KNOXVILLE – The merger of Covenant Health and Cumberland Medical Center is now final, following completion of regulatory requirements. Cumberland Medical Center becomes the ninth hospital member of Covenant Health, a comprehensive not-for-profit health system headquartered in Knoxville.
“This is an important day for Covenant Health,” said Anthony L. Spezia, president and CEO of the health system. “The outstanding physicians, caregivers, administration and support staff at Cumberland Medical Center have become part of a team of more than 10,000 healthcare professionals who share a commitment to provide the best possible patient care.”
Since the announcement of the merger process in June 2013, integration teams from Covenant Health and Cumberland Medical Center have performed needs assessments and planning projects across many clinical and operational areas. A high priority will be the development of an interventional cardiology program.
In addition, CMC already has worked with Thompson Cancer Survival Center, a member of Covenant Health, to manage the CMC Regional Cancer Center for two years.
“Covenant Health has been partnering with Cumberland Medical Center in a number of ways to provide healthcare services to the people of Crossville and the surrounding area,” said Jeremy Biggs, Covenant Health vice president of operations, who has been leading the merger process on behalf of the health system. “We are looking forward to moving ahead with many of our collaborative plans now that the hospital is a full member of Covenant Health.”
“This is indeed a positive transition in the life of our hospital,” said Ed Anderson, who has been in leadership roles at Cumberland Medical Center since 1992, including serving as hospital president and CEO and as a member of the hospital’s Board of Directors. “As a new member of the system, CMC can call on the resources of Covenant Health to bring the latest treatments and technologies to our area.”
“We are pleased to have Cumberland Medical Center as one of Covenant Health’s member hospitals,” said Jim VanderSteeg, executive vice president-hospital operations. “We are committed to providing excellent care for our patients, and as part of that commitment, our hospitals frequently share information and best practices. We are looking forward to involving CMC in that process of learning from each other.”
A number of celebratory and networking events are planned over the coming weeks. These include activities for evening and day shift employees, meetings with physicians, and a community luncheon.
Letters of welcome and introduction will be sent to employees, physicians and volunteers, and an overall communications strategy that includes newspaper ads, billboards and other media will begin soon.
In addition to Cumberland Medical Center and eight other hospitals, Covenant Health includes numerous outpatient services and clinics. The health system also includes specialty providers of behavioral, oncology, and rehabilitation services, along with home care, physician clinics, and community wellness and outreach programs. Covenant Health has more than 10,000 employees, physicians, and volunteers systemwide.
About Covenant Health
Covenant Health is a community-owned health system committed to its mission of “improving the quality of life through better health.” With headquarters in Knoxville, the system provides comprehensive services throughout East Tennessee. Covenant Health is the largest employer in the Knoxville area and has more than 10,000 employees, physicians and volunteers. The organization’s healthcare professionals deliver quality care to thousands of patients annually.
Since its establishment in 1996, Covenant Health has received national recognition and multiple awards for outstanding quality and patient satisfaction, and innovative technology. The health system is governed by a voluntary board of directors composed of business and community leaders and medical professionals.
Covenant Health includes eight acute care hospitals in East Tennessee: Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center and Parkwest Medical Center in Knoxville, Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge, Fort Loudoun Medical Center in Lenoir City, LeConte Medical Center in Sevierville, Morristown-Hamblen Healthcare System in Morristown, Roane Medical Center in Harriman, and Cumberland Medical Center in Crossville.
In addition to the hospitals, Covenant Health’s primary member organizations include the nationally renowned Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center, Thompson Cancer Survival Center, Peninsula (the behavioral health division of Parkwest Medical Center, which includes Peninsula Hospital, an inpatient mental health hospital), Covenant HomeCare, Covenant Medical Management, Fortress Corporation, Fort Sanders West Diagnostic Center, Nanny’s (child care), and Fort Sanders Health and Fitness Center.
Services provided by member organizations include behavioral health, cancer treatment, comprehensive outpatient services, rehabilitation, home health (including home nursing, rehabilitation therapies, and hospice care), and community wellness and outreach programs. Affiliated physician clinics provide primary and specialty care in Knox and surrounding counties.
The health system’s Office of Philanthropy operates several foundations which raise funds for services, equipment and other resources for excellence in patient care at Covenant Health facilities.