Baptist Health Care expansion

This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses.

Baptist Health Care Announces Planned Acquisition of West Florida Hospital Commitment to Northwest Florida and South Alabama Residents Focuses on Expanded Services and Strengthened Health Care Excellence

PENSACOLA, Fla. (June 26, 2008) – Today, Baptist Health Care signed an asset purchase agreement with Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) to acquire West Florida Hospital for $245 million. Once regulatory approvals are obtained, financing is secured and the purchase is complete, currently anticipated to be by the end of 2008, residents of Northwest Florida and surrounding areas will have expanded access to more than 60 Baptist Health Care locations. Baptist Health Care will redefine health care excellence in Northwest Florida, while remaining a locally owned not-for-profit health care organization.

“This acquisition will enhance the best of both organizations and provides for expansion of our services to meet the needs of our patients and the community,” stated Al Stubblefield, President/CEO, Baptist Health Care. “For more than a decade, Baptist Health Care has earned a reputation for providing quality health care with superior customer satisfaction. By creating a strong, service-oriented culture of excellence within our organization and among our employees, Baptist Health Care has spent multiple years in the top one percent in patient satisfaction surveys. We know the acquisition of West Florida Hospital will allow us to continue our high standard of personal care while expanding services to serve the entire Northwest Florida region.”

With this acquisition, Baptist Health Care and West Florida Hospital will become one to bring together the best technology, services and expertise for superior quality health care for patients and families. Baptist Health Care’s main campus will continue to operate as a vital, full service outpatient facility offering walk-in urgent care services, diagnostic and imaging services, ambulatory services, physician offices and corporate management offices. The combined inpatient psychiatric services currently at Baptist Hospital and West Florida Hospitals will be housed at the Baptist Behavioral Medicine Hospital.

Once the purchase is complete, the current West Florida Hospital on Davis Highway will become the new Baptist Hospital, and together with Baptist Medical Park – 9 Mile, will give Baptist Health Care a major presence in north Pensacola. The campus will feature comprehensive inpatient and outpatient care plus world-class services such as an expanded Baptist Cancer Center in affiliation with the Moffitt Cancer Institute; Baptist Neurosciences Center complemented by a rehab hospital for neurologic and orthopaedic conditions; Baptist Heart & Vascular Center of Excellence; and an expanded Emergency Department. The new Baptist Hospital also will offer a new parking garage and new physician office buildings.

Additionally, Baptist Health Care will assume the current West Florida Hospital Primary Care Practices, which will increase access and outreach to the community. The addition of West Florida Hospital Primary Care Practices (nine neighborhood medical centers) to Baptist Health Care affiliated and employed physicians will expand Baptist Health Care primary care locations throughout the community, creating the largest and most convenient primary care network in the region.

This opportunity ensures that Baptist can continue to meet the growing health care needs of the poor and uninsured—a hallmark of Baptist Health Care’s mission. This expansion provides opportunities for new and enhanced health care services, based on the needs of our patients and the community. Baptist is forming a Campus Redevelopment Council to help determine future development of the main campus.

“This acquisition will allow Baptist Health Care to continue to be at the forefront of health care excellence in Northwest Florida. With the help of our outstanding doctors and staff, we are revolutionizing health care in Pensacola,” stated Stubblefield.

For more information about this exciting anticipated expansion, please browse BHCexpansion.org or call (850) 434-4080.

External links

• www.bhcexpansion.org – Informational website about the expansion