UAB to manage Baptist Health Montgomery

Baptist Health of Montgomery (BHM) has moved closer to finalizing a management agreement with University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Health System.

According to John Henig Jr., chairman of BHM’s board of trustees, the board has already ratified an agreement that would give UAB control over the system’s management for an interim period of time.

UAB board members were set to meet the week after Easter to ratify the plan.

Announced in early March, the agreement affects all aspects of BHM’s operations, Henig said. “UAB is providing us with interim management resources,” he explained, adding that the move will not change the structure of the system, nor its mission. The Montgomery Baptist Association (MBA) is the parent entity of the nonprofit system. Although MBA does not own the system, the association does choose BHM’s board members.

BHM began looking into a contract with UAB after losing its three leading management officials in the space of a few days, Henig said. After its chief executive officer, Randall Hoover, was fired, the system’s chief financial officer and chief operating officer both left. Henig offered no reason as to the firing and resignations.

The move is also an effort to improve the financial performance of BHM, according to a UAB press release. “We are committed to help Baptist Health enhance efficiencies and revenues so that it remains a vital part of the Montgomery area community,” said David Fine, CEO of the UAB Health System.

Henig said throughout this period, the mission of the three-hospital system will remain the same. “Our mission statement is that through the love of God through Jesus Christ and as a nonprofit organization, we will improve and promote the physical, emotional and spiritual well-being of the people and communities we serve through delivering quality health care service in a fiscally responsible manner,” Henig said.

BHM operates Baptist Medical Center South and Baptist Medical Center East in Montgomery, Prattville Baptist Hospital, SportsFirst Health and Racquet and other nursing and health-care facilities.

(TAB)