Mum's the word on Delnor, Central DuPage merger
Officials for Delnor and Central DuPage hospitals Tuesday declined to confirm a report that the two hospitals are considering a merger.
The potential merger was reported by Crain's Chicago Business Saturday.
"Hospitals across the country are exploring strategic alliances to meet the growing challenges in the health care environment. Delnor continues to explore a variety of options that could benefit the communities it serves. No decision has been made," Brian Griffin, Delnor's public relations and marketing director, said in a prepared statement.
He said that was the only statement Delnor would have about the matter, and would not answer questions about why the hospital would want to merge with another hospital.
"The health care market is full of speculation about potential affiliations. As a matter of policy, we do not comment on industry rumors," said Amy Jo Steinbruecker, Central DuPage's senior media relations specialist.
The state's Health Facilities Review and Service Board, which would have to approve such a merger, has not received an application from either hospital, spokesman Melanie Arnold said.
Delnor is itself the result of a 1986 merger between Community Hospital of Geneva and Delnor Hospital of St. Charles. Central DuPage opened in 1964 on the site of a former tuberculosis sanitarium.
Delnor has 159 beds, according to state records; Central DuPage has 313.
One of Central DuPage's six convenient-care clinics is in northeastern St. Charles. Delnor recently opened its first off-site clinic, Delnor Express, on Randall Road in Batavia.
State health department profiles of the hospitals indicated that as of Dec. 31, 2008, Delnor had a bed occupancy rate of 68 percent, while Central DuPage was at 79 percent. Medicare accounted for 41 percent of billings at Delnor and 35 percent at Central DuPage.
Records from the Illinois Attorney General's office indicate Central DuPage had assets of $834.3 million and income of $607.4 million as of June 30, 2009. As of Aug. 31, 2009, Delnor reported $331.3 in assets and $244.5 in income. Both are categorized as nonprofit nongovernment hospitals.