Atlantic General Hospital and TidalHealth Sign Non-Binding Agreement to Combine Organizations

An exciting step forward to enhance and transform health care delivery in the region.

(BERLIN, Md. – December 12, 2024) The respective boards of Atlantic General Hospital (AGH) and TidalHealth announced today that they have signed a non-binding Letter of Intent (LOI) to combine organizations. Together, both organizations are committed to providing the best possible care for the region.

Earlier this year, the AGH Board of Trustees announced the launch of a strategic partnership exploration process to consider all options to enhance healthcare in the region. After thoughtful consideration, the board chose to affiliate with TidalHealth as both organizations are well aligned in their missions and share a deep commitment to serving the healthcare needs of the Lower Eastern Shore of Maryland and Delaware.

“The board was delighted to find a potential partner that shares our exciting vision of serving our local community,” said Doug Cook, chair of the AGH Board of Trustees. “Together, we can make advancements in recruiting and retaining top physicians, as well as invest in the infrastructure and technology that will improve our care delivery. This is an important step forward for our community.”

“TidalHealth recognizes AGH’s longstanding commitment and service to the community and looks forward to the opportunity to combine our shared objectives and missions and develop a strategic relationship that will further enhance the services we provide to the citizens of Delmarva,” said Steve Leonard, Ph.D., MBA, FACHE, President/CEO of TidalHealth, Inc. “TidalHealth has great respect for AGH’s historic contribution to the healthcare needs of its community, and we are honored to have been chosen. We are confident that we can further enhance their strength in the region with AGH becoming part of the robust health system that has been providing high-quality care since 1897. Our Board of Directors, physicians, and our entire healthcare team are looking forward to welcoming Atlantic General to the TidalHealth family.”

The proposed partnership between TidalHealth and Atlantic General Hospital will:

• Provide access to an integrated electronic medical record through Epic;
• Improve the coordination of services and access to care for patients;
• Provide capital funding to expand services;
• Strengthen the hospital’s ability to retain and attract a high-quality workforce.

The two health systems hope to finalize an agreement in spring of 2025, pending further board approvals and regulatory review.

“This partnership is a win for our patients, our associates and the communities we serve,” said Don Owrey, President and CEO of AGH. “By affiliating with TidalHealth, we have the opportunity to combine the strengths of our two organizations to fundamentally improve the availability of high-quality healthcare close to home.”

“We are excited about the opportunity to combine and bring together two strong organizations, each with outstanding reputations for the patient experience and quality of care,” said Memo Diriker, Ph.D., Chairperson, TidalHealth Board of Directors, Inc. “This partnership brings an incredible opportunity to unite and enhance care delivery in our region.”

As the two organizations continue to work through the comprehensive due diligence period to determine the details of a final agreement, they commit that the proposed combination will not impact either health system’s daily operations, and nothing changes today for patients or associates.

To learn more, please visit aghforward.org. 

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About Atlantic General Hospital

Atlantic General Hospital has been providing quality health care to the residents of Worcester, Wicomico, Somerset (Md.) and Sussex (Del.) counties since May 1993. Built by the commitment and generosity of a dedicated community, the hospital’s state-of-the-art facility in Berlin, Md. combines compassion and expertise with the latest in technology and services. Atlantic General Health System, its network of more than 40 primary care provider and specialist offices care for residents and visitors throughout the region. For more information about Atlantic General Hospital, visit www.atlanticgeneral.org.

About TidalHealth

In 2020, nearly 5,000 healthcare providers from across the region united under one name in celebration of a shared mission: to improve the health of the community. 

TidalHealth—which includes TidalHealth Peninsula Regional, TidalHealth Nanticoke, TidalHealth Medical Partners, an expansive physician network with 65 locations and more than 300 providers in 26 different specialties—offers the best in patient-centered care. It provides a full range of services, including neurosurgery, cardiothoracic surgery, joint replacement, emergency/trauma care, comprehensive cancer care, women’s and children’s services, wound care, and clinical trials and research as a member of the Johns Hopkins Clinical Research Network. Learn more at tidalhealth.org.