Bon Secours Health System and Mercy Health announce that the two ministries have formed Bon Secours Mercy Health, creating one of the largest health care systems in the country. In addition, President and CEO John M. Starcher, Jr. announced his new leadership team, to take effect immediately.

Bon Secours Mercy Health is a combination of equals. The combined ministry will create opportunities for deepening its commitment to the communities it serves and expanding into complementary service areas across the country. Further integration of the ministries offers an opportunity within the United States and outside of its borders to bring healing and hope to those most in need.

The ministry will provide nearly $2 million per day ($640 million annually) in charity care and community benefit programs, helping to fulfill the important Mission of extending the compassionate ministry of Jesus.

The combination announcement comes just six months after the systems announced their intent to come together. This expedited timeframe was made possible by early alignment of similar cultures and grounding in Mission-based, quality care, as well as a focused, dedicated team of senior leaders who understood that this would create the opportunity to benefit millions of people across the communities they collectively serve.

As part of the collaborative process which led to the terms in the Definitive Agreement, no outside resources were used - only internal governance, mission and legal teams were engaged - creating greater efficiencies and further expediting the combination of the two ministries. Following the creation of the terms which framed the combination, Deloitte Consulting was hired to assist with operational integration. This robust work continues.

Immediately following his selection as president and CEO, John Starcher worked to establish a team of 14 senior leaders who will work with him to set the strategy and operational standards for the newly formed health care system.

The following senior leaders will report directly to Starcher.

• Chief Operating Officer Brian Smith
• Chief Clinical Officer Wael Haidar, MD
• Chief Financial Officer Debbie Bloomfield
• Chief Strategy Officer David Cannady
• Chief Administrative Officer Mark Nantz
• Chief Enterprise Risk Officer Jeff Oak
• Chief Legal Officer Michael Bezney
• Chief Community Health Officer Sam Ross, MD
• Chief Sponsorship and Mission Officer Sr. Anne Lutz, CBS

Five additional leaders report to Starcher's direct reports.

• Chief Human Resources Officer Joe Gage
• Chief Marketing Officer Sandra Mackey
• Chief Nursing Officer Andrea Mazzoccoli
• Chief Sponsorship and Theology Officer Thom Morris
• Chief Mission Officer Fr. Joseph Cardone

"We have been blessed with an abundance of leadership talent across both Bon Secours and Mercy Health," said Bon Secours Mercy Health President and CEO John M. Starcher, Jr. "Each of these leaders brings significant experience and a clear vision for how we can work together to ensure patients remain at the center of everything we do. Their leadership and expertise will be key to our success as we continue working to integrate physician, clinical and operational leadership across our growing ministry and transform the way we provide care to the communities we serve."

For nearly 200 years, the historical founders of Bon Secours Mercy Health have been providing care to those in need. Today, the ministry is one of the top 20 health systems in the United States and part of the top performing quartile of Catholic health systems for lowest cost per case for patient care. This quality care is provided by more than 57,000 employees serving communities throughoutFlorida, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, Ohio, South Carolina and Virginia. The health care ministry provided care for patients more than 10.3 million times in 2017 through its network of more than 1,000 care sites, including 43 hospitals, more than 50 home health agencies, hospice agencies, and skilled nursing and assisted living facilities. Consistent with its commitment to serve each patient with dignity, Bon Secours Mercy Health provides nearly $2 million per day in community benefit. The Mission of Bon Secours Mercy Health is to extend the compassionate ministry of Jesus by improving the health and well-being of its communities and bring good help to those in need, especially people who are poor, dying and underserved. For more information, visit www.bsmhealth.org.