more than 300 outpatient facilities. BHSH employs a healthcare team of 64,000 with 11,500 physicians and more than 15,000 nurses.

Julie Fream is Board Chair of the new BHSH System.

“As we move forward as one new health system, we will have greater ability to invest in the future of Michigan’s health.”

Fream says that last week both hospital boards unanimously approved the merger, and the Federal Trade Commission has reviewed it without objection.

“It’s time to be bold. To transform health. To be even better.”

Tina Freese Decker is incoming President & CEO of BHSH System. She says complimentary strengths will drive innovation and creativity.

“While we’ve joined together as a single health system, nothing changes about the way our patients receive their care. Patients will still have the same physician, the same place that they go to for their care.”

The same applies for the roughly 1.2 million Priority Health members receiving the provider-sponsored health plan.

Southfield-based Beaumont Health and Grand Rapids-based Spectrum Health are officially creating a new health system Tuesday.