Affiliation: a positive experience. A freestanding hospital finds security with a multi-institutional system

In June 1987 the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM), Scranton, PA, began exploring the possibility of affiliating its only acute care hospital--St. Joseph's Hospital, Carbondale, PA--with a multi-institutional system. The hospital was in good financial shape, and the IHM membership, though mainly educators, wanted to remain involved with the healthcare ministry. But rapid changes in the healthcare field, then as now, posed a threat to single, freestanding hospitals, so the leaders wanted to move toward affiliation while in a position of strength, not crisis. The sisters and St. Joseph's leaders knew what they wanted in terms of a connection with a system. From the outset they were interested in affiliation with rather than acquisition by a system. The hospital corporation wished to retain ownership, sponsorship, and reserved powers as stated in the bylaws. After determining what criteria would be important in selecting a system with which to affiliate, corporate leaders formed a task force and set out to communicate their intentions to all concerned at the hospital, as well as the IHM membership. In the process they encountered a lot of concerns they had to address. They persevered, however, and found a suitable match in the Franciscan Health System, Chadds Ford, PA.