Aria Health, Thomas Jefferson University Merger Creates Health Care Giant In PA

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Aria Health System and Thomas Jefferson University have finalized the health organizations' merger, creating a regional health care giant in Pennsylvania with more than 23,000 employees and $4.5 billion in annual revenue.

Jefferson announced the completion of the combination on Wednesday, about 14 months after it completed a similar deal with Abington Health. The preliminary deal with Aria was announced in October 2015.

Aria's two hospitals in Philadelphia and one in nearby Bucks County will be known as Aria — Jefferson Health.

Jefferson is also planning to merge with Philadelphia University and Kennedy Health System in New Jersey. Jefferson expects the Philadelphia University deal to be completed by the end of the year but the Kennedy deal could take longer due to New Jersey's review process.

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