Advocate Aurora Health
{{Short description|Non-profit health care system with headquarters located in Milwaukee & Downers Grove, IL}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2012}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Advocate Aurora Health
| parent = Advocate Health
| logo = Advocate Aurora Health logo.png
| logo_size =
| image = Advocate Aurora Health.jpg
| image_size = 260px
| image_caption =
| type = Not-for-profit corporation
| ISIN =
| industry = Health care
| predecessor =
| successor =
| founded = {{Start date and age|1984}}
| founder =
| defunct =
| hq_location = Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Downers Grove, Illinois
| num_locations =
| area_served = Eastern Wisconsin and Illinois
| key_people = Eugene A. Woods, CEO
| services =
| revenue = $12 billion
| operating_income =
| net_income =
| divisions =
| website = {{URL|www.aah.org}}
| footnotes =
}}
Advocate Aurora Health (AAH) was a non-profit, faith-based hospital network with dual headquarters located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Downers Grove, Illinois. In 2021, the AAH system had 26 hospitals and more than 500 sites of care, with 75,000 employees, including 10,000 employed physicians.{{cite web| publisher=Advocate Aurora Health| title=Our Story| date=2021| url=https://www.advocateaurorahealth.org/our-story/| accessdate=2021-10-22| archive-date=November 10, 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211110160150/https://www.advocateaurorahealth.org/our-story/| url-status=live}} The health system formed as a result of a merger between Illinois-based Advocate Health Care and Wisconsin-based Aurora Health Care. AAH is a teaching affiliate of the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.{{cite news| publisher=University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health| title=Facts| url=http://www.med.wisc.edu/about/facts-figures/44| accessdate=2019-06-08| archive-date=September 9, 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909043016/http://www.med.wisc.edu/about/facts-figures/44| url-status=live}} It is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the United Church of Christ.
History
=1980–1990s=
Image:AuroraSheboyganMemorialMedicalCenter.jpg Medical Center]]
In 1984, St. Luke's Medical Center and Good Samaritan Medical Center formed an affiliation called St. Luke's Samaritan Health Care.{{cite news |last1=Boulton |first1=Guy |title=Aurora Health Care and Advocate Health Care to merge |url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/business/health-care/2017/12/04/aurora-health-care-advocate-health-care-merge/918421001/ |work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |date=December 4, 2017 |access-date=January 16, 2018 |archive-date=May 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180502230837/https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/business/health-care/2017/12/04/aurora-health-care-advocate-health-care-merge/918421001/ |url-status=live }} In 1987, the organization was renamed to Aurora Health Care.{{cite news |title=Aurora Health Care CEO Howe to retire |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2006/03/20/daily41.html |work=Milwaukee Business Journal |date=March 24, 2006 |access-date=February 12, 2021 |archive-date=May 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512014510/https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2006/03/20/daily41.html |url-status=live }} In 1988, after forming a partnership with Aurora, the Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) of Milwaukee joined Aurora Health Care. Between 1992 and 1995, the health care system added five more hospitals: Sheboygan Memorial Medical Center (1992),{{cite web |last1=Gregg |first1=Helen |title=100 Great Community Hospitals |url=https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/lists/100-great-community-hospitals.html |publisher=Becker's Hospital Review |date=June 28, 2013 |access-date=February 12, 2021 |archive-date=April 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210421170312/https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/lists/100-great-community-hospitals.html |url-status=live }} Milwaukee Psychiatric Hospital (1993), Hartford Memorial Hospital (1993), Two Rivers Community Hospital (1993), and West Allis Memorial Hospital (1995).
In 1995, two additional hospitals joined Aurora Health Care: Lakeland Medical Center in Elkhorn, owned by Walworth County, and Trinity Memorial Hospital in Cudahy, founded in 1958 and owned by Catholic Health Corp. Aurora acquired Lakeland Medical Center for about $16 million. In the deal, Aurora assumed the hospital's bond obligations and debt and agreed to contribute to a fund to cover the uninsured.{{cite news | last = Lincoln | first = Judy | title = Country OKs hospital deal with Aurora | publisher = Milwaukee Sentinel | date = 1995-03-15 | url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4208/is_19950315/ai_n10188965 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081016031217/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4208/is_19950315/ai_n10188965 | url-status = dead | archive-date = 2008-10-16 | accessdate = 2007-04-02 }} In February 1996, Memorial Hospital of Burlington joined Aurora Health Care.
In 1998, Aurora built its first hospital, on the west side of Kenosha, which opened in February 1999. That same year Aurora replaced Two Rivers Community Hospital with a new facility, which opened in June 2000.
=2000s=
In 2002, a five-story Aurora Women's Pavilion was opened at West Allis Memorial Hospital and Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center moved its Labor & Delivery services to that location. On October 27, 2003, the health care system opened a new 84-bed hospital in Oshkosh.{{cite press release|title=Open house celebration Oct. 25 to unveil Aurora Medical Center in Oshkosh |publisher=Aurora Health Care |date=2003-08-31 |url=http://www.aurorahealthcare.org/aboutus/media/news/index.asp?AutoNumber=63 |accessdate=2007-04-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060117184315/http://www.aurorahealthcare.org/aboutus/media/news/index.asp?AutoNumber=63 |archive-date=January 17, 2006 }}{{cite news | last = Trewyn | first = Phill | title = Aurora on track in Oshkosh | publisher = The Business Journal | date = 2003-03-28 | url = http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2003/03/31/story5.html | accessdate = 2007-04-01 | archive-date = February 18, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080218024448/http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2003/03/31/story5.html | url-status = live }} In 2004, a 270-bed twelve-story tower opened at St. Luke Medical Center, which was built atop the existing parking structure.{{cite news | last = Trewyn | first = Phill | title = The answer at St. Luke's: elevate | publisher = The Business Journal | date = 2003-09-03 | url = http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2003/09/15/focus2.html | accessdate = 2007-04-01 | archive-date = February 18, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080218062813/http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2003/09/15/focus2.html | url-status = live }}
In March 2004, Aurora Health Care announced a new QuickCare service, the first of its kind in the Milwaukee area. The kiosks, known as Aurora QuickCare, are staffed by providers who handle basic, common medical issues for a flat rate.{{cite news | last = Williams | first = Scott | title = Aurora plans to launch 8 'Quick Care' kiosks | work = Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | publisher = FindArticles.com | date = 2004-05-28 }} Aurora has opened 19 of these facilities including five in Walmart Supercenters.{{cite web|title=Aurora Facilities |publisher=Aurora Health Care |url=http://www.aurorahealthcare.org/facilities/search.asp?fldFacilityKind=QuickCare&fldAddress=&fldService=ALL&fldFacilityName=ALL&fldCounty=ALL&fldZipCode=&fldZipCodeDistance=5&fldCity=ALL&docsubmit=Search |accessdate=2007-04-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070505002016/http://www.aurorahealthcare.org/facilities/search.asp?fldFacilityKind=QuickCare&fldAddress=&fldService=ALL&fldFacilityName=ALL&fldCounty=ALL&fldZipCode=&fldZipCodeDistance=5&fldCity=ALL&docsubmit=Search |archive-date=May 5, 2007 |url-status=dead }}
In 2006, after 22 years at the health care organization, G. Edwin Howe retired as president and chief executive officer.{{cite news | title = Aurora Health Care CEO Howe to retire | publisher = The Business Journal | date = 2006-03-24 | url = http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2006/03/20/daily41.html | accessdate = 2007-04-01 | archive-date = August 25, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090825151250/http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2006/03/20/daily41.html | url-status = live }} Nick Turkal, a family practice physician and president of Aurora's metro Milwaukee region, was chosen as Howe's replacement. Turkal had been employed by Aurora Health Care since 1987.{{cite news | title = Turkal to take over Aurora Health Care | publisher = The Business Journal | date = 2006-09-19 | url = http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2006/09/18/daily18.html | accessdate = 2007-04-01 | archive-date = August 24, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090824235718/http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2006/09/18/daily18.html | url-status = live }}
In March 2001, Aurora announced plans to build a new hospital in the Pabst Farms development in the city of Oconomowoc. The Oconomowoc Common Council rezoned the property in June 2001, preventing the development. Aurora sued Oconomowoc because it believed that the rezoning was done illegally.{{cite news|last=Clark |first=Jonna |title=Town and city come together over hospital |work=Waukesha Freeman |publisher=Aurora Health Care |date=2006-08-22 |url=http://www.aurorahealthcare.org/facilities/more/western-waukesha/up-to-date/news/2006/ocon8-22-06.asp |accessdate=2007-04-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080408114846/http://www.aurorahealthcare.org/facilities/more/western-waukesha/up-to-date/news/2006/ocon8-22-06.asp |archive-date=April 8, 2008 }} In 2004, Aurora revealed plans to construct a hospital in the Pabst Farms development located in the Town of Summit a few hundred feet (around 100 meters) south of the proposed Oconomowoc site. In 2007, the Summit Town Board approved the new Aurora hospital, which was planned to have a capacity of 110 beds{{cite news | last = Rinard | first = Amy | title = Aurora given green light | publisher = Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | date = 2007-03-01 | url = http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=572366 | accessdate = 2007-04-02 | archive-date = September 29, 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070929121140/http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=572366 | url-status = live }} and to have been completed in March 2010.{{cite web | title=Summit hospital ready for business | website=The Business Journals | date=2010-02-22 | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2010/02/22/story2.html | access-date=2024-07-16}}
On July 31, 2007, Advanced Healthcare, an independent practice in southeastern Wisconsin, and Aurora Health Care announced that they would join "under a broad affiliation agreement."{{cite news|last=Boulton |first=Guy |author2=Sussman, Lawrence |title=Aurora plans Grafton hospital |publisher=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |date=2007-08-01 |url=http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=641044 |accessdate=2007-08-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070811200618/http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=641044 |archive-date=August 11, 2007 |url-status=live |df=mdy }}{{cite press release|title=Advanced Healthcare and Aurora Health Care agree to form broad new alliance to improve care |publisher=Aurora Health Care |date=2007-07-31 |url=http://www.aurorahealthcare.org/aboutus/media/news/index.asp?AutoNumber=302 |accessdate=2007-07-31 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071202052048/http://www.aurorahealthcare.org/aboutus/media/news/index.asp?AutoNumber=302 |archive-date=December 2, 2007 }} According to the agreement, the leadership of Advanced Healthcare would remain intact. In concert with the purchase announcement, Aurora and Advanced Healthcare constructed the new Aurora Medical Center Grafton in Grafton, Wisconsin, which opened in late 2010. Health care industry experts estimated the total cost of purchasing Advanced Healthcare and constructing the Grafton hospital at $250 million.
=2010s–2020s=
On December 4, 2017, Aurora Health Care and Advocate Health Care Network of Illinois announced a merger agreement.{{cite news |last=Boulton |first=Guy |title=Aurora Health Care and Advocate Health Care to merge |url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/business/health-care/2017/12/04/aurora-health-care-advocate-health-care-merge/918421001/ |date=December 4, 2017 |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |access-date=January 16, 2018 |archive-date=May 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180502230837/https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/business/health-care/2017/12/04/aurora-health-care-advocate-health-care-merge/918421001/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2017/12/04/advocate-plans-to-merge-with-wisconsin-hospital-giant-aurora/|title=Advocate plans to merge with Wisconsin hospital giant Aurora|last=Schencker|first=Lisa|date=December 4, 2017|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|access-date=May 23, 2025}} On April 2, 2018, the hospital networks merged creating Advocate Aurora Health.{{Cite web|url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/business/health-care/2018/04/02/merger-aurora-health-care-and-advocate-health-care-completed/478565002/|title=Merger of Aurora Health Care and Advocate Health Care is completed|last=Boulton|first=Guy|date=April 2, 2018|newspaper=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|access-date=May 23, 2025}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2018/04/02/mergedaurora-health-care-advocate-health-care.html|title=Merged Aurora Health Care, Advocate Health Care consider clinic expansion near Foxconn|last=Kirchen|first=Rich|date=April 2, 2018|newspaper=Milwaukee Business Journal|url-access=subscription|access-date=May 23, 2025}} In 2020, Advocate Aurora Health sold two Downstate Illinois hospitals to the Carle healthcare system.{{cite web| publisher=Crain's Chicago Business| date=January 9, 2020| title=Advocate Aurora Health to sell its 2 downstate hospitals: The facilities are to be acquired by Urbana-based Carle| author=Goldberg, Stephanie| authorlink=Stephanie Goldberg| url=https://www.chicagobusiness.com/health-care/advocate-aurora-health-sell-its-2-downstate-hospitals| accessdate=2021-10-22| archive-date=July 1, 2024| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240701035048/https://www.chicagobusiness.com/health-care/advocate-aurora-health-sell-its-2-downstate-hospitals| url-status=live}}
In October 2021, AAH fired over 400 full- and part-time employees for not getting vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus.{{cite web| publisher=Chicago Sun Times| title=Hospital system employees face firing as vaccine mandate deadlines approach| author1=Chase, Brett| author2=Sneha Dey| date=October 20, 2021| url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/2021/10/20/22736878/chicago-covid-vaccine-mandate-advocate-aurora-fired-workers-refused-shots-rush-northwestern| accessdate=2021-10-22| archive-date=October 22, 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022195952/https://chicago.suntimes.com/2021/10/20/22736878/chicago-covid-vaccine-mandate-advocate-aurora-fired-workers-refused-shots-rush-northwestern| url-status=live}} Advocate Aurora Health agreed in May 2022 to merge with Atrium Health, assuming the Advocate brand, but based at Atrium Health's headquarters in Charlotte, NC.{{Cite web |date=2022-05-11 |title=Advocate Aurora, Atrium Health systems to merge |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/2022/5/11/23067195/advocate-aurora-atrium-health-systems-hospital-merger-healthcare |access-date=2022-05-11 |website=Chicago Sun-Times |language=en |archive-date=May 11, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220511171117/https://chicago.suntimes.com/2022/5/11/23067195/advocate-aurora-atrium-health-systems-hospital-merger-healthcare |url-status=live }}
=Atrium Health merger=
The merger was first announced in May 2022. Atrium Health operates in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama. The combined company will operate in six states: Illinois, Wisconsin, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama. It will have 67 hospitals and 150,000 employees with $27 billion in annual revenue. It will be the fifth largest hospital system in the country. The combined organization would be called Advocate Health and be headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. Initially both Gene Woods, CEO of Atrium, and Jim Skogsbergh, CEO of Advocate Aurora, will be co-CEOs for a year and a half until Skogsbergh retires then Woods will be the sole CEO.{{cite news|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2022/05/11/atrium-advocate-aurora-joint-operating-deal.html|title=Atrium Health to combine with Midwest's Advocate Aurora, creating nation's fifth-largest system|last1=Hudson|first1=Carolin|work=Charlotte Business Journal|date=11 May 2022|access-date=3 December 2022|archive-date=May 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220511163246/https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2022/05/11/atrium-advocate-aurora-joint-operating-deal.html|url-status=live}}
The deal will not affect Atrium' Health's new medical school Wake Forest School of Medicine and the medical innovation district The Pearl. The medical school will be the academic core of the newly combined company. Currently Advocate does have partnerships with nearby medical schools and supports research. However, they do not have their own medical school or innovation district. Dr Julie Ann Freischlag, CEO of AHWFB and dean of the WFU School of Medicine, stated completing clinical trials and finding new treatment approaches will be easier with a larger patient population.{{cite news|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2022/05/13/atrium-health-advocate-aurora-wake-forest-baptist.html|title=What Atrium Health-Advocate Aurora deal means for Wake Forest Baptist, WFU med school|last1=Johnson|first1=Lillian|work=Charlotte Business Journal|date=13 May 2022|access-date=3 December 2022|archive-date=July 1, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240701035035/https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2022/05/13/atrium-health-advocate-aurora-wake-forest-baptist.html|url-status=live}}
The deal faced a number of approval hurdles. The North Carolina Attorney General stated he would not oppose the deal, the Federal Trade Commission reviewed the merger, the deal was subject to Illinois and Wisconsin approval since Advocate Aurora is based in both states.{{cite news|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2022/12/02/atrium-health-advocate-aurora-combination.html|title=Atrium, Advocate Aurora complete deal to become fifth-largest U.S. health system|last1=Kirchen|first1=Rich|work=Charlotte Business Journal|date=2 December 2022|access-date=3 December 2022|archive-date=December 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221204121747/https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2022/12/02/atrium-health-advocate-aurora-combination.html|url-status=live}} The deal was temporarily blocked by Illinois health board and then decided to postpone the vote. During a special meeting on November 14, 2022, the board voted 6-0 to approve the deal.{{cite news|url=https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article268731322.html|title=Major Atrium Health deal to combine with Midwest system wins key regulatory vote|last1=Rago|first1=Gordon|work=Charlotte Observer|date=14 November 2022|access-date=5 December 2022|archive-date=November 15, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115002853/https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article268731322.html|url-status=live}} The merger was completed on December 2, 2022,{{cite news|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2022/06/20/atrium-advocate-aurora-combination-health-care.html|title=Four factors to watch as Atrium Health, Advocate Aurora move ahead with mammoth combination|last1=Hudson|first1=Caroline|work=Charlotte Business Journal|date=20 June 2022|access-date=3 December 2022|archive-date=June 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220621070253/https://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2022/06/20/atrium-advocate-aurora-combination-health-care.html|url-status=live}} making Advocate Aurora Health a division of Advocate Health.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/providers/tighter-q3-trims-advocate-healths-ytd-operating-margin-net-income|title=Tighter Q3 trims Advocate Health's 2023 operating margin, net income|last=Muoio|first=Dave|date=November 21, 2023|website=FIERCE Healthcare|access-date=May 27, 2025}}
Research
Formed in 2010, the Advocate Aurora Research Institute is part of Advocate Aurora Health, which conducts research and clinical trials.{{cite web|title=About Aurora Research Institute|url=https://www.aurorahealthcare.org/aurora-research-institute/about-ari|work=Aurora Research Institute|accessdate=February 11, 2021|archive-date=March 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301013100/https://www.aurorahealthcare.org/aurora-research-institute/about-ari|url-status=live}} In 2019, the Advocate Aurora Research Institute conducted 621 clinical trials, published 505 scientific articles, and received $36.8 million in external funding.{{cite web |title=Advocate Aurora Research Institute 2019 Annual Report |url=https://www.aurorahealthcare.org/assets/images/ar_2019.pdf |publisher=Advocate Aurora Health }}
Launched in 2014, Advocate Aurora Health publishes the Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews (JPCRR), a peer-reviewed, open-access medical journal. JPCRR content is published quarterly, with content freely available online.{{cite web|title=About the Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews|url=https://institutionalrepository.aah.org/jpcrr/about.html|work=Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews|accessdate=February 11, 2021|archive-date=February 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228085949/https://institutionalrepository.aah.org/jpcrr/about.html|url-status=live}}
Hospitals
=Hospital bed counts=
This is a list of hospitals and their bed counts.
File:AuroraBaycareMedicalCenterGreenBayWisconsin.jpg]]
| border="0" |
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Wisconsin
|valign="top"| Illinois |
See also
References
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Category:Companies based in Milwaukee
Category:Companies based in Cook County, Illinois
Category:Health care companies based in Wisconsin
Category:Health care companies based in Illinois
Category:Healthcare in Chicago
Category:Hospital networks in the United States