LifePoint Health today announced that it intends to transition its stake in ownership of St. Francis-Emory Healthcare, a joint venture with Emory Healthcare, to a new national health system called ScionHealth. As part of this transition, St. Francis-Emory Healthcare will remain a joint venture with Emory Healthcare and also become a flagship hospital for the new system.

ScionHealth will officially launch later this year in connection with LifePoint’s acquisition of leading post-acute provider Kindred Healthcare. Headquartered in Louisville, ScionHealth will consist of 79 hospital campuses in 25 states, including Kindred’s 61 long-term acute care hospitals and 18 of LifePoint’s hospital campuses and associated sites of care, including the joint venture at St. Francis- Emory Healthcare.

ScionHealth will be led by a management team drawing from both LifePoint and Kindred. Rob Jay, who currently serves as executive vice president of integrated operations at LifePoint, will serve as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ScionHealth.

“LifePoint’s decision to transition its ownership of St. Francis-Emory Healthcare into ScionHealth speaks volumes to the strength of our hospital,” said Melody Trimble, chief executive officer of St. Francis-Emory Healthcare. “Within ScionHealth, St. Francis-Emory Healthcare will be a flagship facility. All the while, our joint venture with Emory, commitment to quality and patient safety, and access to resources will remain unchanged. This is a great opportunity for our continued growth.”

When ownership of the joint venture transitions from LifePoint to ScionHealth, St. Francis-Emory Healthcare will continue to have access to capital to invest in its facility and community, as well as resources and support to accelerate its ongoing efforts to enhance healthcare delivery and expand the services available in the Columbus area and beyond.

“Emory Healthcare remains committed to providing the highest quality care to the Columbus community to include specialized treatments and expertise based on Emory University’s groundbreaking research,” says Dr. Jonathan S. Lewin, CEO and Chairman of the Board, Emory Healthcare. “Our priority is to improve health and health outcomes in the communities we serve.”

This transition will not impact St. Francis-Emory Healthcare’s leadership team, and there will be little change in its day-to-day operations. Patients will continue to receive great care from the providers they know and trust, and there will be no changes in any services – or in how patients or providers access care.

“I am excited at the prospect of working with the teams at St. Francis and Emory as these organizations are well-aligned in terms of operational and strategic approach, and together will form

a strong and cohesive system with unique opportunities for growth,” said Jay. “I look forward to exploring new ways that we can collaborate to improve the health of people in Columbus and throughout the surrounding region.”

Pending regulatory approval and satisfaction of customary closing conditions, LifePoint and Kindred expect the launch of ScionHealth to be completed by the end of the year.

For more information, visit http://www.lifepointhealth.net/news/2021/10/26/lifepoint-health- and-kindred-healthcare-to-launch-new-company-scionhealth.