Aurora Health Care today announced an agreement to acquire EMPEC, Inc., a Milwaukee-based emergency physician group that currently staffs the emergency department at Aurora Sinai Medical Center and Aurora's urgent care sites in Waterford, Oconomowoc, New Berlin, Franklin and downtown Milwaukee.

"We are pleased to have such an experienced group of physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners join our team," said Jeff Bailet, MD, president of Aurora Medical Group (AMG). "These physicians and staff have specialized training and years of experience at Aurora Sinai and several urgent care centers. This agreement is representative of the fact that both Aurora and EMPEC share a commitment to patient-centered, integrated health care."

As part of this agreement, John Whitcomb, MD, currently EMPEC's president, will become Aurora Health Care's Medical Director of Patient Access. His responsibilities will include creating an access program and structure for Aurora and AMG, developing a regional care coordination and referral program, Aurora Quick Care, system wide disaster planning and wellness consultation.

"The transition from EMPEC as a group to Aurora will be seamless," Whitcomb said. "Patients at Aurora Sinai and the urgent care centers will continue to experience superior care as part of our agreement to join Aurora. But joining an integrated health care system such as Aurora means EMPEC physicians and caregiver teams will be able to do even more for patients. The move to become part of Aurora is a natural evolution of the quality commitment Aurora makes to all its patients. It's what we do and reflects Aurora's and our missions and visions," he said.

EMPEC is comprised of 22 physicians, 14 clinical providers and 2 office staff. The acquisition is expected to close in fall.
Aurora Health Care is a not-for-profit Wisconsin health care provider and a nationally recognized leader in efforts to improve the quality of health care. Aurora offers services at sites in more than 90 communities throughout eastern Wisconsin.

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Contact: Michael Brophy (414-647-6429)