Highlands-Cashiers Hospital in Highlands, N.C., has finalized a nonbinding memorandum of understanding to become a member of Asheville, N.C.-based Mission Health, the state's sixth-largest health system.
Joining Mission Health will allow the hospital to gain economies of scale, physician recruiting support and management expertise, according to a news release. The hospital initially decided to pursue an affiliation with the larger health system in September 2012.
Under the proposed affiliation, the hospital's board of trustees would still have a strong say in long-term strategy. Additionally, the Highlands-Cashiers Hospital Foundation will remain under local ownership and control.
The hospital board will now move forward with negotiations concerning the proposed partnership, and Mission Health and Highlands-Cashiers will began a more detailed joint planning process focused on capital requirements, medical service providers and new and expanded services, according to the release.
The final due diligence and negotiation process will start immediately. The deal's estimated completion date has not been specified.
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