Anniston’s Regional Medical Center Health System is joining Orlando Health, a private, not-for-profit health care system. The city of Anniston owned the health system.
“After months of intentional work behind the scenes, we are proud to announce the acquisition of Regional Medical Center by Orlando Health — a nationally recognized leader in health care and, quite frankly, one of the best systems in the country,” said Anniston Mayor Ciara Smith-Roston. “While others may celebrate incremental additions to health care access, Anniston has secured a partner that is bringing a full system of excellence, raising the standard across the board, from emergency care to specialized services and long-term patient outcomes.”
Regional Medical Center, with 375 beds, will join Orlando Health’s Alabama region, which includes Baptist Health. In addition to the hospital, Regional Medical Center Health System also has outpatient facilities and specialty practices serving patients throughout Northeast Alabama.
“We are excited to welcome RMC’s team members and physicians to Orlando Health,” said David Strong, president and CEO of Orlando Health. “Together, we look forward to investing in excellent services that will benefit the region, partnering with physicians, purposefully growing and becoming the best place to work.”
According to the city of Anniston’s release, all current RMC employees, nearly 1,800 team members and 200 physicians, will transition to Orlando Health, with their existing titles, pay and years of service honored. City leaders also noted that the agreement includes long-term protections designed to preserve Regional Medical Center’s presence in Anniston.
“What excites us most about the partnership with Orlando Health is their proven ability to accelerate and strengthen growth and performance initiatives, and their demonstrated success in markets facing challenges similar to those at RMC,” said Keith Parrott, CEO of RMC.
Orlando Health has plans to invest significant resources in hospital facilities, equipment and technology, including the implementation of an electronic health record system over the next five years. Those investments are expected to support physician recruitment, expand specialty services and improve access to care for patients.
In 2024, Orlando Health purchased the majority interest in Baptist Health in Birmingham, which consists of five hospitals across central Alabama.
“RMC is an important addition to Orlando Health’s growing presence in Alabama and strengthens our ability to serve patients across the region,” said Thibaut van Marcke, senior vice president, Orlando Health and president, Baptist Health. “By bringing RMC into the Orlando Health system, we can expand services and collaborate with physicians and team members to enhance access to high-quality care for communities throughout Northeast Alabama.”
