Baptist Hospital To Buy West Florida Hospital; Move To Davis Highway

June 27, 2008

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Baptist Healthcare has announced the purchase of West Florida Hospital for $245 million. Another $85 million will be spent to upgrade the hospital’s facilities.

Baptist Hospital will move their complete acute care hospital and emergency room to the West Florida Hospital campus on Davis Highway.

“This acquisition will enhance the best of both organizations and provides for expansion of our services to meet the needs of our patients and the community,” stated Al Stubblefield, President/CEO of Baptist Health Care. “We know the acquisition of West Florida Hospital will allow us to continue our high standard of personal care while expanding services to serve the entire Northwest Florida region.”

After the West Florida purchase, Baptist Hospital’s main campus will continue to operate as a full service outpatient facility offering walk-in urgent care services, diagnostic and imaging services, ambulatory services, physician offices and corporate management offices. The combined inpatient psychiatric services currently at Baptist Hospital and West Florida Hospitals will be housed at the Baptist Behavioral Medicine Hospital at the old hospital location.

Once the purchase is complete, the current West Florida Hospital on Davis Highway will become the new Baptist Hospital, and together with Baptist Medical Park – 9 Mile, will give Baptist Health Care a major presence in north Pensacola. The campus will feature comprehensive inpatient and outpatient care plus services such as an expanded Baptist Cancer Center in affiliation with the Moffitt Cancer Institute; Baptist Neurosciences Center complemented by a rehab hospital for neurologic and orthopaedic conditions; Baptist Heart & Vascular Center of Excellence; and an expanded Emergency Department. The new Baptist Hospital also will offer a new parking garage, new physician office buildings and a heliport for LifeFlight.

Additionally, Baptist Health Care will assume the current West Florida Hospital Primary Care Practices, which will increase access and outreach to the community. The addition of West Florida Hospital Primary Care Practices (nine neighborhood medical centers) to Baptist Health Care affiliated and employed physicians will expand Baptist Health Care primary care locations throughout the community.

“This acquisition will allow Baptist Health Care to continue to be at the forefront of health care excellence in Northwest Florida. With the help of our outstanding doctors and staff, we are revolutionizing health care in Pensacola,” Stubblefield said.

The asset purchase agreement was between the two hospitals was signed Wednesday night. They must now file for approval from the Federal Trade Commission. Baptist officials say they hope the purchase agreement will close in the last quarter of 2008.

Closer to North Escambia, Baptist also operates Atmore Community Hospital, Jay Hospital, the Century Family Practice and Lakeview Center in Century.

More information for the community as well as the staff and employees is available at www.bhcexpansion.org

Pictured above: Artist rendering of the new cancer center to be located at the new locations of Baptist Hospital on Davis Highway.

Comments

One Response to “Baptist Hospital To Buy West Florida Hospital; Move To Davis Highway”

  1. clara watson on July 3rd, 2008 5:17 pm

    i was told by my insurance company (blue cross/blue shield bluemedicare ppo) that i could only use west floida hospital with my insuranse. I used to use Dr. Fraitas at the BMP. Will i be able to return to BMP for my care or will I have to find other avenues.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News