Haywood Regional Medical Center in Clyde, N.C., and WestCare Health System, based in Sylva, N.C., announced plans to merge into a single health system, according to a report by the Citizen-Times.
The newly formed MedWest Health System will encompass Haywood Regional and WestCare's Harris Regional Hospital in Sylva and Swain County Hospital in Bryson City, N.C., and will be managed by Charlotte, N.C.-based Carolinas HealthCare System.
Haywood and WestCare announced plans to explore an affiliation with a larger system a year ago, and selected Carolinas HealthCare in April, according to the report.
Haywood previously lost its Medicare and Medicaid certification, although it was restored in June, and WestCare has experienced declining revenue. The affiliation with a larger system is expected to increase efficiencies for both systems, according to the report.
The merger is currently underway and is expected to be completed by Jan. 2010.
Read the Citizen-Times' report on the Haywood Regional and WestCare merger.
The newly formed MedWest Health System will encompass Haywood Regional and WestCare's Harris Regional Hospital in Sylva and Swain County Hospital in Bryson City, N.C., and will be managed by Charlotte, N.C.-based Carolinas HealthCare System.
Haywood and WestCare announced plans to explore an affiliation with a larger system a year ago, and selected Carolinas HealthCare in April, according to the report.
Haywood previously lost its Medicare and Medicaid certification, although it was restored in June, and WestCare has experienced declining revenue. The affiliation with a larger system is expected to increase efficiencies for both systems, according to the report.
The merger is currently underway and is expected to be completed by Jan. 2010.
Read the Citizen-Times' report on the Haywood Regional and WestCare merger.