GEORGIA
Columbus (Ga.) Regional Healthcare System acquired Phenix Medical Park Hospital, Phenix City.
Columbia/HCA bought Murray Medical Center, Chatsworth, from Murray County Hospital Authority, which retained the real estate assets.
The 10-hospital Promina Health System was formed through the merger of Northwest Georgia Health System, Austell; Gwinnett Hospital System, Lawrenceville; and Piedmont Hospital, Atlanta.
Decatur (Ga.) Hospital was acquired by the DeKalb Regional Healthcare System, Decatur, for $6 million.
In Atlanta, Columbia/HCA acquired Dunwoody Medical Center and Metropolitan Hospital from Quorum.
Towns County Hospital and Nursing Home, Hiawassee, was purchased by Southern Health, Atlanta.
Southern Health agreed to purchase St. Joseph's Hospital-Dahlonega (Ga.), from St. Joseph's Health System, Atlanta.
IDAHO
Gritman Medical Center, Moscow, Idaho, and Pullman (Wash.) Memorial Hospital agree to merge financial services, forming a shared-services company called Palhouse Cooperative Health Services. Gritman is managed by Quorum, and Pullman is managed by Brim.
ILLINOIS
The merger of Lutheran General HealthSystem, Park Ridge, and EHS Health Care, Oak Brook, gained Justice Department approval.
Columbia/HCA bought Grant Hospital, Chicago.
Columbus-Cabrini Health System, which includes three Catholic Hospitals in Chicago, signed a letter of intent to merge with St. Joseph Hospital and Health Care Center, Chicago. All are involved in an 11-hospital network being developed by the Catholic Health Alliance of Metropolitan Chicago.
Transitional Hospitals Corp., an Atlanta-based subsidiary of Community Psychiatric Centers, bought Belmont Community Hospital, Chicago, and will convert it into a long-term, intensive-care hospital.
INDIANA
In Lafayette, St. Elizabeth Hospital Medical Center and Lafayette Home Hospital await a Justice Department ruling on their proposed merger.
Community Hospitals Indianapolis and St. Vincent Hospitals and Health Services, Indianapolis, gain Justice Department approval for their joint holding company, Collaborative Health Services.
IOWA
In Dubuque, a collaborative agreement between Finley Hospital and Mercy Health Center was challenged by the Justice Department. Closing arguments on the case have been made, and a judge's ruling is expected soon. The hospitals contend the agreement to form a joint holding company while keeping separate assets isn't a merger. The Justice Department views the venture as a merger.
St. Luke's Methodist Hospital, Cedar Rapids, announced its intention to merge with the two-hospital Iowa Health System in Des Moines.
In Davenport, Mercy Hospital and St. Luke's Hospital earned quick clearance of their proposed merger from the Justice Department after their announcement of plans to join under a new parent corporation, Genesis Health System.
KANSAS
CSJ Health System of Wichita and St. Francis Ministry Corp., Wichita, agreed to merge. The deal is pending.
KENTUCKY
In Louisville, Alliant Health System proposed an affiliation through a common board with Baptist Healthcare System.
LOUISIANA
NME signed a long-term lease for Doctors Hospital of Jefferson, Metairie.
Southern Baptist Hospital and Mercy Hospital of New Orleans merged to become the largest private hospital in the city.
Columbia/HCA agreed to buy 80% of Tulane University Hospital and Clinics, New Orleans, for $130 million.
New Orleans' two public hospitals, University Hospital and Medical Center of Louisiana at New Orleans, merged. Their names changed to become Medical Center of Louisiana West and Medical Center of Louisiana East, respectively.
Columbia/HCA bought 50% interest in Rapides Regional Medical Center, Alexandria, for $50 million.
MARYLAND
Helix Health System, Lutherville, agreed to buy Good Samaritan Health System, Baltimore.
MASSACHUSETTS
Boston University/Health Center bought Winthrop (Mass.) Hospital for $2.4 million. The hospital was bankrupt and is reopening as an ambulatory-care center.
In Boston, Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital affiliated under a parent organization called Partners Healthcare System.
Lahey Clinic, Burlington, and AdvantageHealth, Woburn, agreed to buy Symmes Hospital, Arlington.
New England Deaconess Hospital, Boston, acquired Glover Memorial Hospital, Needham.
Holyoke (Mass.) Hospital's parent company signed an intent to affiliate with Sisters of Providence Health System and its two hospitals in Holyoke and Springfield. The agreement is pending.
Beverly (Mass.) Hospital and Addison Gilbert Hospital, Gloucester, created an affiliation under a parent holding company called Cape Ann and Northeast Health Systems.
Vencor signed a management agreement with Hahnemann Hospital, Boston, with the option to buy.
MICHIGAN
St. John Health System, Detroit, agreed to buy Oakland General Hospital, Madison Heights.
Quality Health Plan, a Detroit-area physician group, bought North Detroit General Hospital, which closed in 1993.
Pioneer Healthcare, Peabody, Mass., bought Harbor Oaks Hospital, New Baltimore.
St. John Hospital and Medical Center, Detroit, and River District Hospital, St. Clair, merged.
Berrien General Hospital, Berrien Center, joined Lakeland Regional Health System (Mercy-Memorial Medical Center, St. Joseph, and Pawating Hospital, Niles), St. Joseph.
Blodgett Memorial Medical Center, Grand Rapids, and Reed City (Mich.) Hospital expected to complete a merger.
Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, and Horizon Health System, Southfield, entered merger talks. Deal is pending.
Port Huron Hospital and Mercy Hospital, both in Port Huron, agreed to merge; the deal was challenged in court by the Federal Trade Commission.
MINNESOTA
Medica and HealthSpan Health Systems Corp. merged to become Allina Health System.
Minneapolis Children's Medical Center and Children's Hospital in St. Paul merged.
Chisago Health Services, Chisago City, agreed to become a wholly owned subsidiary of Fairview Health System, Minneapolis.
MISSISSIPPI
In Flowood, River Oaks Hospital acquired Woman's Hospital.
MISSOURI
BJC Health System, St. Louis, acquired Missouri Baptist Healthcare System, Town & Country, and later acquired St. Louis Children's Hospital.
In Joplin, Freeman Hospital and Oak Hill Hospital agreed to merge. The deal is pending.
In Kansas City, Health Midwest acquired Menorah Medical Center. It later agreed to acquire Park Lane Medical Center. The deal is pending.
In Jefferson City, Memorial Community Hospital and Still Regional Medical Center merged.
In St. Louis, SSM Health Care System agreed to acquire DePaul Health Center. The deal is pending.
Boone Hospital Center, Columbia, agreed to enter exclusive collaborative discussions with AMI Columbia Regional Hospital. A merger is possible.
Columbia/HCA acquired Independence (Mo.) Regional Health Center.
