Jennie Stuart Health has announced that they have signed a non-binding letter of intent to align with Deaconess Health.
According to a news release, the letter of intent declares that both Jennie Stuart Health and Deaconess Health have begun a process of due diligence that allows both health systems the chance to evaluate each other and finalize any specific details of an agreement that would join the two, with the intent to grow medical services for Hopkinsville and surrounding areas.
The exact details of that process aren’t specified, but it is expected to be competed by late 2024 after further action from the board and regulatory approvals.
Between the two, Jennie Stuart Health and Deaconess both have a long-lasting history in healthcare, with Jennie Stuart serving the Hopkinsville area for 110 years and Deaconess serving the broader region for just over 130 years.
Jennie Stuart Health President and CEO Eric Lee says, “Rural hospitals today are facing huge challenges to provide the healthcare needed to best serve our communities. By coming together with Deaconess, we will be able to continue our mission and expand services that we know will positively impact the health and well-being of the communities we serve.”
Deaconess CEO Shawn McCoy states, “Deaconess has collaborated with Jennie Stuart and local providers in Kentucky for many years, and we look forward to ensuring that specialized services are accessible to all the patients Jennie Stuart serves.”