FORT PAYNE – Huntsville Hospital Health System continues to broaden its footprint in the Tennessee Valley area, this time reaching into DeKalb County to add to its growing network with the intent of ensuring care to not just the metro population but more rural communities.
The organization’s latest move is an agreement to buy DeKalb Regional Medical Center as well as its related physician clinics and other outpatient facilities. With the move, Huntsville Hospital Health System will expand to 13 hospitals across Alabama and Tennessee.
The deal for the 134-bed hospital and related entities is expected to be finalized March 31.
“We look forward to DeKalb Regional Medical Center joining our organization,” CEO Jeff Samz said in a statement. “DeKalb Regional has a great history of serving its community. HH Health System is an organization of like-minded hospitals that believe patients are best served close to home. Our mission includes helping rural communities maintain local access to quality care.
“Together, we are stronger in today’s challenging environment. So, we’re very excited about working with this great hospital and serving the people of Fort Payne and DeKalb County.”
Huntsville Hospital added in a press release that “employment will continue for substantially all employees in good standing at the time of transition.”
The DeKalb County Hospital Association will continue to operate the DeKalb Ambulance Service as a separate organization.
We are excited to join the Huntsville Hospital Health System family of hospitals,” DRMC CEO Darrell Blaylock said. “We share a common goal of preserving local access to healthcare, and being part of this regional network that allows us to continue our tradition of local care in DeKalb County.”
Hospitals in the HHHS:
- Huntsville Main
- Hospital for Women & Children (Huntsville)
- Madison Hospital
- Athens-Limestone Hospital
- Decatur Morgan Hospital
- Helen Keller Hospital (Sheffield)
- Highlands Medical Center (Scottsboro)
- Lawrence Medical Center (Moulton)
- Lincoln Health (Fayetteville, Tenn.)
- Marshall Medical Centers (Guntersville, Boaz)
- Red Bay Hospital
