A subsidiary of for-profit hospital operator Community Health Systems has now acquired full operational control of Gaffney (S.C.) Medical Center. Financial terms were not disclosed.
The subsidiary, Health Management Associates, was acquired by CHS in January. HMA had previously been connected to the 125-bed hospital through a joint venture with Novant Health.
Novant will no longer hold an interest in the hospital.
With the addition of Gaffney, CHS owns and operates nine acute-care hospitals in South Carolina, but this month, the system agreed to divest one of its hospitals in the state because of its HMA deal.
Capella Healthcare plans to purchase 116-bed Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center in Hartsville from CHS for undisclosed terms, with local physicians continuing to hold an ownership interest.
The Federal Trade Commission required the divestiture because Community's merger with HMA would have reduced the number of competitors in the county from three to two. The system also was required to divest 299-bed Gadsden (Ala.) Regional Medical Center.
