Cape Regional Health System has been approved to join with Cooper University Health Care, according to a Tuesday afternoon announcement from New Jersey Superior Court in Cape May County.

“This historic agreement will provide the residents and visitors of Cape May and Atlantic Counties with greater access to more health care resources, innovative technologies and specialists,” George E. Norcross III, chairman of Cooper University Health Care’s board of trustees, said. “As the leading academic health system in the region, we’re committed to working with our new colleagues to provide the highest level of advanced health care and serve the health care needs of more communities across southern New Jersey.”

Cooper, with its market-leading MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper, is based in the city of Camden and is southern New Jersey’s leading academic health system and Level I trauma center, with more than $2.2 billion in revenue. Cape Regional Health System has earned the Gold Seal of Approval from the Joint Commission and is an integrated health care delivery system serving residents throughout Cape May County.

The combined health system will have:

• Two hospitals with more than 900 licensed beds;
• Revenue exceeding $2.2 billion annually;
• Nearly 11,000 combined team members;
• More than 1,000 employed physicians in three physician groups;
• More than 550 advanced practice providers;
• 130+ ambulatory locations across eight counties; and
• Six urgent care centers.

First announced in December 2022, Cooper and Cape Regional have been working through the necessary regulatory approvals since.

“Over the past year and a half, both systems worked diligently to bring together these two trusted health systems to serve the health care needs of the residents and visitors in our communities. We are delighted that our work has come to fruition. As we forge together as one, we remain committed to providing the highest quality health care to our communities,” Garry Gilbert, chairman, Cape Regional Health System board of trustees, said.

“We are thrilled to have this final approval and look forward to joining Cooper University Health Care. Our respective health systems have a long history of working together to serve the residents and visitors of Cape May County,” Joanne Carrocino, CEO and president, Cape Regional Health System, said.

“We are happy to have this final approval so we can finally focus on providing the highest quality of care to the residents and visitors at the Shore. Together, we are positioned well to address the evolving health care needs of this region and provide a more integrated health care experience from primary care to the most complex specialty care,” Dr. Anthony Mazzarelli, co-CEO of Cooper, said.

“Today’s approval marks a moment of great promise, as two anchor institutions in the southern New Jersey region are now cleared to join forces to better serve communities across South Jersey,” Kevin O’Dowd, co-CEO of Cooper, said. “We look forward to working with our soon-to-be new colleagues to build upon their tremendous tradition of service to the residents and visitors of Cape May County.”