Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Wheeling Hospital today announced an initiative to enhance health care for Harrison County residents by acquiring Cadiz-based Harrison Community Hospital.
The chief executive officers from both hospitals have signed a letter of intent for the transaction.
“The Harrison Community Hospital Board of Trustees and administration are excited and pleased to take the next step to ensure we are keeping quality health care close to home with signing the letter of intent,” said Clifford Harmon, Harrison Community Hospital chief executive officer. “Our hometown health care will be stronger and better with this affiliation, and it will provide additional access to Wheeling Hospital’s advanced diagnostics, specialty care and resources to better serve our patients.”
Wheeling Hospital Chief Executive Officer Ron Violi echoed Harmon’s sentiments, adding, “Our goal has always been to keep patients close to their homes and their loved ones. Over the past decade, we’ve significantly increased the number of physicians, specialists and medical services so area residents don’t have to travel out of the area for quality care. That is our intent for the residents of Harrison County.”
Harmon explained his facility, which opened in 1970, has been an independent hospital but its board recognizes that small independent hospitals are becoming obsolete.
“In 2014, our board prepared a strategic plan that delineated, in part, a desire to create partnerships with other hospitals and systems that would strengthen our ability to care for residents in our community,” Harmon said. “It voted last fall to move forward in the partnership strategy to seek affiliation with a larger health system so that our mission can continue.”
The proposed transaction will further be discussed over the next several weeks, and due diligence will be performed at both hospitals. Once the hospitals have finalized the agreement, it must be approved by state and federal regulatory agencies.
Wheeling Hospital also would be required to seek approval from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and possibly other government agencies.
Harrison Community Hospital is a 25-bed not-for-profit critical access hospital.
Wheeling Hospital, with 247 beds, was founded in 1850. Its facilities include: Belmont Community Hospital and Belmont Health Center, both in Bellaire; Wheeling Clinic; Wellsburg Health Center; Colerain Health Center; St. Clairsville Health Center; Bridgeport Family Health Center; Shadyside Health Center; Powhatan Health Center; and the Bishop Joseph H. Hodges Continuous Care Center and the Howard Long Wellness Center, both in Wheeling.
Source : wheelinghospital.org
