Cape Regional officially joins Cooper University Health Care

Following a year-and-a-half-long process, Cape Regional Health System is now part of Cooper University Health Care. Effective July 1, the former is renamed Cooper University Hospital Cape Regional.

A Cape May County Superior Court approved the planned merger May 28. Plans were originally unveiled in December 2022 . The providers signed a definitive agreement in April 2023 and then worked to obtain necessary regulatory approvals. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

"This agreement will transform health care for the residents and visitors of Cape May and Atlantic counties,” George Norcross III, chairman of Cooper University Health Care’s board of trustees, said in a July 1 statement announcing the closing. “We are ready to move forward and for our unified team to begin delivering the highest level of advanced health care to more people in shore communities and beyond. We are excited by the opportunity to build something extraordinary here.”

According to previous updates, the combined health system has:

• Two hospitals with more than 900 licensed beds;



• Revenue exceeding $2.2 billion annually;



• Nearly 11,000 team members;



• More than 1,000 employed physicians in three physician groups;



• More than 550 advanced practice providers;



• More than 130 ambulatory locations across eight counties; and



• Six urgent care centers.

 

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“The future of health care is very bright for the residents and visitors of Cape May County as a result of this merger,” added Joanne Carrocino, who will continue leading the Cape Regional hospital as CEO. “The Cape Regional team is excited to begin working with our new colleagues at Cooper.”

Garry Gilbert, former chairman of Cape Regional Health System's board of trustees, called the union "a significant day and a new chapter for health care in Cape May County and beyond."

Dr. Anthony Mazzarelli and Kevin O’Dowd, co-CEOs of the Camden-based Cooper Health network, echoed those sentiments. The pair added they looked forward to working with their new Cape Regional colleagues.

“We are happy to have brought this vision to reality," Mazzarelli said. O’Dowd added, “Today is a day of great promise, as two teams have become one team dedicated to serving communities across South Jersey."

Cooper Health also announced Senior Vice President and Chief Regional Officer Christine Winn will oversee operations in Cape May and Atlantic counties, including Cooper University Hospital Cape Regional.

Full speed ahead

The merger follows several other major announcements from Cooper Health. Those milestones include earning an A+ from Fitch Ratings the highest in the Camden-based health care provider’s 137-year history as well as a credit upgrade from S&P Global Ratings. Both announced in February, the latter issued an A with a positive outlook.

In November 2023, Cooper University Health Care opened the first phase of its $150 million outpatient campus at Moorestown Mall. to take a look around . - COOPER HEALTH

In June, the Center for LGBTQ+ Health at Cooper, which was established in 2021, opened its first dedicated office space. Additionally, the health care provider debuted the first phase of its $150 million outpatient campus at Moorestown Mall in November 2023 . And perhaps the system’s greatest undertaking of late is its planned $2 billion expansion of its Camden campus .

Two other health care systems in New Jersey also recently announced progress on their planned partnership. On June 25, Atlantic Health System and Saint Peter’s Healthcare System revealed signing a definitive agreement, advancing their plans toestablish a strategic union.

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