Knoxville's Mercy hospitals eye future under for-profit HMA

Health Management Associates' decision to buy Mercy Health Partners came as welcome news for some within Knoxville's elder health system, eager for new leadership to get the organization back on track. With the deep pockets of a shareholder-owned company, some believe HMA has the ability to turn around Mercy's misfortunes, which have been rooted in a large debt load and poor revenue. The Florida-based company is expected to pump significant resources into Mercy for capital improvements and new technologies if the deal is approved. But tough decisions will have to be made as HMA continues to assess Mercy's operations and facilities.