BLOUNT COUNTY, Tenn. — The Blount County Commission allowed an agreement to go through Thursday during a specially-called meeting, giving a South Carolina-based health system control over Blount Memorial Hospital.
Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution that blesses Blount Memorial Hospital's agreement with Prisma Health, allowing the private, nonprofit healthcare system to take over the hospital's management and operations.
The resolution said the agreement came after the hospital's board of directors decided that it was "in the best interests of the citizens of Blount County and the cities therein" for Prisma Health to take over operations.
According to the resolution, Prisma Health would become the sole member of Blount Memorial Health Inc., a body formed to manage the hospital's assets and finances. Jonathan Smith, the interim CEO of Blount Memorial Hospital, said the partnership with Prisma Health would expand the hospital's resources and improve health outcomes for patients.
Blount Memorial Hospital previously faced financial straits, having to take steps like selling real estate to make debt payments and stay operational. The budgetary concerns were central in a nearly two-year dispute over control of the hospital's future between Blount Memorial and the Blount County Commission.
Those disputes were settled early this year, but the hospital still sought ways to stay solvent.
The partnership with Prisma Health marks the South Carolina health system's first venture out of the state. It operates 18 hospitals and dozens of other healthcare facilities and is the largest such organization in the state.
"We are grateful to the Blount County Commissioners for their unanimous approval and confidence in Prisma Health’s ability to serve their community. As this process has unfolded, we are even more confident that Blount Memorial will be an exceptional addition to Prisma Health. We appreciate everyone’s hard work to reach this milestone and look forward to welcoming the Blount team to our family," said Mark O'Halla in a release, CEO of Prisma Health.
He said that the deal between Blount Memorial Hospital and Prisma Health should be finalized on Dec. 1.