By now, I am sure you have heard the exciting news announced earlier this week. The Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama System approved an agreement for the UAB Health System Authority to assume ownership of Ascension St. Vincent’s in central Alabama, comprising sites of care including the five hospitals in the Birmingham metropolitan area, as well as the 119 Ambulatory Surgery Center; the Trussville Freestanding Emergency Department; and imaging centers and other ambulatory clinics that are part of Ascension Medical Group.
At UAB Heersink School of Medicine, we are closely aligned with the UAB Health System. This is a transformational opportunity to combine and optimize our collective strengths for patient care in Alabama.
By working together, we will be stronger for our patients, our communities, and our employees. Creating new opportunities for patients to access a larger network of local services will allow us to leverage capacity to better meet patient demand and grow our services. Additionally, this could offer opportunities for more participation in our clinical research.
St. Vincent’s locations will continue to operate with an open medical staff and their providers will not be required to become faculty or report to our academic departments.
UAB leadership is committed to keeping you informed every step of the way with regular updates and opportunities to share input and ask questions. We will have additional town halls and updates throughout the process. Visit oneuabmedicine.org/uabstv for more information.
This development is poised to make a positive and significant impact on both organizations and most importantly, the lives of those we serve. I look forward to the engagement and contributions of Heersink School of Medicine faculty, staff, and learners throughout this journey.