In a surprise move, Baptist Health System announced Friday negotiations with Citizens Hospital Association have been "terminated" and BHS will continue ownership of Citizens Baptist Medical Center in Talladega.The decision negates a May announcement by the Birmingham-based corporation to place greater emphasis on Birmingham by pursuing the sale of Talladega’s hospital as well as those in DeKalb and Cherokee.
"After several meetings to review and thoroughly consider the reacquisition of Citizens Baptist by the Citizens Hospital Association, it was decided that the best interest of the community will be served by Citizens Baptist continuing as part of the BHS hospital network," according to a letter written to employees by CBMC President Steve Gautney and Beth O’Brien, BHS president and CEO.
Negotiations targeted at allowing the local advisory board to purchase Citizens Baptist began shortly after the May announcement, and officials previously stated they planned to follow plans carried out by Sylacauga Hospital Authority in its purchase of Coosa Valley Medical Center.
Although discussions were terminated before it got to that point, Gautney said, there are several benefits to staying with BHS.
"I think it’s always easier to do things if you’re part of a larger organization," he said. "The same benefits we’ve enjoyed for a number of years being part of a large health system, we’re going to continue to have those benefits.
"I think there’s access to capital, reduced costs through being part of larger buying groups, participating in shared services among our sister hospitals where we can reduce our costs and provide a broader system of services that we offer as a health system."
Cost-efficiency is also coupled with a new promise to improve patient access and additional office space.
"…The next step in Citizens’ future will be to embark on significant facility plans that will pave the way for additional growth," the letter states. " … To this end, our (plan) will focus on new physician office space and enhanced patient access to outpatient surgery and diagnostic services."
The BHS board of trustees and a Citizens Hospital Advisory Council is set to discuss and possibly approve the master facility site plan at an August meeting, according to the letter.
Until then, "we’re here to do great patient care," Gautney said. "That’s what we’ve been doing as long as we’ve been growing the past few years."
Officials from BHS have not announced whether they have decided to continue with plans to sell hospitals in Cherokee and DeKalb.
As far as the plan in Talladega, local officials have lent their support.
"Beth O’Brien (BHS president) is one of the finest administrators this state could have to run Baptist Health System," said Hugo Molliston, a member of the Citizens advisory council. "She’s a lady of great capabilities, and Wayne Pate (president of BHS board of trustees) is a very honorable man. … I’m always interested in what’s best for Talladega and if they’ve decided this is best for Talladega then I’m certainly in favor of it."
