Topics
More on Operations

LifePoint Hospitals changes name to LifePoint Health, downplays hospitals

The company earned $38.9 million in the first quarter on nearly $1.3 billion in revenue, pointing to higher admissions across the company.

Photo of LifePoint Hospitals from Google Plus

Tennessee-based LifePoint Hospitals on Monday said it will change its name to LifePoint Health, a move it says better reflects its portfolio of healthcare service providers.

In fact, LifePoint points to the “continuum of care” in its announcement, invoking a recent buzz phrase in the industry. The term applies to the reform-driven, network-based approach to care that seeks to lower hospital use when treatment could be better provided in clinics, primary care offices and ambulatory centers.

[Also: Fitch Ratings bullish on for-profit healthcare]

“LifePoint was founded in 1999 with the mission of Making Communities Healthier,” said CEO William F. Carpenter III in a statement. “We began by operating community hospitals and, today, our operations have expanded to include physician practices, post-acute services, outpatient services, and wellness and prevention programs that enhance the health and well-being of those we serve. Our new name is a fitting reflection of our strategic direction for the future.”

Publicly traded LifePoint has more than $3.2 billion in market capitalization. It earned $38.9 million in the first quarter on nearly $1.3 billion in revenue, pointing to higher admissions across the company.

LifePoint runs 60 hospitals, more than 1,100 physician practices and 40 post-acute service providers including home health and hospice services, long-term care services, nursing homes and assisted living facilities. It also runs 30 outpatient centers. Its footprint spans 20 states.

Shares of LifePoint (NASDAQ: LPNT) rose in Monday morning trading.

 

Twitter: @HenryPowderly