Sparta’s hospital becomes Highlands Medical Center
May 23, 2012St. Thomas partnering with Capella Healthcare
White County leaders and hospital staff gathered outside White County Community Hospital on the morning of May 1 for the big announcement that the hospital, which was owned by Capella Healthcare, was partnering with St. Thomas Health and will now be named Highlands Medical Center.
Dan Slipkovich, co-founder, chairman of the board of directors, and chief executive officer of Capella Healthcare, addressed the crowd gathered outside the hospital and said he is excited about the partnership between Capella and St. Thomas for all four Upper Cumberland Capella hospitals: White County Community Hospital, in Sparta; DeKalb County Community Hospital, in Smithville; River Park Hospital, in McMinnville; and Stones River Hospital, in Woodbury.
Slipkovich said he also hopes to bring in other medical facilities to further expand services to the residents of White County.
Slipkovich said he believes the merger will help the hospital “to enhance, do more and provide more service to all of our communities.” He said he hopes to achieve this by providing the highest quality of services, satisfy customer needs, lowering costs and enhancing and expanding services.
Wes Litrell, a representative from St. Thomas, said the partnership “will allow us to provide more comprehensive service and improve the quality of service.”
Hospital CEO Bill Little unveiled drawings to show the future of the hospital through $1 million in renovations that were scheduled to begin as soon as the meeting was concluded.
According to the drawings, the emergency room, psychiatric ward, main entrance and dining room will all be renovated. The emergency room will be overhauled so patients can be seen more promptly.
The logo for the hospital will also change from the Capella star to the St. Thomas cross with the Capella star inside of it.
The name and logo change and the partnership became effective with the announcement on May 1.
By Pamela Cote
Staff Writer
Pamela@myspartanews.com
Published: Monday, May 14, 2012 6:10 AM CDT