of The University of Alabama System Board of Regents Acknowledges Ascension Agreement UAB Health System Department It will take over ownership of Ascension St. Vincent Health System in central Alabama on Tuesday.

Under the agreement, the UAB Health System Authority will assume ownership of all Ascension St. Vincent's medical facilities, including Birmingham, Brant, Chilton, East and St. Clare hospitals, as well as the One Nineteen campus, the Trussville freestanding emergency department and the diagnostic imaging center and other clinics that are part of Ascension Medical Group. The transaction includes current Ascension St. Vincent's services, facilities, caregivers and associates, including a strong provider network serving the region.

“Patients will continue to have access to the health care services and providers they've come to trust and will ultimately have access to a larger health care network,” said Dawn Bulgarella, CEO of UAB Health System and CEO of the UAB/Ascension St. Vincent Alliance. “UAB and St. Vincent exist to improve lives, and that purpose will drive our work in the coming months and beyond.”

With hospital closures across the country, UAB Health System has made it a priority to increase community outreach and services through innovative partnerships that strengthen Alabama's hospitals, support care providers and improve the state's health care ecosystem, according to the system.

“This transaction is very positive for the entire Birmingham metropolitan area. Just as St. Vincent has been a trusted and dependable health care provider for over a century, UAB will continue to provide excellent, mission-driven health care,” State Rep. Danny Garrett (R-Trussville) told Yellow Hammer News. Garrett serves as chairman of the House Ways and Means Education Committee.

“I am most excited about the additional workforce development and medical education opportunities that will be available throughout central Alabama,” said President Garrett.

of The UAB/Ascension St. Vincent Alliance was launched in 2020 “The goal is to improve Alabamians' access to high-quality, innovative health care and ensure patients receive the right treatment at the right time and place. UAB and Ascension St. Vincent leaders believe this agreement is a natural next step in continuing to expand sustainable access to health care in Alabama.”

Jason Alexander, CEO of Ascension St. Vincent and senior vice president of Ascension, said UAB Health System, with its statewide network of 17 owned and affiliated hospitals, integrated health care delivery system and track record of advancing sustainable, patient-centered care throughout Birmingham and Alabama, is perfectly positioned to expand patient access to a larger health care network in the future.

“As part of our shared commitment to our patients, caregivers, employees and communities, we have continued to discuss options to better fulfill our mission in an increasingly complex environment,” Alexander said.

“Adding Ascension St. Vincent Hospital to the UAB Health System-owned hospital network and integrating and optimizing the combined strengths of both companies became clear as the solution to ensure our community maintains access to sustainable, high-quality health care. Among other benefits, patients will have access to a larger regional service network through UAB.”

“While our organizational structure is changing, Ascension's commitment to health equity and serving Alabama's most vulnerable populations remains unwavering,” Alexander added. “The Ascension Health Equity Foundation will maintain its presence in the marketplace and expand grantmaking beyond the transition period, investing in nonprofits that are creating positive change for generations of Alabamians.”

“Our mission and vision to be a leader in providing life-changing care and improving the health and lives of all we serve is aligned with the incredible St. Vincent's caregivers and staff who have served these communities for so many years,” Bulgarella said. “We look forward to offering Ascension St. Vincent's caregivers and staff the opportunity to remain in their current positions, essentially, while supporting their continued operations. Our goal is to support fulfilling and meaningful careers in service to our patients and communities.”

The transaction, subject to standard regulatory approvals, satisfaction of closing conditions and Catholic Church approval, is expected to close in fall 2024. Until then, UAB Health System and Ascension St. Vincent will continue to operate as usual while both teams work together to develop a transition plan.

Both organizations are committed to working diligently with and communicating with patients, employees, caregivers, stakeholders and community partners.

“UAB Health System and Ascension are committed to our patients, employees, caregivers and associates, and we will work collaboratively to ensure a smooth transition in the short term and to enhance the overall patient and employee experience in the long term,” Bulgarella said.

Ray Watts, M.D., UAB chancellor and chair of the UAB Health System Board of Trustees, said the UAB Health System is uniquely positioned to deliver on its promise to keep patients and employees successful.

“UAB Health System is recognized as one of the best in the nation for innovative, world-class, person-centered care and is also one of the best places to work in healthcare,” Watts said. “As an Alabama-run health system, we love, understand and serve our local community and its needs, and we deeply respect the similar community- and mission-focused commitment of Ascension St. Vincent's caregivers and staff.”

Bulgarella said Ascension St. Vincent's central Alabama locations also have a proud history, and UAB Health System plans to build on that history with Ascension caregivers and associates.

“Since 1898, Ascension St. Vincent's caregivers and staff have served our community,” said Bulgarella. “We are excited to honor and continue their culture and traditions and work to ensure they feel safe and appreciated during this time of transition. We look forward to integrating our talented, mission-focused team and working together toward continuity and positive outcomes for the people we serve.”

At the special called meeting of the UA System Board of Trustees where the membership interest purchase agreement was passed unanimously, Bulgarella and UA Interim System Chancellor Sid J. Trant recommended approval of the resolution.

“As you all know, the University of Alabama System and the UAB Health System exist to improve the lives of Alabamians and beyond,” he said. “This acquisition will contribute greatly to that purpose and advance our vision of the UA System becoming the preeminent public higher education and health care system in the United States.”

Grayson Everett is the state and politics editor for Yellow Hammer News. You can follow him on Twitter. Grayson