MUSC to acquire Providence Hospital, KershawHealth

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Columbia’s Providence Hospital and Camden’s KershawHealth will be acquired by the Medical University of South Carolina.

The MUSC and Medical University Hospital Authority board of trustees voted to make the purchase at a June meeting, according to a news release from MUSC. The acquisition will include three community hospitals, a freestanding emergency department, and affiliated Midlands physician practices.

“This is an exciting day for MUSC and for the state as we continue to develop our network with the acquisition of these health care facilities and establish a larger footprint in rural and underserved counties,” David J. Cole, MUSC president, said in the release. “As the state’s only comprehensive academic health system, we understand that we have a responsibility to enable better access to complex, high-end care while working to facilitate the best-quality local care possible. This acquisition will broaden our ability to serve greater numbers of patients, families and communities, and that is a reason to celebrate.”

Providence, which serves the Columbia area with two full-service hospitals and a freestanding emergency room, and KershawHealth, a full-service medical center in Camden, are currently part of LifePoint Health. KershawHealth has been an affiliate of MUSC Health since 2015.

“We are excited about the prospect of joining MUSC Health,” said Terry Gunn, market CEO of Providence Health and KershawHealth. “Our objective is and has always been positioning our facilities for success so that we can fulfill our purpose of delivering high-quality care close to home. Aligning Providence and Kershaw with a preeminent regional academic health system will benefit our employees, providers and community, giving us new opportunities to change what’s possible in health care for our region.”

Terms of the transaction, subject to the approval of the State Fiscal Accountability Authority and other regulatory reviews, have not yet been disclosed. MUSC Health anticipates hiring all active employees in good standing at compensation levels consistent with current rates and fair market value, according to the release. MUSC team members will meet with facility administrators to determine staffing and needs.  

“MUSC has tremendous potential to meet the growing needs of patients and families around our state,” James Lemon, MUSC board chair, said. “That is why we are excited about today’s announcement. As the only comprehensive health sciences facility in the state, with an unmatched record of patient care and meaningful research, MUSC has the unique capacity to improve health outcomes for those it serves.”