Delnor, Central DuPage Hospitals Complete Merger

GENEVA, IL (STMW) -- Delnor Health System and Central DuPage Health have completed their merger.

The new health system, combining Geneva-based Delnor and Winfield-based Central DuPage, will serve a west suburban patient population of more than 1 million, hospital officials said.

On Thursday, regulators and each hospital's board of directors completed their final approval of the transaction, which was first announced in October.

"Today, we have created a new health system with greater scale to provide patients with even higher quality care, access to a greater number of specialists, a broader range of clinical capabilities and a more integrated approach to health care," said C. William Pollard, chairman of the Central DuPage board.

"Our goal is to establish a healthcare system that meets our patients' changing needs and elevates the caliber and breadth of affordable health care in the region," said William A. Wolford, chairman of the Delnor Health System board.

Luke McGuinness, president and CEO of Central DuPage Hospital, has been chosen CEO of the new system. McGuinness will report to a 20-person board composed of 10 trustees from Central DuPage and 10 trustees from Delnor.

Michael Vivoda has been appointed the new president of Central DuPage Hospital and executive vice president of the health system. Thomas L. Wright will continue as president of Delnor Hospital, and will also serve as executive vice president of the health system.

Day-to-day operations at each hospital will continue without interruption, officials said.

Both hospitals will maintain their own charitable foundations. Other affiliates, such as Delnor Health and Wellness Center, Delnor Glen Senior Living and CNS Home Health & Hospice, will continue under the new health system.

Each hospital will retain its own identity, but plans are being made for naming the new combined health system.

Projects already under way at the two hospitals, including a new bed tower with 202 private patient rooms at Central DuPage, will continue as planned, and both hospitals will be upgrading the their information technology programs to improve the coordination of patient care.

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