BHS announces new focus, to cut ties with three hospitals

The board of trustees for Baptist Health System has taken another step in determining the future look of the system’s health care.

Following a weekend retreat in February, BHS officials announced on March 2 a new direction — focusing on acute and ambulatory health care services, pursuing new partnerships with its physicians and calling for a major investment in capital improvements in its major facilities this year.

The move comes eight months after the board of trustees stopped a likely sale of the system and began an intensive examination and reorganization of BHS.

The new system will move from 10 hospitals to seven, with plans to cut ties with the Baptist hospitals in Sylacauga, Centre and Moulton.

Galleria Woods Retirement Community and Shelby Ridge Nursing Home will also no longer be a part of the 82-year-old faith-based, health care system.

“We are focusing on moving forward,” said Beth O’Brien, the system’s chief executive officer. “The board did an evaluation of how we could best move forward and chose the appropriate directions.”

O’Brien was named CEO of the system in December after the post was vacated July 2003.

The BHS board also approved a new vision statement for the system: “Inspired by the vision of our founders, with our physician partners and associates, Baptist Health System will transform its structures and services to create excellence as a faith-based, community-focused health care system.”

Financial impact

While the direction has been set, the exact financial impact is yet to be determined, O’Brien said, explaining assessments have not been made.

“That is in front of us,” she said. “We don’t know all of the financial impacts yet.”

O’Brien noted that a master site planning project was launched by the board to allow BHS officials to see where each hospital currently is and then develop a plan for renovations at each facility.

The new partnerships with physicians was included in order to enhance the quality of programs and services offered by BHS, according to a March 2 news release.

The first plan of action will be to advance BHS’ acute care and ambulatory care facilities, the news release reported. “These changes will allow BHS to focus its energies on its core facilities in which we can truly invest and provide excellent acute care and ambulatory care services,” O’Brien said. “We want to focus around communities.” (TAB)