Hillcrest Health System finalizes partnership with Scott & White Healthcare

Waco, Texas – Hillcrest Health System (HHS) has signed the final partnership agreement with Scott & White Healthcare (SWH) that will usher in a new era of health care in Central Texas. The agreement creates a partnership between HHS and SWH to operate Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center (HBMC).

“The Scott & White partnership creates an ever-more comprehensive health care delivery system, producing a win-win situation for patients, physicians and our communities,” said Glenn A. Robinson, president and CEO of Hillcrest Health System. “We look forward to what the future holds, including the opportunity to bring a variety of innovative treatments and technologies to the greater McLennan County area,” Mr. Robinson added.

Both the Herring Avenue campus and the new Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center on Interstate 35 (set to open April 4) will operate under a new HBMC Board, which will be governed by a volunteer, 12-member Board of Trustees, to which each institution appoints six members.

“Scott & White is wholly committed to supporting Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center in ways that will continue to improve the lives of Central Texans, by providing the right care, at the right place, at the right time,” said Alfred Knight, M.D., president and CEO of Scott & White Healthcare. “Our goal is to continue to develop HBMC as a regional referral center and forge an even closer collaboration with this community’s physicians.”

Under the terms of the agreement, the hospital will retain the name “Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center” and all hospital employees will continue to be employees of Hillcrest. In addition, Hillcrest will continue to support all private practice physicians who choose to admit patients at HBMC in an “open-model” of health care delivery.

“We believe the partnership with Scott & White will increase access for both the hospital and physicians to resources that will enhance the high quality of care our community has always enjoyed, while maintaining the advantages of a well-run, locally-governed health care institution. Our Scott &White friends understand the role Hillcrest has played and will continue to play in this community,” said Michael Reitmeier, chairman of the HHS and HBMC Boards of Directors.

For more information, contact:

Adam Price

254-202-6604

Scott Clark
Scott & White Healthcare

Manager of Media and Public Relations

254-724-9724

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 2, 2009