The nonprofit, independent Crittenton Hospital Medical Center, a 290-bed acute care hospital located about 30 miles north of Detroit, may be sold to the Ascension Health Michigan system following a six-month period of due diligence announced in January.
Ascension Health Michigan includes St. John Providence Health System in Warren, Borgess Health in Kalamazoo, Genesys Health System in Grand Blanc, St. Mary's of Michigan Medical Center in Saginaw and St. Joseph Health System in Tawas City. Crittenton's location in Rochester is approximately midway between the service areas of Genesys and St. John Providence.
According to Crain's Detroit Business, Crittenton expects to show a slight profit for 2014 following a disappointing 2013 when it experienced reduced patient volume, including lower surgical volume, and registered operational losses of more than $20 million.
Crittenton President and Chief Executive Roy Powell said in a joint press release with Ascension Health that, "With our new partner, plans will begin to immediately strengthen several clinical services and build program volume. Crittenton will be a complement to the strategic strength of Ascension Health Michigan and remain committed to its lowest-cost, highest-quality position as well as its strategies that recognize the importance of primary care physicians. The financial and operating strength of (Ascension Health Michigan) will dramatically improve the financial and operating foundation of Crittenton and continue its upward trend of financial stability."
Crittenton serves Oakland, Macomb and Lapeer Counties, counties located about 30 to 55 miles north of Detroit, and has a medical staff of about 500 physicians, only a "handful" of whom are employed physicians, according to Crittenton spokesman Brian Birney. Crittenton is a teaching facility for residents from Wayne State University's School of Medicine specializing in family medicine and ear, nose and throat medicine and for nurses from Oakland University's School of Nursing.
St. John Providence Health System and Crittenton partnered in April 2014 on the St. John Hospital Rochester Hills Cancer Center. St. John Providence has a lease agreement on the center and manages it.
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