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Mercyhealth and FHN Announce Affiliation Agreement

September 30, 2025 – FHN announced plans to affiliate with Mercyhealth during a press conference in Freeport today. By joining Mercyhealth, FHN will benefit from greater economies of scale, creating opportunities for more efficient use of resources, cost savings and reinvestment. Those savings will be used to enhance patient care, expand services, and upgrade facilities and technology in the FHN service area.

“It is important to the communities we serve that we were proactive in finding a strong, advanced system that will continue to expand and grow. By joining forces with Mercyhealth, we are taking an active step to preserve and strengthen care for our patients,” said Mark Gridley, FHN President & CEO. “In Mercyhealth we have found an organization that shares our strong history of providing care in rural communities and can also provide our patients with greater access to Mercyhealth's advanced clinical expertise and specialty care centers.”

FHN has served the communities of northwest Illinois for more than 120 years. Like other independent systems, it continued to struggle in today's health care environment where currently less than 24% of US hospitals remain independent. The vast majority of US hospitals are now part of larger health care systems, reflecting a long-term trend of consolidation to preserve and enhance local services.

The transaction will provide patients with a broader range of services and a stronger, more connected system of care that links rural community care centers to Mercyhealth's Tertiary care centers.

“I have a great deal of respect for Mr. Gridley. He kept the facility operating independently in a tough economic environment where more than 750 hospitals nation-wide are at risk of closing, including 16 in Illinois,” said Mercyhealth President & CEO Javon Bea. “This decision ensures that FHN's legacy of service and high-quality patient care continues long into the future.”

As part of the agreement, Mercyhealth has committed to investing $100 million in FHN over the next five years. These funds support major capital projects, including a new linear accelerator for the Leonard C. Ferguson Cancer Center at FHN Memorial Hospital and a robotic surgical system, while also strengthening facilities and expanding services for the area.

Both organizations recognize FHN has a strong tradition and identity in the communities it serves. That history will be honored through the name Mercyhealth FHN, reflecting both its legacy and its future as part of Mercyhealth.

The transaction will go through customary regulatory and closing conditions, which are anticipated to be completed by December 31, 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions

Mercyhealth Service Area with FHN Affiliation

Update on NorthPointe Neighborhood Hospital Project

September 23, 2025 – It was announced in July that FHN would partner with Beloit Health System to formally propose a new 10-bed micro-hospital on the campus of NorthPointe Health in Roscoe, IL.

The FHN Board of Directors leadership has made the decision to end its participation in the proposed project. “After much careful consideration, the FHN Board of Directors leadership has decided to withdraw from participation in the NorthPointe Neighborhood Hospital project,” said FHN President and CEO Mark Gridley. “This was a strategic and financial decision to prioritize our focus and limited resources in the face of industry financial challenges in our local communities. The Neighborhood Hospital makes sense and could have financial benefit for FHN, but recent reimbursement reductions anticipated from the Federal legislation approved this July will present further financial challenges that necessitate a focus on local priorities.

FHN still believes this is an important project worthy of consideration by the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board. We wish Beloit Health System the best in their continued pursuit of the much-needed project.”

Nine Schools Score FHN Miles and Minutes Cash

September 16, 2025 – Nine area schools received checks from FHN this fall, thanks to their dedicated fans who counted their exercise minutes through the summer with FHN's Miles and Minutes program.

Together, exercisers logged enough activity (for the contest, miles were normalized to help ensure a more level playing field for schools of all sizes) to equate to 154,680 miles �“ that's the equivalent of more than 6 times around the Equator!

FHN's Miles and Minutes encouraged participants to be active and log various types of physical activity to win prize money for the school of their choice.

Miles and Minutes winners were chosen in two main categories - miles per school system (normalized based on the number of students in each school system to help ensure that all schools had an equal chance to win, no matter their size or how many participants they enlist) and average miles per participant. The winners are:

Miles per School System:
Tri-County Christian, with 80,500 miles ($2,000)
Immanuel Lutheran, with 21,838 miles ($1,000)
Pearl City, with 9,328 miles ($500)

Average Miles per Participant:
Lena-Winslow, with 398 miles per participant ($2,000)
Warren, with 368 miles per participant ($1,000)
Dakota, with 362 miles per participant ($500)

Schools that did not win a prize in the two main categories were eligible for Sweepstakes prizes. This year's winners are:
Scales Mound - $500
Freeport Create Academy - $400
Orangeville - $300

The free program had 274 participants who logged all types of exercise from May 26 through August 24.

FHN Sports Physicals Return $700 to West Carroll Schools

September 16, 2025 – FHN's series of sports physical clinics, held throughout the spring and summer, helped save time and hassle for many area parents, and raised more than $13,000 for area schools. All proceeds from the $25 physicals are donated back to the schools by FHN.

A total of 13 sports physical clinics were held at FHN offices across northwest Illinois this summer, providing 554 physicals and raising $13,855 to donate back to 11 area schools.

A total of 28 West Carroll student-athletes received their $25 physicals at the FHN sports physical clinic held at the FHN Family Healthcare Center - Mount Carroll, raising $700 to be donated back to the school.

FHN encourages families to see their Primary Care, Orthopedic, Podiatry, and Rehab professionals for all sports injury needs and wishes good luck to our area athletes!

FHN Sports Physicals Return $750 to Pecatonica School District

September 15, 2025 – FHN's series of sports physical clinics, held throughout the spring and summer, helped save time and hassle for many area parents, and raised more than $13,000 for area schools. All proceeds from the $25 physicals are donated back to the schools by FHN.

A total of 13 sports physical clinics were held at FHN offices across northwest Illinois this summer, providing 554 physicals and raising $13,855 to donate back to 11 area schools.

A total of 30 Pecatonica student-athletes received their $25 physicals at the FHN sports physical clinic held at the FHN Family Healthcare Center - Pecatonica, raising $750 to be donated back to the school.

FHN encourages families to see their Primary Care, Orthopedic, Podiatry, and Rehab professionals for all sports injury needs and wishes good luck to our area athletes!

FHN Sports Physicals Return $775 to Pearl City Schools

September 12, 2025 – FHN's series of sports physical clinics, held throughout the spring and summer, helped save time and hassle for many area parents, and raised more than $13,000 for area schools. All proceeds from the $25 physicals are donated back to the schools by FHN.

A total of 13 sports physical clinics were held at FHN offices across northwest Illinois this summer, providing 554 physicals and raising $13,855 to donate back to 11 area schools.

A total of 31 Pearl City student-athletes received their $25 physicals at an FHN clinic held at FHN Family Healthcare Center - Highland View Drive in Freeport.

FHN encourages families to see their Primary Care, Orthopedic, Podiatry, and Rehab professionals for all sports injury needs and wishes good luck to our area athletes!

FHN Sports Physicals Return $1,575 to Forrestville Valley

September 12, 2025 – FHN's series of sports physical clinics, held throughout the spring and summer, helped save time and hassle for many area parents, and raised more than $13,000 for area schools. All proceeds from the $25 physicals are donated back to the schools by FHN.

A total of 13 sports physical clinics were held at FHN offices across northwest Illinois this summer, providing 554 physicals and raising $13,855 to donate back to 11 area schools.

A total of 63 Forrestville Valley student-athletes received their $25 physicals at the FHN sports physical clinic held at Forreston High School.

FHN encourages families to see their Primary Care, Orthopedic, Podiatry, and Rehab professionals for all sports injury needs and wishes good luck to our area athletes!

FHN Open House Will Celebrate Cancer Center Anniversary

August 29, 2025 – The public is invited to a special open house celebrating 30 years of excellence in cancer care in northwest Illinois at the FHN Leonard C. Ferguson Cancer Center at FHN Memorial Hospital in Freeport.

Please join cancer patients and survivors, providers, and staff who will be on hand at the free event scheduled for 4 - 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13 at the center, 1163 W. Stephenson Street in Freeport. Guests will be welcome to tour the state-of-the-art center and mingle while enjoying heavy hors d'oeuvres and beverages.

"FHN made a promise in 1995 to open a state-of-the-art Cancer Center on the FHN Memorial Hospital campus," said FHN President and CEO Mark Gridley. "We are so proud and excited to celebrate keeping that promise to our communities for 30 years and many more to come."

No registration or RSVP is necessary; this event is free of charge and open to the public. For more information on The FHN Leonard C. Ferguson Cancer Center at FHN Memorial Hospital, visit www.fhn.org/cancercare.

FHN Sports Physicals Return $3,775 to Freeport Dist. 145

August 29, 2025 – FHN's series of sports physical clinics, held throughout the spring and summer, helped save time and hassle for many area parents, and raised more than $13,000 for area schools. All proceeds from the $25 physicals are donated back to the schools by FHN. A total of 13 sports physical clinics were held at FHN offices across northwest Illinois this summer, providing 554 physicals and raising $13,855 to donate back to 11 area schools. A total of 151 Freeport School District student-athletes received their $25 physicals at the FHN Family Healthcare Center - Burchard Hills in Freeport. Providers who donated their time include Clarence Parks, MD; Justin Young, MD; Jeffrey Schleich, MD; April Jessen, FNP-BC; Tamisha Bonvillain, FNP-BC; Drew Johnson, MD; and Zachary Fulton, MD.

FHN encourages families to see their Primary Care, Orthopedic, Podiatry, and Rehab professionals for all sports injury needs and wishes good luck to our area athletes!

For information about sports medicine and other services available at FHN, visit www.fhn.org.

FHN Recognized for Commitment to Improving Cardiac Arrest Survival Rates

July 23, 2025 – FHN Memorial Hospital has received the American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines - Resuscitation Silver Adult and Newly Born quality achievement awards for its commitment to treating in-hospital cardiac arrest of adults and newborns, ultimately helping to improve survival rates.

Each year, about 300,000 adults and children experience an in-hospital cardiac arrest in the United States. Survival from cardiac arrest largely depends on timely medical emergency team response and effective CPR.

The Get With The Guidelines - Resuscitation program was developed to help save lives of patients who experience in-hospital cardiac arrests by consistently following the most up-to-date research-based guidelines for treatment as outlined by the American Heart Association. Guidelines include following protocols for patient safety, medical emergency team response, effective and timely resuscitation (CPR) and post-resuscitation care. Get With The Guidelines puts the expertise of the American Heart Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure the care provided to patients is aligned with the latest evidence- and research-based guidelines.

“The patient care teams at FHN Memorial Hospital are committed to improving patient care by adhering to the latest resuscitation guidelines,” said FHN Vice President/Chief Operating Officer/Chief Nursing Officer Kathy Martinez, DHA, MSN, RN, FACHE. “By participating in the Get With The Guidelines program, our teams are able to put proven knowledge and evidence-based practices to work on a daily basis, which studies show can help more patients who experience a cardiac arrest survive. Our end goal is to ensure more people in northwest Illinois experience longer, healthier lives.”

FHN Memorial Hospital received the award for meeting specific measures in treating adult and newly born patients who experience cardiac arrest in the hospital.

“We are pleased to recognize FHN for its commitment in following these guidelines,” said Paul Chan, M.D., MSc, volunteer chair of the American Heart Association Resuscitation System of Care Advisory Group. “Hospitals that participate in Get With The Guidelines often see improved patient outcomes and improved survival rates - a win for health care systems, families and communities.”

Beloit Health System and FHN Announce Creation of NorthPointe Neighborhood Hospital

July 10, 2025 – Following the successful joint announcement at the NorthPointe Campus today, Beloit Health System (BHS) and FHN are pleased to officially unveil NorthPointe Health, a proposed new collaboration aimed at enhancing healthcare access and services in our community. They are moving forward with the proposal to establish the NorthPointe Neighborhood Hospital, a 10-bed facility designed to improve healthcare access, keep patients closer to home, and strengthen regional health services.

The organizations have jointly submitted a proposal to the Illinois Health and Facilities Board to seek approval for this project, which is designed to enhance healthcare delivery while allowing both hospitals to remain independent. The proposed hospital, called NorthPointe Neighborhood Hospital, would serve as a community-focused healthcare hub, helping to keep patients in their local area and providing essential services closer to home.

Due to the recent elimination of inpatient beds in Rockford's Northwest region, FHN and BHS discussed the need to reallocate 10 of FHN's beds to the Roscoe region to better serve the community's needs. This proposed hospital aims to help fill some of those gaps by providing local inpatient services and improving access to care.

As part of the process, a Public Hearing will be held on Tuesday, July 15 at 2:00 pm at the Roscoe Township Community Center, 4562 Hononegah Road, Roscoe IL, to gather community feedback and support for the project. Community members are encouraged to attend, learn more about the proposal, and show their support.

Key Points of the Proposal:
- The 10-bed hospital aims to improve access to care and reduce the need for patients to travel outside their community for routine or emergency services.
- This project will enable both hospitals to remain independent while sharing resources, fostering a collaborative approach to healthcare.
- The partnership seeks to strengthen regional healthcare infrastructure by offering a broader range of specialist services through shared staffing.

“Together, we are exploring options that could lead to a facility that benefits our communities,” stated Mark Gridley President and CEO of FHN. “We look forward to working with the Illinois Health and Facilities Board to advance this proposal and, hopefully, bring this vision to life.”

“This is an exciting step toward strengthening healthcare in our region,” said Tim McKevett, President and CEO of Beloit Health System. “Our goal is to improve access to vital services and keep patients connected to their community.”

Further details will be shared as the proposal progresses through the approval process. Both hospitals remain committed to serving their communities and enhancing regional health services.