Bert Fish Medical Center, a 112-bed community hospital in New Smyrna Beach, has signed a non-binding Letter of Intent to explore an affiliation with Florida Hospital and its parent company, Adventist Health System.
“Bert Fish has done so well in adding new services, new technology and new physicians, plus our financial performance last year was positive” said Bob Williams, CEO of Bert Fish. “Similar successes, as well as capital investment commitments, will be secured for our future by joining Adventist Health System.”
As a Florida Hospital entity, Bert Fish Medical Center would be able to improve access to medical specialties not currently available in the community hospital setting. Officials point to open heart surgery as an example of a procedure not offered at Bert Fish, but one for which Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center in Ormond Beach is a leader. “We have had a long and successful transfer agreement to send our patients needing open heart surgery to Florida Hospital,” said Williams. Additionally, Bert Fish will be able to enhance other existing services like cancer care, cardiology and surgical services.
The Chairman of the Bert Fish Board of Directors, Dr. Tom Ownby, said that as the hospital board looked at what the future holds for all hospitals, it made sense to have its administrative team explore partnership opportunities. “Our team has been deliberate and thoughtful in recommending we explore an affiliation with Florida Hospital, which is a high-quality and financially sound hospital system” he said.
Dr. Ownby’s comments were seconded by Don Jernigan, President/CEO of Adventist Health System. “This affiliation will allow for us to provide quality medical care and share our Christ-centered mission to a new market area.” The Southeast Volusia Hospital District includes New Smyrna Beach, Oak Hill, Edgewater, Samsula and a portion of Port Orange.
“Both organizations remain focused on providing uninterrupted patient care during this process,” said Mike Schultz, President/CEO of Adventist Health System’s Florida Region. “Any change that may occur will be to the benefit of the communities that Bert Fish serves.”
About Bert Fish Medical Center
Bert Fish Medical Center is a 112-bed not-for-profit acute care community hospital in New Smyrna Beach, Florida which serves as the safety net hospital for the Southeast Volusia (Co.) Hospital District. The district includes the cities of New Smyrna Beach, Edgewater and Oak Hill as well as a portion of the city of Port Orange and the unincorporated communities of Samsula and Glencoe. Bert Fish is a Planetree ™ partner, joining over 125 hospitals around the country in focusing on a renewed spirit of patient-centered care through the service of its 600 medical center employees.
About Adventist Health System
Adventist Health System is a not-for-profit healthcare organization that emphasizes Christ at the center of care. Founded in 1973, Adventist Health System has quickly grown to become the largest not-for-profit Protestant healthcare provider in the nation. Today, Adventist Health System supports 37 hospitals, including the 17 Florida Hospitals, and employs 50,000 individuals. Adventist Health System hospitals are comprised of 6,600 plus licensed beds, providing care for 4 million patients each year in inpatient, outpatient and emergency room visits.