ETMC, Henderson Memorial To Merge

Deal hoped to be final in a few months.

HENDERSON, TX, Jan. 28, 2009 -- ETMC announced the merger of Henderson Memorial Hospital and the East Texas Medical Center Regional Healthcare System in it's newsletter Wednesday, saying that the agreement between HMH and ETMC was not final, but would likely address several factors, including:
* Ongoing community participation through the local hospital board
* Clinical equipment enhancements
* Information technology upgrades
* Long-term facility plan
* Employee retention and benefits
* Physician recruitment and retention

The two organizations have signed a letter of intent, and negotiations are ongoing to finalize the terms, under which Henderson Memorial would likely become ETMC Henderson.

"We are extremely pleased with the anticipated affiliation,” Mark Leitner, Henderson Memorial Hospital CEO, was quoted as saying.

Leitner went on to say “The process that was followed by Henderson Memorial Hospital's board of directors was designed to assure that the health needs of our communities would be best served through such an affiliation.

“The residents of Henderson and Rusk County can remain confident that the hospital will not only survive but will thrive during the coming years. Of the many health systems considered, the ETMC Regional Healthcare System was determined to be best prepared and most interested in preserving high quality care for our patients,”

Read the full notice at http://etmc.org/henletterofintent.htm.