Birmingham’s Baptist Health System (BHS) has reduced its hospital count by more than half in the past five years. With the recent sale of its 35 percent stake in Trinity Medical Center in Birmingham, BHS now has four health care facilities. It had 10 hospitals in 2003.
Once the flagship hospital for BHS, Trinity (formerly Montclair Baptist Medical Center) became part of a joint venture between BHS and Triad Hospitals Inc. of Plano, Texas, in 2005. Triad owned 65 percent and BHS 35 percent.
Community Health Systems of Franklin, Tenn., bought Triad in 2007, and June 30 of this year, Community purchased BHS’ remaining interest in Trinity.
BHS will retain ownership of about 100 acres of the Trinity campus, while Community will own 20 acres.
Now that the Trinity sale is finalized, Shane Spees, president and chief executive officer of BHS, said BHS is working to meet capital needs at its four medical centers — Princeton Baptist Medical Center in Birmingham, Shelby Baptist Medical Center in Alabaster, Walker Baptist Medical Center in Jasper and Citizens Baptist Medical Center in Talladega.
"With more than $73 million invested in Princeton over the past several years and an additional $75 million planned in the near future, the current $90 million bed-tower project underway at Shelby, a new Family Center at Walker, and a planned professional office building at Citizens, we’ve strengthened our healthcare ministry in each of the communities we serve," Spees wrote in an e-mail. "It is truly an exciting time for [BHS]." (TAB)
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