CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE — The New Jersey Superior Court in Cape May County has approved Cape Regional Health System joining Cooper University Health Care.
“This historic agreement will provide the residents and visitors of Cape May and Atlantic counties with greater access to more health care resources, innovative technologies and specialists,” George E. Norcross III, chairman of Cooper University Health Care’s board of trustees, stated in a news release announcing the step. “As the leading academic health system in the region, we committed to working with our new colleagues to provide the highest level of advanced health care and serve the health care needs of more communities across southern New Jersey.”
“Over the past year and a half, both systems worked diligently to bring together these two trusted health systems to serve the health care needs of the residents and visitors in our communities. We are delighted that our work has come to fruition. As we forge together as one, we remain committed to providing the highest quality health care to our communities,” stated Garry Gilbert, chairman of Cape Regional Health System’s board of trustees.
The transaction was announced in December 2022, followed by execution of a Definitive Agreement in April 2023. Since then, Cooper and Cape Regional have worked through the necessary regulatory approvals, according to the release.
“We are thrilled to have this final approval and look forward to joining Cooper University Health Care. Our respective health systems have a long history of working together to serve the residents and visitors of Cape May County,” stated Joanne Carrocino, president and CEO of Cape Regional Health System.
Cooper, with its market-leading MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper, is based in Camden and is southern New Jersey’s leading academic health system and Level I trauma center, with more than $2.2 billion in revenue, the release stated.
Cape Regional Health System has earned the Gold Seal of Approval from the Joint Commission and is an integrated health care delivery system serving residents throughout Cape May County.
“We are happy to have this final approval so we can finally focus on providing the highest quality of care to the residents and visitors at the shore. Together, we are positioned well to address the evolving health care needs of this region and provide a more integrated health care experience from primary care to the most complex specialty care,” said Dr. Anthony J. Mazzarelli, co-CEO of Cooper.
“Today’s approval marks a moment of great promise, as two anchor institutions in the southern New Jersey region are now cleared to join forces to better serve communities across South Jersey,” said Kevin O’Dowd, co-CEO of Cooper. “We look forward to working with our soon-to-be new colleagues to build upon their tremendous tradition of service to the residents and visitors of Cape May County.”
The combined health system will have:
— Two hospitals with more than 900 licensed beds
— Revenue exceeding $2.2 billion annually
— Nearly 11,000 combined team members
— More than 1,000 employed physicians in three physician groups
— More than 550 advanced practice providers
— More than 130 ambulatory locations across eight counties
— Six urgent care centers