BREWER and PORTLAND, ME – (January 14, 2013) – Mercy Health System of Maine and EMHS (Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems) have signed a definitive affiliation agreement to form a strategic alignment in which Mercy and all of its service units, including VNA Home Health & Hospice, will be integrated into EMHS. The organizations had signed a non-binding letter of intent on December 7, 2012.
“Signing the definitive agreement is another significant step toward fulfilling our bright future as a member of EMHS,” said Eileen F. Skinner, FACHE, president and CEO of Mercy Health System of Maine. “EMHS supports our mission and our identity as a Catholic healthcare system. We look forward to continuing to work with our EMHS colleagues through the approval process and the eventual integration of Mercy into EMHS.”
“We are excited to be Mercy’s choice as a strong, committed partner for the long term. Adding Mercy to our system helps us continue our innovative work providing the needed infrastructure and system processes to improve the health status of the people of Maine,” said M. Michelle Hood, FACHE, president and CEO of EMHS. “We will support Mercy’s Catholic healthcare mission and believe Mercy will benefit from our operational and clinical expertise and in a number of other important ways.”
The definitive agreement spells out the actions and commitments both health systems will undertake for Mercy to become an EMHS member. In addition to a commitment to operate Mercy according to the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, a local board will continue to provide oversight for Mercy.
With the definitive agreement signed, Mercy and EMHS will seek all necessary regulatory approvals to close the affiliation transaction, including a state certificate of need and federal antitrust clearance, and the approval of the Vatican. This process is expected to take six to nine months.
During this approval process, representatives of both organizations will work together on identifying the best methods for integrating Mercy into EMHS.



