Cincinnati's Bon Secours Mercy Health is planning another merger

Cincinnati-based Bon Secours Mercy Health is planning another merger, and this time it's with a health system located across the pond.

Bon Secours—one of the five largest U.S. Catholic health systems—has signed a letter of intent with Bon Secours Health System in Ireland in a deal that would create a system with more than 60,000 employees. The two health systems were founded by the Sisters of Bon Secours but are independent entities with no affiliation.

"The Missions on which the systems were founded are guiding forces in the care provided today," a Bon Secours Mercy spokeswoman said in an email. "The health systems now seek to come together to identify best practices and economies of scale that will ultimately benefit the health and well-being of their patients and communities." 

 

RELATED: Bon Secours finalizes merger with Mercy Health

The health systems plan to work together in the next several months to finalize a definitive merger agreement and obtain approvals. There is no specific date outlined in the letter of intent, but the completion of the merger is expected by the end of the summer, officials said in a release.

“As consumers across the globe experience a dynamic and ever-changing health care marketplace, Bon Secours Mercy Health is committed to expanding its footprint to bring good help to more patients and communities,” said John Starcher Jr., president and CEO of Bon Secours Mercy Health, in a statement.

 RELATED: Bon Secours and Mercy Health announce new CEO, name for merged system

These merger talks come months after Bon Secours Health System and Mercy Health finalized their merger that created an $8 billion health system with $293 million in operating income and operations in seven states. The newly formed Bon Secours Mercy Health has 43 hospitals, more than 1,000 care sites and more than 50 home health agencies, hospice agencies, and skilled nursing and assisted living facilities.

Bon Secours Health System is the largest public health system in Ireland with revenue of €289 million.