Judge OKs Landmark Caritas merger

WOONSOCKET, R.I. (WPRI) - A superior court judge approved a request on behalf of the Landmark Medical Center to enter merger talks with Caritas Christi Health Care, the hospital announced in a news release Thursday.

Superior Court Judge Michael Silverstein approved the request presented by Landmark Medical Center’s special master, Jonathan N. Savage.  According to the Woonsocket hospital's written announcement, the request to enter into negotiations with Caritas Christi was agreed to by the Rhode Island Department of Health and Attorney General Patrick Lynch.

Silverstein's approval allows Landmark and Caritas Christi, based in Boston, to begin a formal merger negoitation process.

“I am extremely pleased the judge has granted our request and I look forward to working with the management team at Caritas to forge an agreement that will protect the long-term operations of Landmark,” said Savage. “A potential partnership with Caritas would ensure Landmark continues to provide the same high-quality hospital care, as it always has to the people of northern Rhode Island.”

Savage and the presidents of both Landmark and Caritas Christi attended Thursday's court proceeding. Landmark will remain under the court-supervised special mastership process while the negotiations are ongoing.