On May 14, the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board voted unanimously in favor of allowing Elgin-based Sherman Health Systems to join with Advocate Health Care, the largest health care system in Illinois. The official closing is anticipated for June 1, 2013. Sherman will become Advocate Sherman Hospital. Sherman’s other sites of care throughout the Fox Valley will also take on the Advocate name. Full integration of the two systems is likely over a period of about two years.  Rick Jakle, chair of the Sherman  Health Board of Directors says "The coming together of one of the nation’s top community hospitals and one of the nation’s leading health systems is a big win for our community. Sherman’s 125 year history of providing quality care and service to our community will only be enhanced by Advocate’s nationally-recognized name and best practices.”

Leaders at Sherman and Advocate believe that their partnership will support the continued improvement of patient health outcomes, quality and safety in the state of Illinois, allow for more reinvestment of dollars toward health care, by reducing operating and capital costs, and promote the transformation of care delivery from a volume to a value-based model.

During its search for a health care partner, Sherman consideredmore than a dozen potential partners. It selected Advocate as its potential partner in October,  2012. Since then the two systems have undergone extensive due diligence and integration planning.

Advocate Health Care President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Skogsbergh says, "From the inception of our partnership discussions, our respect for the Sherman team and their accomplishments and capabilities has only increased. We share numerous core values; including a commitment to health outcomes and patient safety and a commitment to the communities we are privileged to serve.”

On your phone, you may have programmed your family members, friends, and emergency numbers. Have you programmed 2-1-1?  What is 2-1-1 you are asking? If you need human services, 2-1-1 is the number to call in the northwest suburbs. News Director Stew Cohen sits down with Steve Otten, the Executive Director of the United Way of Greater McHenry County.