Four specialty hospital groups have officially merged under the newly identified parent company Ethos Veterinary Health. Ethos is made up of 13 referral hospitals stretching from the northeastern United States to Southern California. Each location will retain the name of its respective group: IVG Hospitals, Premier Veterinary Group, Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital and Veterinary Specialty Hospital. The corporate title was announced today, weeks after the merger closed in December and nearly 11 months after the marriage was proposed. The transaction is being funded through a $21 million secured loan from Citizens Bank of Boston, Ethos reported. “Becoming one organization allows us to fully leverage our collective expertise,” said CEO Ames Prentiss, the son of IVG founder John Prentiss, DVM. “We’re building a national model that will leverage the regional investments we made over the years in education, compounding pharmacy and reference lab expertise.” Ethos plans to expand its network of specialty referral and emergency hospitals over time, the company reported. The leadership at each of the four groups remains in place. “This is truly a merger of four companies with the same people in place, both locally and nationally,” Ethos stated. IVG Hospitals is the largest group, with hospitals in Natick, North Andover and Woburn, Mass.; Lebanon and Portsmouth, N.H.; and Latham, N.Y. Premier Veterinary Group has four Illinois locations: Chicago, Crestwood, Grayslake and Kane County. Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital is in suburban Denver, and Veterinary Specialty Hospital is in San Diego and San Marcos, Calif. Ethos, which launched the website www.ethosvet.com, is based in Woburn.
