IRVINE, Calif. & NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

St. Joseph Health and Hoag announced formal completion of an unprecedented affiliation, laying the foundation for sweeping changes in the delivery and accessibility of high-quality health care. Known as Covenant Health Network (CHN), the affiliation will be a regional leader and national model, reaching from Orange County to the High Desert.

The California Office of the Attorney General consented to the affiliation on February 8, 2013, capping comprehensive evaluation and planning that began after both organizations announced their intention to affiliate in August 2012.

Hoag and St. Joseph Health have agreed that Richard Afable, M.D., will serve as president and chief executive officer for CHN. Additionally, Deborah Proctor, president and chief executive officer of St. Joseph Health has announced that Dr. Afable will also serve as executive vice president of the Southern California region of St. Joseph Health. Dr. Afable has served as Hoags president and CEO since 2005. Hoags board of directors appointed Robert Braithwaite, Hoags chief operating officer, to succeed Dr. Afable as Hoags new president and CEO.

Says Dr. Afable, Drawing upon the strengths of this unprecedented affiliation, we will improve coordination of the delivery of health care to all members of the communities we serve. The nations current model of health care delivery is broken, leaving far too many families and individuals including tens of thousands right here in Orange County without regular and reliable access to affordable, quality care. Our number one focus will be solving the systemic health care access and affordability issues currently facing patients, employers and health care providers and that effort begins today.

This affiliation is a catalyst to extend our mission and make a real difference in health care delivery by assuring a system of highly-connected, quality services, Proctor says. New access points will be developed to enhance community wellness and allow more people to benefit from the research and advanced care of seven exceptional hospitals, a vast network of doctors, clinics, and other partners who share our vision. We believe St. Joseph Health and Hoag have the foresight and expertise to address some of the greatest needs and accomplish the greatest good for Orange County and the High Desert. This is a critical step for the future of our communities that can only be accomplished by the brightest minds and the biggest hearts in health care.

The new network will include the flagship hospitals of St. Joseph Health (5) and Hoag (2), in addition to an expansive physician network and numerous outpatient and urgent care facilities in Orange County and the High Desert. Physicians and staff members will develop solutions and innovative services that neither Hoag nor St. Joseph Health could achieve alone, including:

Hoag and St. Joseph Health are retaining their individual identities and faith affiliations Presbyterian and Catholic, respectively.

In discussions leading up to the affiliation, the two organizations recognized many important similarities. They are both non-profit, faith-based health care organizations, committed to providing the highest quality, affordable, and accessible health care services in the community. Both have also achieved widespread recognition through thoughtful planning of their networks of services, fostering an environment of best practice health care, and reaching out to vulnerable populations with extensive community benefit programs.

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Hoag and St. Joseph Health Complete Historic Health Care Affiliation