Sherman Hospital says no to Centegra merger

For a while at least, Elgin’s Sherman Hospital considered merging with Crystal Lake-based Centegra Health System. But the door of possibility has apparently closed. Centegra is the result of a 1995 merger between a Woodstock and a McHenry hospital. The system most recently hoped to add Sherman to its roster.

Sherman Hospital spokeswoman Chris Priester said the Elgin hospital is no longer in discussions about a partnership.

Priester would not give details about why Sherman declined Centegra’s offer but she said the discussion itself was not unusual.

“In this era of health care, hospitals throughout the country and throughout Chicagoland are always looking for opportunities to partner with other health care organizations,” Priester said.

Though Sherman will not partner with Centegra, Priester said it will continue to keep communication lines open for future partnerships with other health care organizations.

The hospital already coordinates with the University of Chicago for its cancer care center, for example.

Sherman opened more than 120 years ago in a two-story home and has grown to a 255-bed facility at the corner of Randall and Big Timber roads in Elgin. Its latest incarnation opened in December 2009.

With its latest merger rejection, Sherman remains an independent health center.

Representatives from Centegra could not be reached for comment Monday afternoon.