MADISONVILLE, KY (Aug. 31, 2022) — Baptist Health Deaconess Madisonville, the joint venture company of Baptist Health and Deaconess Health System, celebrates its first anniversary on September 1, 2022.
“The creation of a joint venture company illustrates that these two health systems are working together but our facility is still distinctly unique,” said Robert Ramey, Baptist Health Deaconess Madisonville president. “With Baptist Health Deaconess Madisonville, we have Kentucky’s largest health system, and the Tri-State’s largest health system, joining forces to further enhance healthcare in our region.”
The agreement to jointly operate the 410-bed hospital was signed June 30, 2021 after approval from both health system administrative boards. The new name was also announced that day.
“In our first year of the partnership we have been focused on bringing the best of both organizations to benefit not only our patients, but also our most valuable resource—the providers, nurses, and other employees who make Baptist Health Deaconess Madisonville a very special organization,” said Gerard Colman, CEO of Baptist Health.
“We are committed to continuing our mission in order to make sure that those who trust us with their care have access to world class healthcare close to home. We look forward to a future of growth and a continued commitment to the communities we serve,” added Colman.
Baptist Health and Deaconess Health jointly operate the hospital, Baptist Health Deaconess Medical Group, home care and hospice, the Foundation, and associated outpatient facilities in Madisonville, Powderly, Dawson Springs, Princeton and Hopkinsville.
“As we celebrate our one-year anniversary as a joint venture, I’m proud of the commitment to excellence shown by the employees, physicians and leaders of Baptist Health Deaconess Madisonville,” said Shawn McCoy, CEO of Deaconess Health.
“At Deaconess, we’ve also been inspired by the employees’ resilience and dedication to their community as they continue to recover from the tragic loss of life and destruction from December’s tornado. These are exceptional people and healthcare providers serving the communities of western Kentucky,” stated McCoy.
A major focus of the joint venture has been local decision-making and control with a 13-member board of directors. Eight of those directors are drawn from the local Madisonville-area community.
“We have already seen growth and expansion in our physician recruitment efforts as well as the addition of our surgical robotics program,” added Ramey. “Our communities will continue to receive the same high quality healthcare they’ve come to expect from our staff while we move forward with additional facility enhancements impacting our surgical suites, emergency room and cancer center.”
The hospital, originally called Trover Clinic and Regional Medical Center and later Trover Health system, was renamed Baptist Health Madisonville when acquired by Baptist Health in 2012. It officially became Baptist Health Deaconess Madisonville on September 1, 2021.