HCA Midwest expands with deal for doc group

HCA Midwest Health System, part of Nashville-based HCA, is expanding its Midwest Physicians group with an agreement to take over College Park Family Care Center, which has 10 locations in Johnson County, Kan., in suburban Kansas City.

With College Park Family Care's 60 physicians, HCA Midwest's multispecialty practice group will have 341 physicians in 146 locations in the Kansas City area. The deal represents the largest physician-group tie-up to date in the region, and College Park is the second largest group to join HCA Physician Services, according to an HCA Midwest news release.

Dr. Thomas Miller, College Park Family Care's CEO and co-founder, said in the release that the affiliation will help it "navigate upcoming healthcare changes."

The practice already has a long-term relationship with HCA's Overland Park (Kan.) Regional Medical Center, which is undergoing a $110 million hospital expansion.

The deal allows College Park to continue operating without changes to its staff or name, and provides additional funds to expand its clinics and upgrade its health information technology.

A newly formed College Park Management Council—consisting of four College Park physicians and four representatives from HCA Midwest—will oversee the practice. A College Park physician will also serve on the HCA Midwest Physician Executive Council.