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About the Merger

Martha Jefferson Hospital intends to merge with Sentara Healthcare.
Affiliation formed to ensure best care for community during time of profound change.

Sentara Healthcare

In a move to increase Martha Jefferson's ability to provide high quality, comprehensive health care services to patients, Martha Jefferson Hospital is pleased to announce its intent to merge with Sentara Healthcare. The Martha Jefferson Health Services Board voted unanimously on the decision.

Martha Jefferson will join with Sentara, enhancing its ability to achieve best practices in healthcare delivery, acquire cutting edge technology and integrated information systems, and provide a higher level of medical care to the community. Combined, these attributes will better position Martha Jefferson to address health care reform and other profound changes affecting the healthcare environment.

"We are always looking to the future at Martha Jefferson, and as part of our strategic planning process, we have determined we would be in a stronger position to continue delivering on our mission of improving the health status of our community by joining an integrated system," said Jim Haden, Martha Jefferson Hospital President and CEO. "Working with Sentara Healthcare, a healthcare organization that has consistently demonstrated excellence in quality initiatives and patient safety, and that has a culture and value system similar to ours, is the best way to ensure we are well-positioned to continue providing the clinical outcomes and personalized care our community expects. It will also enable our employees to continue to have a great environment in which to provide that care."

It will take six months or more to undergo a due diligence phase and complete regulatory review. One of the guiding principles used throughout the process was that Martha Jefferson will continue governance over important local issues. To this end, the Directors of the Martha Jefferson Health Services Board will continue to serve on the Board of the hospital.

"We are pleased Martha Jefferson has selected Sentara as their preferred partner for continuing its Caring Tradition," said David Bernd, CEO of Sentara Healthcare. "We have worked with this health care organization for many years and know Martha Jefferson is highly regarded."


Bernd continues, "Health care reform has encouraged consolidation among health care providers leading to integrated systems being best positioned to render quality care effectively and economically in the future."

Based in Norfolk, VA, Sentara Healthcare is a not-for-profit integrated health care system comprised of eight Virginia-based acute-care hospitals, home care services, medical transport, an insurance plan (Optima Health) and other healthcare-related services.

In addition to merging with Sentara, Martha Jefferson is committed to further collaborations with other local healthcare providers, including the University of Virginia Medical Center, to improve the services delivered to the community.

Transforming Care to Ensure Continued Excellence
  • The Martha Jefferson Health Services Board of Directors began the process of looking at the possibility of joining another system in 2008 as part of an update to the hospital's strategic plan. Since that time, the Board has taken a pro-active approach and looked at ways to ensure the long-term stability of healthcare options for Charlottesville and the surrounding communities.
  • Martha Jefferson went through a thorough search process, including on-site visits with five different healthcare systems as well as in-depth meetings of the Boards from those organizations deemed to be the most compatible. Each organization was evaluated based on quality, organizational culture, demonstrated clinical outcomes, and clinical innovation.
  • Merging with Sentara will help raise the quality and safety of healthcare provided at Martha Jefferson for generations to come. Sentara will provide Martha Jefferson access to nationally recognized programs and services, advanced technology and financial strength. Sentara aspires to be in the top 10% nationally in clinical performance, and will help Martha Jefferson achieve these milestones too.
  • Martha Jefferson has collaborated with Sentara on other projects for a decade and understands and values the way the organization functions. Through these prior experiences, strong relationships have been formed between Sentara and Martha Jefferson.
  • Sentara Healthcare has never had a layoff and there are no plans to do so with this merger. The merger will provide staff at Martha Jefferson Hospital with personal and professional growth opportunities.
  • Martha Jefferson Hospital will retain its name and a local Board will continue governance over important community issues.
  • The Medical Staff will remain independent and credentialing will continue to be handled at Martha Jefferson Hospital. All health professionals will be given the opportunity to share "best practices" with others throughout the Sentara organization.
  • 100 percent of any past, present or future donations directed to Martha Jefferson Hospital will stay in our community to benefit the care that our patients receive right here at Martha Jefferson Hospital and our other patient care locations.
  • In the midst of today's healthcare environment, an integrated organization has more expertise and resources to manage the ever-changing rules, regulations and standards.
  • The completion of this merger process may take six months or more, including the due diligence and regulatory review phases. During this time, it is business as usual for both Martha Jefferson and Sentara.
About Sentara Healthcare

Sentara Healthcare, a not-for-profit health system, is acknowledged as a leader in patient safety and quality care innovation, which continues with the multi-year implementation of Sentara eCare®, a comprehensive electronic medical record. Sentara was most recently honored by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) with its 2010 Davies Award for the successful implementation of Sentara eCare® and its role in improving patient care. Founded in 1888 as the Retreat for the Sick in Norfolk, Virginia, Sentara has been ranked for more than a decade among the nation's Top 10 most integrated healthcare systems by Modern Healthcare magazine, and in 2010, was named the nation's #1 integrated health system for the second time. Sentara aspires to be in the top 10% nationally in clinical performance.

Sentara operates more than 100 sites of care in Virginia and North Carolina including eight hospitals and a Level I trauma center, nursing and assisted living centers, rehabilitation and advanced imaging centers, ambulatory campuses and a 380-member medical group, home care and hospice services, medical transport ambulances and the Nightingale Regional Air Ambulance.

Sentara's Optima Health, an award-winning health plan, serves 432,000 members.