Ministry Health Care and two other regional health systems that comprised the Marian Health System have joined Ascension Health. Marian Health System reached an agreement with St. Louis-based Ascension Health Alliance, parent organization of Ascension Health. Ascension Health is the largest Catholic and nonprofit health system in the nation.

Ministry has a presence throughout Wisconsin and Minnesota with 15 hospitals, 46 clinics and nearly 12,000 employees. Recently, Ministry Health Care assumed sole sponsorship of Affinity Health System located in northeast Wisconsin.

“We are pleased to become part of Ascension Health. This relationship will support and enhance Ministry’s efforts in delivering high-quality patient care in the communities we serve,” said Nick Desien, president and CEO of Ministry Health Care. “This affiliation joins Ministry and our two sister systems in Marian into Ascension Health, an innovative organization with a like-minded commitment to our mission, our communities, as well as a focus on providing safe, holistic, person-centered care.”

Ministry Health Care, which includes the recently acquired Affinity Health System, is an integrated healthcare delivery system serving more than 1.1 million people across Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota. More than 650 physicians and advanced practice clinicians provide personalized care at Ministry primary and specialty care clinic locations. Home healthcare, hospice and long-term care services are also provided across the region.