UAB Health System Authority will acquire Ascension St. Vincent’s Health System in central Alabama for $450 million.
The agreement was approved unanimously by the University of Alabama System board of trustees in a special called meeting.
UAB and Ascension St. Vincent’s launched an alliance in 2020 to increase access to medical care to patients. The acquisition — a natural next step according to a release from UAB — is expected to be completed in the fall of 2024, subject to regulatory approvals and pending satisfaction of closing conditions and approval by the Catholic Church.
“As you all know, the University of Alabama System and the UAB Health System exist to improve the lives of Alabamians and beyond,” said Dawn Bulgarella, UAB Health System CEO. “This acquisition will go a long way to that end and will move the UA System toward fulfilling its vision of becoming the preeminent public system of higher education and health care in the United States.”
Under the acquisition agreement, UAB Health System Authority will assume all Ascension St. Vincent’s sites of care including the hospitals at Birmingham, Blount, Chilton, East and St. Clair, as well as the One Nineteen Campus; the Trussville Freestanding Emergency Department; and imaging centers and other clinics that are part of Ascension Medical Group. The transaction will include current Ascension St. Vincent’s services, facilities, caregivers and associates, including a robust network of providers serving the region.
“Our mission and vision to provide life-changing care and be the leader in improving the health and lives of all we serve aligns with the outstanding St. Vincent’s caregivers and associates who have served these communities for years,” said Bulgarella. “We look forward to supporting continued operations and providing opportunities for Ascension St. Vincent’s caregivers and associates to essentially remain in their current positions; our goal is to support fulfilling and meaningful careers in service to our patients and communities.”
Jason Alexander, CEO of Ascension St. Vincent’s and senior vice president of Ascension, said, “It became clear that adding Ascension St. Vincent’s to UAB Health System’s network of owned hospitals — and combining and optimizing our collective strengths — is the solution to ensure that our community retains access to sustainable, high-quality health care. Among other benefits, patients will gain access to a larger network of local services through UAB.”
Currently, the UAB Health System is made up of a statewide network of 17 hospitals — both owned and affiliated.
