Williamson Health Proposes Local Board Amid Sale to Ascension

Williamson Health executives, by way of a consulting firm, sought to answer some of the more pertinent questions surrounding its sale to Ascension Healthcare during a Wednesday Williamson County Property Committee Meeting. 

The presentation by Kaufman Hall managing director Eb LeMaster covered financial details, promised consistency in staff and services and introduced a local board concept. 

Earlier this month, the Williamson Health board voted unanimously to sell the hospital, but the Williamson County Commission is slated to vote on the sale at a future meeting. Ascension has 2,600 sites of care across 16 states, including Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital Midtown and Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital West in Nashville. 

LeMaster said Ascension wants to continue the use of the Williamson Health brand in “some form or fashion.” He also presented a pitch for a locally based board with nine to 13 members including community leaders, the Ascension CEO and the Williamson Health CEO — with Phil Mazzuca set to retain the latter position. That board will have oversight on matters including patient safety, strategic planning and CEO performance. 

LeMaster noted that bids for the hospital rose over time, which showed the quality of the hospital as well as the attractiveness of the region. In the end, Ascension has bid a $700 million purchase price and $235 million in capital commitments over 10 years, plus$108 million in hospital cash and reserves. The capital uses will include $60 million in acute care enhancements on the main campus, $100 million toward new sites of care, and $35 million in discretionary funding, according to Kaufman Hall’s presentation. 

Ascension “isn’t looking to buy this to shrink it,” Mazzuca said Wednesday. As stated in previous communication, Ascension is committed to retaining all employees for at least one year.

In addition, Ascension will retain all clinical services for at least 10 years. This includes retaining charity care and care for those who are incarcerated. Under Ascension ownership, the hospital would still rely on the county to fund $14 million in EMS services per year, however.  

During Wednesday’s meeting, Ascension listed cardiovascular, oncology, orthopedics, neurosciences, women’s health, and primary care access as potential areas for growth.  

Committee members raised concern on Wednesday about the future of the Williamson Health Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Williamson Health. For example, in the fall the foundation raised $1 million as part of a campaign to renovate the main hospital tower and support health services. LeMaster said Ascension will honor gifts that were earmarked for a specific purpose. However, Ascension did not specifically set aside funds for the foundation but instead will allow unused escrow funds to roll over, according to the Wednesday presentation.  

While many of the financial data points were similar as HCA and Ascension competed to purchase Williamson Health, Phill Mazzuca, Williamson Health CEO, added that Ascension is simply a better “culture fit,” as a nonprofit hospital, as compared to HCA’s for-profit model.