OhioHealth Acquires Van Wert Health, Adding 14th Hospital to Network
OhioHealth Expands Reach with Acquisition of Van Wert Health
In a strategic move to expand its network of hospitals, OhioHealth has announced the acquisition of Van Wert Health in Van Wert, Ohio. This acquisition will make Van Wert Health the 14th hospital under the OhioHealth umbrella.
Van Wert Health, which includes a 34-bed hospital, four outpatient centers, physician practices, and nearly 500 healthcare professionals, will now be part of OhioHealth. The decision was made official after the board of each health system voted on the move on December 14.
According to John McWhorter, OhioHealth’s senior vice president and chief operating officer, this acquisition is a logical step for both Van Wert Health and OhioHealth, as it has become common for smaller hospitals to merge with larger health systems. McWhorter also mentioned that OhioHealth plans to enhance the services offered at the Van Wert hospital in the coming months.
With Van Wert Health being OhioHealth’s first acquisition on the far western side of Ohio near Indiana, this move will bring a new region of patients to OhioHealth. Despite this, McWhorter anticipates that many patients in need of major procedures may still choose to go to the closer Fort Wayne, Indiana, rather than Columbus.
Van Wert Health Hospital, which has been serving patients in northwest Ohio and northeast Indiana for over 100 years, has been recognized as one of the top 100 rural and community hospitals in the United States. OhioHealth’s president of regional hospitals, Bruce Hagen, expressed that Van Wert Health is a natural fit for OhioHealth due to their shared culture, values, and commitment to quality care.
This acquisition comes on the heels of OhioHealth’s recent acquisition of Guernsey Health Systems, which includes Southeastern Ohio Regional Medical Center in Cambridge. With these two acquisitions, OhioHealth continues to strengthen its presence in the healthcare industry.
Overall, the addition of Van Wert Health to the OhioHealth network marks a significant expansion for the health care provider, further solidifying its position as a leading healthcare system in Ohio.