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Southwest Regional Medical Center to join Washington Health System

By Eric Morris And Steve Barrett 5 min read
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WAYNESBURG — Greene County’s sole hospital is set to come under ownership of an area health system this summer.

Washington Health System (WHS) has entered into an agreement to purchase Southwest Regional Medical Center, according to a news release issued Monday by the Washington-based health provider.

WHS spokesperson Stephanie Wagoner said details of the contract to purchase the 49-bed Waynesburg hospital from RegionalCare Hospital Partners will not be disclosed, but the transaction is expected to close July 1.

WHS said it intends to continue services provided by Southwest Regional and to honor existing union contracts of hospital employees. According to Wagoner, the hospital employs a staff of about 300.

“It’s going to be an easy transition for the community,” said Wagoner, adding that the health system has operated a family medicine practice in Waynesburg since 1997 and that several members of the WHS medical team are already integrated into the hospital’s staff.

Southwest Regional offers 24-hour emergency services, a full range of diagnostic imaging specialties, a fully accredited laboratory, cardiology services, hyperbaric wound care and home health services. The hospital has been under ownership of Tennessee-based RegionalCare Hospital Partners, formerly Essent Healthcare, since 2005.

In a prepared statement, WHS president and CEO Gary Weinstein said Southwest Regional and WHS have historically been the leading providers of health services to Greene County residents.

“The proposed transaction will enable the physicians and other health professionals at both organizations to coordinate care for these residents more effectively and efficiently,” he said.

Through the move, quality care initiatives developed by WHS and its partner, Washington Physician Hospital Organization, will be available to Southwest Regional and local physician practices, the health system said.

Cindy Cowie, CEO of Southwest Regional Medical Center, said the leaders of WHS, RegionalCare Hospital Partners and Southwest Regional determined that the best way to ensure a strong future for health care delivery in Greene County would be for Southwest Regional to align with a local health system.

Representatives of the three organizations will work through July 1 to finalize due diligence requirements and complete documents related to the closing of the transaction.

WHS health system operates a 260-bed hospital in Washington and more than 40 off-site locations in Allegheny, Greene and Washington counties.

RegionalCare Hospital Partners owns nine community hospitals in eight states to provide health care services in non-urban markets.

Sheila Stewart, chairman of the Greene County Memorial Hospital Foundation, said in the release that “Our board is committed to providing access to quality healthcare. This exciting new collaboration will further strengthen the footprint for healthcare here in Greene County.”

According to the release, some key benefits from the proposed agreement include: Greater alignment and connectivity between physicians and physician groups at Washington Health System and Southwest Regional Medical Center resulting in better coordinated care for residents of Greene County; and quality care initiatives developed by Washington Health System and the Washington Physician Hospital Organization will be available to Southwest Regional Medical Center and local physician practices.

In the release, Jay Hammers, chair of the Southwest Regional Medical Center Board, said, “By becoming part of a regional system, patients from Greene County will have both a strong local hospital and more convenient access to a broader range of services and healthcare providers.”

Following Monday’s announcement of the sale, nurses and hospital workers who are members of SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania said in a press release issued by SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania that they are cautiously optimistic that the sale will strengthen quality patient care and improve working conditions at their hospital.

“I’ve been a nurse at Southwest Regional Medical Center for nearly 23 years and I have seen many changes occur over the years in our region’s healthcare system,” said Robert Schiffbauer, OR Registered Nurse, in the release. “Change is not always easy but presents opportunity as well. I welcome the chance to work with our new employer to keep good union jobs here in Waynesburg and continue providing great care to our community.”

For the mostly rural community served by SRMC that lacks a diversity of healthcare delivery options, maintaining and strengthening access to specialized services needs to be of top priority to the new employer, according to the release.

“The behavioral health services like drug and alcohol treatment and mental health support we offer are vitally important to our community that does not have many other treatment options,” said Connie Paulish, a Licensed Practical Nurse in the Behavioral Health Unit who has worked at SRMC for nine years. “It is incredibly important that our new employer ensures these specialized services will continue to be available to those who need it in Greene County.”

SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania, which represents approximately 150 registered nurses, techs and service workers at Southwest Regional Medical Center and 400 service and maintenance workers at Washington Hospital, views the merger as a potentially positive development that could create more community-centered, streamlined care.

“Washington Hospital is a not-for-profit healthcare system that has shown their commitment to being a local provider invested in the community,” said Zach Zobrist, executive vice president of SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania, in the release. “We look forward to — and expect — that they will continue to employ those same standards for exceptional care and family-sustaining jobs to the hardworking men and women at Southwest Regional Medical Center who provide important care and services to Greene County each and every day.”

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