BHS, Samford eye HealthSouth’s ‘digital’ hospital

BHS, Samford eye HealthSouth’s ‘digital’ hospital

Baptist Health System (BHS) and Samford University have entered into exclusive negotiations with HealthSouth to purchase the unfinished “digital” hospital located on Highway 280 in Birmingham, according to BHS officials.

HealthSouth’s financial collapse following a $2.7 billion accounting scandal uncovered in March 2003 made this state-of-the-art facility available to BHS with the help of Samford. No time line for the decision has been announced.

Named by HealthSouth officials, the digital hospital is marketed as the country’s first fully computerized hospital.

“The digital hospital represents a tremendous opportunity for BHS as we fulfill our health care mission and ministry in the community,” said Beth O’Brien, president and CEO of BHS. “Working with Samford on this endeavor will strengthen the relationship that exists between our organizations.”

BHS and Samford University earlier this year announced their joint venture to establish an Institute for Health Care Quality. The institute would provide medical residencies, research opportunities, continuing education and post-licensure training for professionals in the health care field.

Educational benefits

“This institute will strengthen Birmingham’s position as a major educational center for health education,” said Samford President Thomas E. Corts. “Our two long-standing, faith-based organizations will bring together our resources to offer the best possible education and training for health care professionals. It’s a strategic alignment that will provide continuous learning for medical professionals, students and health care personnel from across the region.”

The alliance continues a long-established relationship between the two Baptist entities that includes Samford’s Ida V. Moffett School of Nursing, named for BHS’ longtime director of nursing, Ida Vines Moffett.

“The Christian faith is entwined with healing and wholeness,” Corts said. “As a Baptist educational institution, which takes its faith very seriously, working with Baptist Health System in this project enriches the quality of our work to the benefit of our entire community.”

In other BHS news, two new hospital presidents were recently named.

J. Peter Selman has been named as president of Baptist Cherokee in Centre and Baptist DeKalb in Fort Payne.

Selman has held previous positions with BHS and with the University of Alabama Hospital in Birmingham.

Joel W. Tate is the new president of Baptist Walker in Jasper.

An Alabama native, Tate has more than 25 years progressive health care management experience.  (TAB)