St. Joseph’s Health merging with Albany hospital in Trinity Health restructuring

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The parent organization of St. Joseph’s Health in Syracuse and St. Peter’s Health Partners in Albany on Wednesday announced that the entities are merging operations to deal with the financial impacts of the pandemic.

Both health systems are part of Livonia, Michigan–based Trinity Health.

In a Wednesday statement, St. Joseph’s Health said, “The move will combine the strengths of each ministry, creating a more efficient and cost-effective integrated health system. A new leadership team will focus on developing the strongest clinical programs, coordination of care and improved access for patients in their communities.”

Dr. James Reed, president and CEO of St. Peter’s Health Partners, will become president & CEO of the new regional entity, St. Joseph’s Health said in its statement. Reed will lead strategic planning for the next six months with plans to retire at the end of this December.

Dr. Steven Hanks, who currently serves as chief clinical officer and COO of St. Peters, will serve as COO during this six-month planning period before assuming the regional CEO role upon Dr. Reed’s retirement.

As part of the restructuring effort, Leslie Luke, president and CEO of St. Joseph’s Health, will voluntarily leave the organization after a transition period, per a Trinity Health memo that CNYBJ obtained. In that memo, Luke is described as the “principal architect of this regional consolidation.” Luke has been the top official at St. Joseph’s Health since 2017.

St. Joseph’s Health went on to say that this regionalization effort is a “natural step as several functions have already been consolidated between the ministries” including legal, patient access and revenue integrity, information services and compliance.