Community Health Systems made more adjustments to its portfolio of hospitals this week as it continues to integrate last year's acquisition of Health Management Associates.
The Franklin, Tenn.-based chain, which has struggled with maintaining patient volume at both its legacy and HMA facilities, said it plans to divest two hospitals in South Carolina while it assumes full ownership of five Oklahoma hospitals.
The South Carolina facilities are 59-bed Chesterfield General Hospital in Cheraw and 102-bed Marlboro Park Hospital in Bennettsville. M/C Healthcare will take over the leases on the hospitals within the next 60 days.
Earlier this year, Community completed its divestiture of Carolina Pines Regional Medical Center in Hartsville, S.C., to Capella Healthcare—a move required by the Federal Trade Commission as part of its HMA takeover approval.
Even after the disposals, Community will retain a presence in the state with six additional hospitals.
Separately, Community said it has bought out joint venture partner Integris Health to assume full ownership of five Oklahoma hospitals that were acquired through the HMA deal. Those hospitals are 53-bed Blackwell (Okla.) Regional Hospital, 56-bed Clinton (Okla.) Regional Hospital, 25-bed Marshall County Medical Center in Madill, 52-bed Mayes County Medical Center in Pryor and 32-bed Seminole (Okla.) Medical Center.
Community also has two legacy hospitals in the state.
The publicly traded chain, which had been making similar moves throughout 2014, could sell another two to three assets over the next several months, Deutsche Bank analyst Darren Lehrich wrote in a note to clients.
The fact that Chesterfield General and Marlboro Park were legacy Community hospitals, and not acquired through HMA, suggests that the chain is taking a broad look at its portfolio, he wrote.
Follow Beth Kutscher on Twitter: @MHbkutscher
