COLUMBIA—The Sisters of Charity Health System and Providence Hospitals announced that they plan to sell Providence Hospitals to LifePoint Health. The two signed a letter of intent on July 28.
As part of LifePoint, Providence will continue to operate in a manner consistent with the obligations of a Catholic hospital, the organization stated in a press release.
“LifePoint is bringing significant plans to the table to strengthen Providence Hospitals as the statewide leader in cardiac and orthopedic care in South Carolina, while still embracing its Catholic healthcare mission,” said Terrence P. Kessler, president and CEO of the Sisters of Charity Health System. “We are excited about the opportunity for Providence to offer an even higher standard of care for the community.”
LifePoint Health owns and operates community hospitals, regional health systems, physician practices, outpatient centers, and post-acute facilities in 20 states. It has a growing presence in the Southeast and expertise in operating regional hospital systems that serve as referral centers for their surrounding communities.
LifePoint has the potential to bring many benefits to Providence, its employees, medical staff, patients and communities, such as additional resources and support to grow medical services throughout the state, according to officials.
“We are looking forward to this new relationship with LifePoint,” stated Michael Kapp, board of directors chair at Providence Hospitals. “We see this as an opportunity to grow and expand our services in South Carolina.”
Providence and LifePoint stated that they are committed to:
• Continuing Providence’s Catholic identity, mission and ministry services as part of the Diocese of Charleston;
• Providing charity care for those in need;
• Advancing innovation, quality of care and service to the community;
• Growing primary care services to address the health and wellness needs of the community;
• Expanding clinical services and continuing to advance Providence’s leadership in cardiac care and orthopedics;
• Engaging physicians to further enhance high quality, safe, patient-centered care;
• Retaining Providence employees, subject to industry standard pre-employment screenings; and
• Being a strong community partner and involving the local community in Providence’s governance.
“Providence has been a leading healthcare provider for the people of Columbia and surrounding communities for more than 75 years,” said William F. Carpenter III, chairman and CEO of LifePoint Health. “We are delighted at the prospect of welcoming providence to our system and working with its team to define how LifePoint’s financial strength, operational expertise and deep clinical and quality resources can build on their great accomplishments and make communities in South Carolina healthier.”
The letter of intent is a non-binding agreement that allows the Sisters of Charity Health System and LifePoint to move forward with the proposed acquisition.
Providence was founded in 1938 by the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine. It is composed of two hospitals, 13 physician practices, a network of rehabilitation centers, two sleep centers, a school of cardiac diagnostics, and is an accredited chest pain center.
