TALLADEGA — As discussions between Citizens Hospital Association and Baptist Health Systems begin, both parties plan to follow the recent reacquisition of Coosa Valley Medical Center as a model for the hospital’s transition.Nine months ago, the Sylacauga Hospital Authority purchased CVMC from BHS when the organization decided to focus its resources more on the greater Birmingham area.
Now the same has happened to Citizens Baptist Medical Center, and CHA has been given first priority to purchase the hospital per an agreement when Baptist took over control about 10 years ago.
Although CHA has still not officially decided whether it will purchase Citizens Baptist Medical Center, officials say they hope to reach a decision soon.
"We have not had a meeting with Baptist Health Systems except for them to basically announce their change in focus, and that’s all," said CHA chairman Cleve Jacobs. "Nothing is guaranteed. We don’t own it yet, so everything is contingent on that."
If the hospital association does decide to go through with the purchase, it will look to Sylacauga hospital for guidance during the process, according to a letter from Jacobs to CHA board members dated May 20.
"The CHA Executive Committee met Thursday (May 19) with Colin Luke, an attorney who specializes in negotiations of this sort and Jerry Fielding, chairman of the board, Coosa Medical Center in Sylacauga," Jacobs wrote. "… We also spoke to Glenn Sisk, administrator of Coosa Medical, and he assured us that we would have access to all the information and assistance that made their transition flow smoothly. They were able to complete their reacquisition within a 120-day period."
Jacobs said CHA has followed suit.
"According to Coosa, they were able to transition from Baptist ownership to independence in 120 days," he said. "That’s a goal we’re kind of looking at if we can do it, but we have not entered stage one yet so that clock isn’t ticking."
If the organization decides not to purchase the hospital, proposals and requests will be sent out to other interested parties.
No matter who decides to purchase the facilities, though, Jacobs said services will continue.
"When we finally get involved in negotiations with Baptist on this, there will be other meetings and communications out to the hospital association members and the local citizens as to what’s going on," he said. "Until such time, if there’s anything definite, it’s best not to make statements concerning this issue."
In CVMC’s case, Fielding said no employees lost their jobs and patient services, even those specific to Baptist Health Systems, remained undisturbed.
SportsFirst, which also has a facility in Talladega, was renamed when the reacquisition was completed so patients would not lose any of the benefits associated with BHS.
"It just seemed natural that it stayed with the hospital but under a different name," Fielding said. "… The hospital just continued to operate as it was. I think it’s been a very positive thing for our community."
As far as employee pensions go, Fielding said physicians and other staff that remained in Sylacauga continue to have their retirement plans with Baptist and an additional plan with the new hospital.
"We had a new benefits package put together and all the employees are now under a benefit plan as provided by our hospital," Fielding said. "Anybody that’s got a pension with Baptist Health Systems at this time, when they reach whatever age it is that allows them to draw their retirement … then they would be able to withdraw whatever they are entitled from that plan."
There’s still some kinks to be worked out, but Fielding said if CHA does acquire the hospital it will be a positive thing for the community.
"I think if the Talladega folks begin to call the shots on health care in Talladega and not have to get directions from Birmingham, it’s going to be a positive all the way around," he said. "The community will be a beneficiary of all that."
