The Board of Trustees of St. Francis Hospital and LifePoint Health today announced that the acquisition of St. Francis by LifePoint has been completed. As part of LifePoint, St. Francis now has access to new resources that will strengthen the hospital, support its growth, and help it enhance the delivery of quality care and services to Columbus and surrounding communities.

“We are delighted to finalize our partnership with LifePoint Health and begin a new chapter at St. Francis,” said Richard Y. Bradley, chairman of the St. Francis Hospital Board of Trustees. “LifePoint and St. Francis share a dedication to quality care, creating great workplaces and being an engaged partner with our communities. We are proud to join the LifePoint family and move into the future from a position of strength.”

With the completion of the acquisition, LifePoint has satisfied St. Francis’ financial obligations, including paying off its loan from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). LifePoint also offered employment to all active employees, subject to standard pre-employment screenings, and is continuing to foster collaborative relationships with physicians.

“LifePoint is pleased to welcome St. Francis to our network of hospitals and healthcare providers,” said William F. Carpenter III, chairman and chief executive officer of LifePoint Health. “We thank the Board and St. Francis employees, physicians and volunteers for their ongoing support of St. Francis and our new partnership. Together, we look forward to building upon the legacy of excellent healthcare St. Francis has established and exploring new ways to improve the health and wellbeing of the communities the hospital serves.”

LifePoint will work alongside the hospital to expand St. Francis’ services and meet the evolving healthcare needs of its communities and will make strategic capital investments to support these efforts.

As part of LifePoint, St. Francis will continue its existing charity care policies, and a local board of advisors will ensure the community’s voice in the governance of the hospital. In addition, St. Francis will be a local taxpayer, providing a new source of tax revenues that will benefit the community and help support local projects, local schools and infrastructure in the Chattahoochee Valley.