Northwestern Memorial to buy Lake Forest Hospital

Northwestern Memorial HealthCare in Chicago announced plans to buy Lake Forest Hospital, according to a release issued by the health care providers.

The cost of the deal was not disclosed. The hospitals did not wish to comment on the deal Tuesday.

The release said the hospitals have signed an affiliation agreement to form an integrated health care system. Lake Forest Hospital will become a subsidiary of Northwestern Memorial HealthCare, the corporate parent of Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

"The pairing of our academic medical center with such a respected community hospital will greatly benefit our patients at both campuses," Dean M. Harrison, president and chief executive officer, Northwestern Memorial HealthCare, said in the release.

Once affiliated, Northwestern Memorial and Lake Forest Hospital will offer patients integrated primary, secondary and advanced tertiary services that are currently not broadly available, said Thomas J. McAfee, Lake Forest Hospital's president and chief executive officer in the release.

Lake Forest Hospital Lake Forest Hospital is a 215-bed community hospital staffed by 650 board-certified physicians and 1,714 employees.

In partnership with National Healing Corp., Lake Forest Hospital opened its state-of-the-art wound care center last week.