Marianjoy joining Northwestern Medicine in 2016

Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital in Wheaton is set to become of a member of Northwestern Medicine in 2016, officials announced Thursday.

Representatives from Northwestern Memorial HealthCare and the Wheaton Franciscan Sisters signed a letter of intent this week to finalize terms of the transfer.

"Northwestern Medicine and Marianjoy are organizations that share a fundamental commitment to providing high-quality and compassionate care to patients," said Northwestern Memorial HealthCare President and CEO Dean M. Harrison. "The addition of Marianjoy will enhance our care continuum for patients throughout our system."

The 127-bed nonprofit teaching hospital is located at 26W171 Roosevelt Road. It was founded in 1972 to deliver physical medicine and rehabilitation programs to patients with neuromuscular or orthopedic needs, including people who are recovering from strokes, brain injuries and spinal cord injuries.

"This relationship brings together two leading health care providers, coupling the innovative rehabilitation care offered by Marianjoy with the comprehensive, state-of-the-art clinical services of Northwestern Medicine," said Marianjoy President and CEO Kathleen Yosko.

On Thursday, the Wheaton Franciscan Sisters also announced their intent to transfer not only Marianjoy, but all Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare and Franciscan Ministries entities in the first quarter of next year.

"This decision came after a lengthy discernment process by the Sisters as we are aging and our numbers are getting smaller in the United States," said Sister Pat Norton, chairwoman of Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare's sponsor member board. "We wanted to transfer our corporate ministries while these ministries are healthy, fiscally sound, and have a strong sense of mission and values."