Capella completes River Park purchase

ANDERSON

Capella Healthcare has completed the acquisition of River Park Hospital from HCA, Inc., company officials have announced.

“This is a significant event in the young history of our company and we are honored to have been entrusted with the future of River Park Hospital,” said Daniel S. Slipkovich, CEO of Capella. “The hospital is well positioned to provide quality healthcare services to the patients of the McMinnville community.”

River Park Hospital is one of Capella Healthcare’s first four hospitals, all of which the company purchased from HCA. The other three hospitals now owned by Capella are Grandview Medical Center, Jasper, Tenn.; Southwestern Medical Center, Lawton, Okla.; and Capital Medical Center, Olympia, Wash.

“Over the last several months, the Capella team has had the opportunity to visit with the outstanding healthcare professionals at River Park,” said Tom Anderson, president and co-founder of Capella. “Thanks to leadership already in place, River Park is a cornerstone in the group of hospitals from which we will build this company. All of Capella’s hospitals are in growing, mid-sized communities which creates a solid base for us to further enhance the quality and scope of services.”

The 127-bed hospital is located on a 14.2-acre campus at 1559 Sparta Street. River Park serves an eight-county region, which includes Cannon, Coffee, DeKalb, Grundy, Sequatchie, Van Buren, Warren and White counties. River Park’s medical staff consists of over 100 board-certified or board-eligible physicians, including over 40 active members.

“Capella provides River Park Hospital with financial backing, technical support and specialized services to build on our current success,” said Ernie Bacon, CEO of River Park Hospital. “Our initial focus will be on an expansion of the cardiology program, the expansion of a hospitalist program with local physicians, and the recruitment of additional physicians, including an obstetrician and a general surgeon.”

Capella, based in Franklin, Tenn., was formed earlier this year by four former Province Healthcare executives, Daniel Slipkovich, Tom Anderson, Andrew Slusser, and Sam Moody.

It is funded by Chicago-based private equity firm GTCR Golder Rauner. Capella’s mission is to provide quality healthcare services and will provide that healthcare in an affordable and easily accessible manner.