Health systems sign letter of intent to expand partnership, provide more advanced clinical services for Western North Carolina

AdventHealth and Wake Forest Baptist Health have signed a letter of intent, entering into exclusive discussions to expand services at AdventHealth Hendersonville, provide Wake Forest Baptist physicians to help staff specific specialty services at AdventHealth Hendersonville and offer both patients and employers access to the clinical, wellness and academic resources of Wake Forest Baptist.

Formerly called Park Ridge Health, AdventHealth Hendersonville has been providing personalized care to Western North Carolina for more than 100 years. Its network of care serves people living across this region with a full range of medical-imaging services, cardiac care and rehabilitation, state-of-the-art surgical care, nationally awarded cancer services, full-service orthopedic care, and one of the only accredited hyperbaric medicine facilities in the area.

Under separate agreements signed last year, board-certified emergency medicine physicians from Wake Forest Baptist currently provide care in AdventHealth Hendersonville’s emergency department. In addition, Wake Forest Baptist provides the cancer services medical director at AdventHealth Hendersonville, who is linked to the Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center for medical breakthroughs and clinical trials for cancer patients in the region. Wake Forest Baptist would hold a minority interest in AdventHealth Hendersonville with participation on its Board.

While AdventHealth would remain the primary owner and operator of the hospital, the new agreement between the two health care systems would further their existing relationship, ensuring that patients in Western North Carolina have seamless access to an expanded network of health care services. This agreement is the result of successful collaborations and ongoing discussions about how to best expand the relationship between these two leading health care organizations to enhance care across the region.

“AdventHealth strives to provide whole-person care for mind, body and spirit. This goal and our mission align with Wake Forest Baptist’s in such a way that we feel confident this partnership will allow us to achieve our shared vision of making it easier for patients to access exceptional care where and when they need it,” said Jimm Bunch, president/CEO for AdventHealth Hendersonville.

Teams from AdventHealth and Wake Forest Baptist are working closely together to determine services and resources with the goal of bringing new and enhanced care options and programs that are convenient for patients and families in Western North Carolina.

“We are pleased to advance our partnership with AdventHealth through this new endeavor,” said Julie Ann Freischlag, MD, CEO of Wake Forest Baptist Health and dean of Wake Forest School of Medicine. “Our missions, goals and cultures are aligned as we collaborate on an amazing journey together to benefit those who live in communities across Western North Carolina.”

The agreement is expected to be finalized in the next few months, pending a due diligence process, and is subject to government and regulatory approvals.