By By MICHELE GERLACH Publisher
D.W. McMillan Hospital and Baptist Healthcare will discontinue its lease affiliation no later than June 1, 2005.
The decision was made by unanimous votes of the boards the Escambia County Healthcare Authority and Escambia County Alabama Community Hospitals, Inc., last Thursday, according to William Grissett, who chairs both boards.
The Escambia County Healthcare Authority is a nine-member board appointed by the county commission that governs both D.W. McMillan Memorial Hospital and Atmore Community Hospital. The Escambia County Alabama Community Hospitals, Inc., organization was formed when D.W. McMillan Memorial Hospital and Atmore Community Hospital affiliated with Baptist in 1995. It is governed by a 14-member board.
D.W. McMillan Hospital administrator Phillip Parker cited changes in the health care environment over the past 10 years as a major factor driving the decision. Initially, the affiliation was to address managed care issues that were expected to negatively impact hospital reimbursement, he said in a statement released Tuesday. Because the managed care movement did not materialize as expected, one of the primary reasons for the affiliation ceased to exist, he said.
Parker said D.W. McMillan Hospital appreciates having had the opportunity to be associated with Baptist Health Care over the past 10 years through the affiliation agreement and hopes to continue the positive relationship they have had with Baptist for more than 50 years.
Atmore Community Hospital, which also is owned by the Escambia County Healthcare Authority but operates under the control of the Escambia County Alabama Community Hospitals, Inc., chose to remain affiliated with Baptist under the current lease agreement.