Healthcare merger: 4 major providers now part of the same group; Ascension Healthcare Group



MILWAUKEE -- Wisconsin's four major Catholic healthcare providers are now part of the same group. In southeast Wisconsin, that means Columbia St. Mary's and Wheaton Franciscan are members of the Ascension Healthcare Group.

Columbia St. Mary's Hospital



On Tuesday, September 20th, the signs still read Columbia St. Mary's and Wheaton Franciscan, but in time, they'll also say Ascension.

"Our purpose is to provide personalized, compassionate care to all the communities we serve around Wisconsin," Bernie Sherry, Ascension Wisconsin senior VP said.

Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare St. Joseph Hospital



Ascension will have 24 hospitals and more than 100 clinics across Wisconsin.

Bernie Sherry, Ascension Wisconsin senior VP



The company's senior vice president says the main benefit of combining the state's four major Catholic healthcare providers is that instead of competing, they'll now collaborate. He says it will improve the quality of care because Ascension can combine the best practices from previously separate groups.

"Now`s a time to bring together organizations that, at one point, competed and collaborated at times, to really say 'we`re gonna collaborate.' We can really leverage and share best practices across our communities and markets so we bring together our physicians from our various markets, from Racine to Eagle River," Sherry said.

Ascension says the transition will take between 12 and 18 months to complete.

Meanwhile, with a merger of this size, there are questions from unions like the Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals -- representing about 1,000 workers at Saint Francis Hospital and worries a national company won't have the same commitment.

Jamie Lucas with the Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals



"We`d be concerned about the hospitals closing, any shuttering of services, outsourcing of services. We want to  make sure the decisions made in St. Louis aren`t gonna hurt the people here in Milwaukee," Jamie Lucas with the Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals said.

The company didn't give a direct answer when FOX6 News asked whether there will be layoffs as a result of the merger.

"We have a responsibility as providers to be an active participant to make healthcare delivery services more affordable. `So that means there could be layoffs?` As I said, we`re committed to the efficient operation of our healthcare delivery system," Sherry said.

Columbia St. Mary's Hospital



"Efficiencies, we fear, is just another term for layoffs," Lucas said.

With the merger, more than 23,000 people statewide will work under the Ascension banner. That includes staff at 24 hospitals and more than 100 clinics.