Along with everyone else in the community, we anxiously await the decision by the Wellmont board of directors on whether and/or with whom they might create a new strategic alliance. Their good work and deliberations could lead to changing the face of health care in Bristol for generations to come.

Several community leaders in Bristol, Kingsport and Johnson City have expressed support, and are lobbying for a merger between Wellmont and Mountain States Health Alliance. While unconfirmed, Mountain States is rumored to be one of the three finalists for a potential merger.

Local control has been the rallying cry by the community leaders supporting a potential Wellmont-Mountain States merger.

We respect Wellmonts decision to seek strategic options, but before jumping on the band wagon for a merger joining Wellmont and Mountain States everyone needs to take a moment to consider the potential consequences.

Typically, when two organizations merge, a justification for such a union is to seek operating efficiencies. This holds true for corporate mergers in most business sectors including health care. This often leads to a reduction or elimination of duplicated services.

Local health care organizations are facing challenges in both Tennessee and Virginia (as well as the rest of the country) tied the Affordable Health Care Act and the decision by Tennessee and Virginia legislatures to reject expanded Medicaid funding.

We are very fortunate to have three incredible medical facilities in the Tricities. We have two Level One Trauma Centers in Johnson City and Kingsport, and a Level Two Trauma Center in Bristol. We have outstanding cancer treatment facilities and wonderful cardiac care as well as many more, valuable services.

If a merger between Wellmont and Mountain States were to occur, one of the first questions begging an answer would be: Do we need this level of service in all three communities?

We have duplication of a number of very important services. Duplication among health care providers means competition, which in many cases results in a differentiation in pricing and levels of personal service.

Bristol, being the smallest of the three communities and the smallest of the three hospitals could be the odd-man out if a merger was to occur and duplicated services were deemed necessary to be eliminated.

See original here:

The changing face of health care