WVLT – MARYVILLE, Tenn. The goal of future growth is reflected in the non-binding agreement of intent signed by Prisma Health and Blount Memorial Hospital.
Blount Memorial Interim CEO Jonathan Smith stated, “We feel Prisma health allows us to grow and really serve Blount County in a better way than we have before.”
Smith inherited a battle between the county and BMH over control of the county’s only hospital and one, until Thursday’s vote, was independently owned and operated.
”Over the last five years, health care has really changed, and I think the independent hospital, and I think as we move forward, they’ll become a thing of the past,” Smith said. “And you really need the scale of a larger health care entity to survive, and not just survive but thrive in the future.”
The biggest hospital operator in South Carolina is Prisma Health. According to their CEO, Blount Memorial’s decision to join Prisma was about more than just supporting BMH.
“The delivery of healthcare is moving towards a multi-regional model, and the number of systems that are active in several states is rising quickly. Prisma President and CEO Mark O’Halla stated, “We are strengthening our scale, capabilities, relevance, resources, and attractiveness to top talent and industry partners by expanding to desirable nearby markets with respected regional hospitals like Blount Memorial. These are all attributes of leading health care organisations.”Blount County’s commission followed suit of the Blount Memorial Board of Directors in voting unanimously to approve of the letter of intent
The largest operator of hospitals in South Carolina is Prisma Health. Blount Memorial’s CEO stated that the company’s decision to join Prisma was about more than just aiding BMH.
“A multi-regional model is emerging for health care, and the number of systems functioning across different states is rising quickly. As a leading health care organisation, Prisma’s president and CEO, Mark O’Halla, stated, “We are strengthening our scale, capabilities, relevance, resources, and attractiveness to top talent and industry partners by expanding to desirable nearby markets with respected regional hospitals like Blount Memorial.”
