Sadler Health ends discussions of possible merger

Carlisle-based Sadler Health Center plans to remain locally owned after exploring a partnership with the state’s largest community health center.

Sadler and Mercer County-based Primary Health Network began talks for a possible merger late last year. The local health center said in an announcement last week that despite seeing benefits from the merger, Sadler’s board of directors decided to end discussions.

“The board determined the best way to meet the health needs of this community is to continue to operate as a locally-managed and governed entity,” said Michael Wolf, chair of Sadler Health’s Board of Directors.

Sadler sees nearly 10,000 patients annually from its downtown Carlisle office and Perry County dental care center.

The Carlisle office and Sadler headquarters offers primary care, dental care and behavioral health services. In recent years, the federally qualified health center has recognized a need to move the Carlisle services to a new facility.

Wolf said that one of the reasons for the partnership with Primary Health was to help with the transition to a new headquarters but that Sadler will now be looking at making the move independently.

“We recognize we have a need and the challenge will be how we best fulfill that need,” he said, adding that the company will be entering a phase of strategic planning.

Sadler has not announced why it came to the decision to close its talks with Primary Health, which sees over 100,000 patients a year at its 50 health centers in Pennsylvania and Ohio.

“We have a great deal of admiration for (Primary Health’s) efforts to provide medical services to underserved populations and have learned a great deal from them during the due diligence process,” Wolf said.

Sadler currently has no plans to seek out another buyer.