Hospital chains' merger affects 6 local facilities

University Community Health officially has merged with Adventist Health System of Winter Park, a Christian chain with 38 hospitals in 12 states.

The move gives UCH access to more capital.

Adventist operates the hospitals in the Midwest and South, including 17 in Florida.

Adventist might benefit from UCH's greater presence in the Tampa Bay area. Adventist's only local hospital is Florida Hospital Zephyrhills.

UCH hospitals in the region are University Community Hospital, University Community Hospital-Carrollwood, Pepin Heart Hospital & Dr. Kiran C. Patel Research Institute, Long Term Acute Care Hospital at Connerton and the soon to be built Wesley Chapel Medical Center.

Helen Ellis Memorial Hospital also will be joining Adventist Health System, serving the Tarpon Springs community.

It had not been determined whether the merged company or hospitals will be renamed, said UCH spokeswoman Phoebe Ochman. Representatives were in meetings Wednesday and not available to provide details, she said.

The new hospital board appointed John Harding president and CEO for the region. He is president and CEO of Florida Hospital Zephyrhills and has more than 25 years of health care administration experience.

"John knows the Tampa Bay community and will provide the leadership experience needed to guide this new region," Mike Schultz, president and CEO of the AHS Florida Region and vice chairman for the UCH board, says in a written announcement.

"He embraces medical technology and advancement with an emphasis on quality and safety, all the while nurturing a Christian-based mission of health care delivery. These elements are vital to the future success of these hospitals."

Adventist Health System said it committed $125 million in capital investments and $10 million to the UCH Foundation and has agreed to take on UCH's debt and outstanding liabilities.

Adventist Health System, according to its website, is a not-for-profit health care organization that emphasizes Christ at the center of care.

It was founded in 1973 to support Seventh-day Adventist health care organizations in the South and Southwest and now is the largest not-for-profit Protestant health care provider in the nation, the website states.