Prime Healthcare and Franciscan Health Olympia Fields

In April, Prime Healthcare announced that it has received approval from the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board to acquire 214-bed Franciscan Health Olympia Fields, located in Olympia Fields, Ill. The deal closed in May, making the newly branded Olympia Fields Hospital Prime Healthcare’s 55th hospital, according to a statement. It also included the addition of Specialty Physicians of Illinois to the health system.

Prime Healthcare also plans to contribute $5 million to Franciscan’s medical education expansion initiative.

CHRISTUS Health and Titus Regional Medical Center

In May, CHRISTUS Health, a nonprofit health system in Texas, began operations at Titus Regional Medical Center. The hospital is now called CHRISTUS Health – Mount Pleasant Hospital. According to a statement, the health system also opened the CHRISTUS Health Mount Pleasant Emergency Care Center, which includes a multispecialty clinic.

Monument Health and Rapid City Medical Center

Monument Health, based in Rapid City, S.D., added Rapid City Medical Center to its health system on May 1.

“Joining Monument Health means our patients will have access to even greater resources and a deeper network of care, while continuing to see the providers they know and trust right here at home,” said Jay Hammerquist, Rapid City Medical Center CEO, in a press release.

Wellstar Health System and Mountain Lakes Medical Center

Wellstar Health System, a nonprofit system in the Metro Atlanta area, has finalized an agreement to acquire Mountain Lakes Medical Center, a 25-bed critical access hospital located in Clayton, Ga. The transaction was expected to close on Aug. 1.

“We believe joining Wellstar creates exciting opportunities to build on that success while connecting our patients and clinicians to additional expertise, technology, specialty resources and healthcare capabilities that can help support the future of healthcare in northeast Georgia,” said Mountain Lakes Medical Center CEO Kristy Hall in a press release.

DISCOVER: Tackle data integration successfully during a healthcare merger or acquisition.

Freeman Health System and Northwest Health

Freeman Health System, with locations in Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Kansas, completed its acquisition of Northwest Health, located in Northwest Arkansas, from a Community Health Systems subsidiary, according to a statement.

The deal includes four medical centers as well as several outpatient centers and physician practices. Long-term goals include increased access to behavioral healthcare and maternal care as well as the expansion of specialty care services such as cardiology, oncology and orthopedics.

UNC Health and Onslow Memorial Hospital

Onslow Memorial Hospital, located in Jacksonville, N.C., will integrate with UNC Health in a three-stage plan over the next four years. UNC Health plans to invest more than $150 million to modernize technology and infrastructure, according to a press release. The integration will give Onslow Memorial Health patients access to enhanced care with improved, systemwide connectivity.

According to an article from WITN, the first stage of the plan was effective July 1 when UNC Health acquired a 30% membership interest in the hospital. In the second stage, UNC Health’s membership interest will increase to 49%. In the final stage, targeted for 2029, UNC Health will be the sole member of Onslow Memorial Hospital.

East Alabama Health and Bullock County Rural Emergency Hospital

On June 1, East Alabama Health announced that it would be stepping in to operate and manage Bullock County Rural Emergency Hospital, located in Union Springs, Ala., following the departure of its previous operator. East Alabama Health moved quickly to ensure “the continued availability of critical health care services for residents in and around Bullock County,” according to a statement.

“Our focus is on stabilizing operations, strengthening local access to care and building a sustainable model that allows Bullock County residents to receive high-quality care close to home. We are committed to working alongside local leadership, providers and the community to support the hospital’s long-term success,” said Joseph Marchant, executive vice president and chief integration and network development officer at East Alabama Health.

Baptist Memorial Health Care and Merit Health Rankin

Baptist Memorial Health Care, based in Memphis, Tenn., is taking on the lease for Merit Health Rankin, a hospital located in Brandon, Miss., sometime in the second half of 2026. According to a press release, Baptist Memorial plans to invest $70 million in the 134-bed hospital to enhance services.

Quorum Health and Banner Lassen Medical Center

Quorum Health has signed an asset purchase agreement to take over Banner Lassen Medical Center, located in Susanville, Calif., from Banner Health. The transaction will be completed in December, pending regulatory approvals. At that time, the medical center will become a nonprofit entity.

“An organization with experience operating rural health care within California and a dedication to supporting local teams is the ideal partner to serve this community’s health care needs while preserving access to care close to home,” said Margo Karsten, the senior vice president of acute care deliver for Banner Health’s Western Division, in a press release.

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Novant Health and Community Hospital of Stokes

Novant Health has taken over operation of Community Hospital of Stokes, a 53-bed critical access hospital in Danbury, N.C. According to a press release, the Stokes County Board of Commissioners began a search for “a new healthcare partner to purchase or lease and operate the county-owned hospital.” Novant was selected in March 2026 and took over the hospital on June 1.

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Encore Medical Center

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences will lease and operate Encore Medical Center, a 53-bed hospital in Bryant, Ark. The hospital, which is currently operated by Arkansas Heart Hospital, will officially be under UAMS’s operational authority on Oct. 1, according to a press release.

Arkansas Heart Hospital opened the location in 2021 to offer bariatric weight loss surgery and care for peripheral vascular disease. Encore Medical Center includes emergency services and inpatient care while also offering intensive care, surgical, imaging and laboratory services.

“Our goal is a seamless transition for Saline County,” said Dr. C. Lowry Barnes, chancellor for UAMS. “The team currently at Encore Medical Center is experienced and dedicated, and we look forward to working closely with them during this transition.”

Baptist Health and South Arkansas Regional Hospital

South Arkansas Regional Hospital of El Dorado, Ark., formally joined Arkansas-based health system Baptist Health on June 15. The 151-bed hospital will now operate as Baptist Health Medical Center-El Dorado.

Hackensack Meridian Health and Hunterdon Health

Hackensack Meridian Health and Hunterdon Health may be headed toward partnership. The two New Jersey-based organizations signed a letter of intent in June, explaining in a press release that the proposed partnership would enhance patient care, expand services and accelerate innovation.

According to the statement, “United by a shared commitment to transforming health care, Hackensack Meridian Health and Hunterdon Health will use their shared resources, expertise, and advanced technologies to expand and support a comprehensive health care delivery system focused on health outcomes, investment in clinical research, academic and community benefit programs, and quality care that is human-centered, accessible, and affordable.”

Providence Queen of the Valley Medical Center and NorthBay Health

Providence will transfer ownership of Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa, Calif., to NorthBay Health based on a definitive agreement signed in April. As part of the deal, which is expected to close by the end of the year, NorthBay Health will invest in clinical services and community benefit programs, according to a press release.

“This agreement represents an important step toward expanding access, strengthening clinical services, and ensuring more people in the region benefit from high-quality, locally connected care,” said Mark Behl, president and CEO of NorthBay Health.