Transylvania Regional Hospital and Mission Health System Explore Partnership
BREVARD, N.C., Feb. 26, 2010 – The Transylvania Regional Hospital (TRH) Board of Trustees voted on Feb. 24 to explore a potential partnership between the 76-year-old Brevard hospital and Mission Health System based in Asheville.
The TRH board has studied the community’s long-term healthcare needs and has determined that one or more partnerships with a larger, high-quality health system could help meet those needs. The highest priority of the board is to determine if a partnership would enhance the operations and scope of services of TRH so that the community can continue to have local access to a wide range of healthcare services.
An affiliation agreement has not yet been reached; however, according to Bob Bednarek, president and CEO of TRH, the board believes that reaching a positive affiliation agreement is possible with Mission Health System, and the board now wishes to explore details of what a partnership might look like with that organization. “Detailed and thoughtful work has been happening at both Transylvania Regional Hospital and Mission Health System for many months,” said Bednarek, “and there is still much work left to do before we know if a partnership will happen. We are optimistic, and look forward to the continued exploration ahead with our colleagues in Asheville.”
The organization’s key consideration in pursuing a potential partner is to continue to maintain and grow strong healthcare services for patients, and create positive benefits for those they serve. TRH will only move forward with an affiliation if patients will ultimately benefit.
This focused exploratory phase of the process should take several months. At the completion of this phase of due diligence, both organizations will determine whether or not a positive agreement is possible. If preliminary agreement is reached, a “memorandum of understanding” will be signed by both organizations. Then, the next step will be to develop a legally binding agreement—a process that also takes time.
Transylvania Regional Hospital will continue to provide updates to the community.
About Transylvania Regional Hospital
Transylvania Regional Hospital is a nationally ranked 5-Star Hospital and a leading provider of quality healthcare services in Transylvania and surrounding counties. Based in Brevard, N.C., it is a not-for-profit hospital founded in 1933 and is the largest employer in Transylvania County.
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