Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin, Md., and TidalHealth of Salisbury, Md., announced a definitive agreement has been signed that will bring the two health systems together under TidalHealth. 

By combining the strengths of both organizations, AGH and TidalHealth will be able to offer a more comprehensive range of services to residents of Worcester, Wicomico, Somerset, Sussex and surrounding counties, while continuing to drive innovation.

The result of the May 1 announcement is the creation of an expanded, locally owned and operated health system designed to improve access to coordinated inpatient, outpatient and emergency care, and wellness services across the entire Delmarva Peninsula, including Sussex County.

“Healthcare systems are more frequently coming together to meet the challenges of an ever-evolving environment. We are proud to now have officially partnered with an organization that has very similar philosophies and beliefs, and together we will be working throughout the region to improve health and wellness across the continuum of care,” said Steve Leonard, PhD MBA, FACHE, TidalHealth president/CEO. “We continue to look for partners on this journey and are excited about the opportunities to positively impact additional lives through the growth that will follow.”

AGH and all of its affiliated services, medical practices and outpatient facilities now join the TidalHealth family that includes TidalHealth Nanticoke in Seaford, TidalHealth Peninsula Regional in Salisbury, TidalHealth McCready Pavilion in Crisfield, Md., and a robust primary care and specialty care network of offices and medical campuses in Ocean Pines, Md., and Millsboro.

Under this agreement, AGH and TidalHealth teams will follow a structured integration plan to ensure a smooth transition for patients, team members and providers. During this time, patients can expect the same high-quality care they have always received from each healthcare organization, with enhanced service options becoming available as the integration continues.

No immediate changes in staffing or healthcare delivery at either system is anticipated. For the immediate future, all Atlantic General entities, including the Berlin hospital, will remain branded as Atlantic General.

For the public and teams at both health systems, it will remain patient care as usual and appear seamless, while both organizations continue behind-the-scenes to work on integrating clinical and business operations like information technology, payroll, and conversion of Atlantic General’s electronic medical record to Epic.

The transition to Epic will connect healthcare providers and their patients in a way that will enhance coordination and access for patients. Providers will be able to communicate seamlessly with one another when co-managing patient care. The result will be smoother patient referrals to an increased number of specialty offices through comprehensive care coordination.

“When we onboarded the former Nanticoke Memorial Hospital in 2020, we did it in the middle of a pandemic, which forced us to accelerate some of our processes just to keep up with the unprecedented requirements of patient care,” said Leonard. “The benefit of this agreement occurring now is that we can slow down that process, and bring AGH and the team into our health system at a pace that is much more conducive to our overall structured transition plan.”

In keeping with its tradition of providing care close to home, TidalHealth is committed to sustaining and growing services at the Berlin hospital as it did with TidalHealth Nanticoke in Seaford.

The partnership between TidalHealth and Atlantic General will: provide Atlantic General access to an integrated electronic medical record through Epic, improve coordination of services and access to care for patients, provide Atlantic General capital funding to expand services, and strengthen the hospital’s ability to retain and attract a high-quality workforce.

“As part of TidalHealth, Atlantic General will retain its community-focused approach to care while gaining access to the resources and capabilities of a larger healthcare network,” said AGH President Don Owrey. “This affiliation ensures that patients across Worcester and Sussex counties continue to receive the personalized care they expect from their local hospital and providers, backed by the strength and added capability of TidalHealth. This is an exciting new chapter for Atlantic General and for healthcare on Delmarva, and we look forward to the positive impact it will have on our patients and families."

In early 2024, Atlantic General Hospital began looking for a partner to help build upon the outstanding quality of care it has provided residents in Worcester County for 32 years. TidalHealth and Atlantic General signed a letter of intent Dec. 12, 2024, to begin the investigative process of partnering.

"Together, TidalHealth and Atlantic General are poised to bring exceptional care to our shared communities," said Leonard. "This partnership will help us to be more efficient, innovative and effective in delivering the best possible care. We are excited to welcome AGH into TidalHealth and look forward to the great things we will accomplish by being better together."

Both organizations are committed to maintaining clear communication with patients and community members throughout the process. To learn more, go to tidalhealth.org/growingtogether.