AdventHealth to take over management of St. Luke's in North Carolina

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AdventHealth, headquartered in Florida, has signed a definitive agreement to assume management of St. Luke's Hospital in Columbus, North Carolina. 

St. Luke's is a critical access hospital serving the Western Carolinas. The agreement also includes several physician and ambulatory care clinics.

The transition to AdventHealth Polk should be completed in October. Until then, current management will remain in place and there will be a smooth transition for all team members, physicians and consumers, the health system said.

In June, the Polk County Board of Commissioners approved the changes to St. Luke's current lease agreement necessary for the transition. AdventHealth Polk will join AdventHealth Hendersonville, located in neighboring Henderson County, in providing care to Western North Carolina.

"AdventHealth and our team in Hendersonville are looking forward to having the exceptional St. Luke's team as partners in caring for the people of Western North Carolina. Our hospitals share a legacy of providing high-quality, faith-based care that focuses on the whole-person – body, mind and spirit," said Brandon Nudd, president and CEO for AdventHealth Hendersonville.

WHY THIS MATTERS

AdventHealth said it would rename the hospital AdventHealth Polk to reflect its national network and brand. 

For more than 20 years, the AdventHealth network has expanded by opening new locations across the country.

In 2019, what was once 30 brands under Adventist Health System -- including Florida Hospital -- became unified under the name, AdventHealth.

THE LARGER TREND

Operating more than 50 hospitals in nine states, AdventHealth is among the nation's largest faith-based health systems.

The system also includes more than 1,200 care sites, including emergency rooms, urgent care centers, home health and hospice agencies and medical office buildings. 

ON THE RECORD

"We are excited about the opportunity to offer our unique promise of whole-person care to this community and look forward to working with and caring for the team members, physicians, patients and residents of Polk County and the surrounding area," said Terry Shaw, president and CEO of AdventHealth.

"St. Luke's has been the community's leader in health care services for nearly a century and a model for critical access hospitals in the Southeast. We look forward to being part of AdventHealth's national care network and continuing to deliver high-quality healthcare in a consumer-centric manner as AdventHealth Polk," said Bill Miller, St. Luke's Hospital board member and chair.

Email the writer: SMorse@himss.org