LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Nov. 1, 2012) — Baptist Health (formerly Baptist Healthcare System) announced today that Trover Health System is joining Baptist as its eighth hospital in the state. Trover Health System is now Baptist Health Madisonville.
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The Trover Health System in Madisonville operated for more than a half century as a successful independent regional healthcare provider. It built a distinctive reputation making good on its mission to provide care to underserved areas of Western Kentucky.
E. Berton Whitaker, president and CEO of the Baptist Health Madisonville, said the board of trustees and medical staff in Madisonville spent several years debating whether to stay independent or to align with a larger organization with greater resources.
“We did the math. It became clear that in the long term we were not producing enough to be on our own. … It just made sense to be part of a larger healthcare network so that we can be prepared to purchase smarter, plan smarter and ultimately grow where we might struggle alone,” Whitaker said.
Trover began exclusive discussions with Baptist nearly a year ago after selecting Baptist from proposals submitted by several healthcare organizations. LifePoint Hospitals and Owensboro Medical Health System also were considered as finalists. Each finalist was selected based on its ability to assist Trover with the design and implementation of new models of care and payment reform, access to capital, experience with recruiting physicians and building solid physician relationships, and developing service line partnerships. After an extensive evaluation process, Baptist was chosen by the Trover Board of Directors.
“We couldn’t have chosen a finer addition to our already strong, statewide network of hospitals,” said Tommy Smith, Baptist Health president and CEO.
“This is a monumental day in the history of healthcare in Hopkins County and the surrounding communities,” Whitaker said Thursday. “By joining the Baptist Health family, we are positioning our health system to address the ever-changing needs of providing healthcare in the years to come. Both Trover and Baptist value our patients, our employees and our communities.”
Already, Baptist Health Madisonville is recruiting for internal medicine and family practice physicians. Renovations also are planned for the Mother/Baby Unit, Emergency Department and Same Day Surgery, in addition to updates to other areas of the hospital. There will be an emphasis on updating healthcare technology and facilities at the Madisonville campus. Baptist Health also offers access to a statewide network of hospitals, outpatient facilities and physicians ready to respond to patients’ needs.
In addition to Baptist Health Madisonville, Baptist Health includes Baptist Hospital East (Louisville), Baptist Hospital Northeast (La Grange), Baptist Regional Medical Center (Corbin), Central Baptist Hospital (Lexington), Western Baptist Hospital (Paducah), Oak Tree Hospital at Baptist Regional Medical Center, and its recent addition, Baptist Health Richmond. Baptist Health also manages Hardin Memorial Hospital in Elizabethtown and Russell County Hospital in Russell Springs.
Baptist Healthcare System, founded in 1924, announced its new name as Baptist Health on Sept. 5. The new name unifies the family of hospitals and health-related entities and helps to better align medical expertise, services and resources to provide a continuum of care throughout the state, the system said.
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