The Baton Rouge-based health system announced the completion of its "transition of sponsorship" Monday afternoon.
Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady (FMOL) Health System announced the acquisition of Jackson, Mississippi-based St. Dominic Health Services from Dominican Sisters, according to a press release Monday afternoon.
The completion of a "transfer of sponsorship" now expands FMOL as a seven-hospital health system, serving as its first regional center located outside Louisiana.
The move comes three weeks after Richard R. Vath, MD, was named CEO of FMOL, replacing then-CEO Mike McBride who was fired in March.
Related: Vath Named CEO at Louisiana's Franciscan Missionaries
Vath greeted St. Dominic into FMOL, as the organization moves on from the support it received from Dominican Sisters for decades.
“We admire the service-driven organization that the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, Illinois built over the last 70 years, and they have lent amazing support to St. Dominic’s," Vath said. "We feel honored to continue their legacy and grow the healing mission of Catholic healthcare in Mississippi as part of our thriving integrated health care system.”
Lester Diamond, president of St. Dominic Health Services, echoed Vath's sentiments on how the transition would benefit care options for the organization's patients in Mississippi.
“Today is a significant day for so many reasons, but most importantly is how St. Dominic’s is now better positioned to extend its mission to faithfully serve the Jackson community,” said Lester Diamond, president of St. Dominic Health Services. “With our companions in Baton Rouge, I am confident that we have a partner whom we know will support us and the Jackson community.”
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Jack O'Brien is the Content Team Lead and Finance Editor at HealthLeaders, an HCPro brand.