Baptist Health System and Samford have signed an agreement with HealthSouth
Corporation that will allow them to negotiate exclusively as potential
buyers of the U.S. 280 "Digital Hospital." The action follows
the formation in early 2004 of the Samford
University-Baptist Health System Institute for Healthcare Quality.
"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 chief executive officer of Baptist
Health System. "Working with Samford on this endeavor will strengthen
the relationship that exists between our organizations."
Samford President Thomas Corts, in a message to Samford faculty and
staff, said "participation in the acquisition of the Hospital could
be a further point of cooperation" between the University and BHS.
It could be "especially beneficial to our McWhorter School of Pharmacy
and to Ida V. Moffett School of Nursing."
The Samford Board of Trustees is analyzing and weighing various possibilities,
Dr. Corts noted, "with nothing certain at this point about what
part Samford might play."
In a news release from BHS and HealthSouth, he added, "The Christian
faith is entwined with healing and wholeness. 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 the entire community."
November
2004
