We’ve absolutely found the right path for our Blount County citizens.
Our County Commission voted unanimously tonight to approve the partnership between Blount Memorial Hospital and Prisma Health, including the Lease Agreement, Membership Agreement, Charter Amendment and other documents related to the transaction.
Blount Memorial and Prisma Health are working on the final steps and on schedule to complete all items on December 1.
We wouldn’t be at this point if the County Commission and the City Councils for Maryville and Alcoa hadn’t appointed some amazing new professional people to serve on the Hospital Board. This Hospital Board has shown tremendous leadership on this matter.
Chairman Chris Flynn, Vice Chair Matt Haralson, Amber Krupacs, Susanne Davis, Dr. Stephen Keifer, Dr. Keri Prigmore, Dr. Bob Ramsey, Christi Sayles and Dr. Bryan Thompson are all to be commended for their hard work.
I want to especially thank Interim CEO Jonathan Smith and his team, including every single Blount Memorial employee, for the significant improvement in operational performance these past several months.
And I want to thank the Blount County Commission. There have been brutal moments in the last couple of years, and with the leadership of this Hospital Board, Jonathan Smith and our Commission, a tremendous amount has been accomplished in a very short time frame.
As Mayor, I’m glad we’ve made it to this point, and look forward to this partnership with Prisma. I’m proud of the exciting opportunities we’re going to see for our hospital and in healthcare for our citizens.
As a citizen of Blount County, I’m especially excited about this next chapter.
~ Mayor Ed Mitchell
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 14, 2024
Blount County Commission approves Prisma Health’s integration with Blount Memorial Hospital
GREENVILLE, SC—Today, Nov. 14, the Blount County Commission helped clear the way for Blount Memorial Hospital to become part of Prisma Health. The Commissioners gave their unanimous approval of the Blount Memorial Hospital Lease Agreement and related transaction documents. Prisma Health and Blount Memorial are moving forward with their final steps and are on schedule for the transaction to be complete on December 1.
In July, Prisma Health announced that Blount Memorial Hospital, a 304-bed non-profit community hospital in Maryville, Tennessee, had chosen to join Prisma Health. Following the announcement, the parties signed a non-binding letter of intent and began exclusive negotiations, due diligence, and integration planning.
Mark O’Halla, president and CEO of Prisma Health, said, “We are grateful to the Blount County Commissioners for their unanimous approval and confience in Prisma Health’s ability to serve their community. As this process has unfolded, we are even more confident that Blount Memorial will be an exceptional addition to Prisma Health. We appreciate everyone’s hard work to reach this milestone and look forward to welcoming the Blount team to our family on December 1.”
Jonathan Smith, interim CEO of Blount Memorial Hospital, added, “The approvals received earlier today from the hospital board, and now from the Blount County Commission are vital steps forward in our journey with Prisma Health. This partnership promises to bring expanded resources and innovative care to our community, and we are eager to build a stronger future together. We look forward to blending our local knowledge with Prisma Health’s depth and expertise to enhance health outcomes for patients in our communities, while remaining focused on delivering quality care and an excellent patient experience."
About Prisma Health
Prisma Health is a private nonprofit health company and the largest health care organization in South Carolina. The company has 29,309 team members, 18 acute and specialty hospitals, 2,827 licensed beds, 305 practice sites, and more than 5,400 employed and independent clinicians across its clinically integrated inVio Health Network. Along with this innovative network, Prisma Health serves almost 1.5 million unique patients annually in its 21-county market area that covers 50% of South Carolina.
About Blount Memorial Hospital
Blount Memorial Hospital is a 304-bed acute care hospital in Maryville, Tennessee, which is 20 minutes outside of the Knoxville, Tennessee, area. It has more than 2,700 employees and 200 physicians working in clinical and nonclinical positions in 20 locations in Blount and Monroe counties. Key services include cancer, orthopedic, surgical and cardiac care. The hospital was founded in 1947 through the efforts of local physicians, the county court, interested citizens and employees of the Aluminum Company of America. It is named in honor of Blount Countians who have died in the line of duty, those missing in action, and those who have served and continue to serve our country.