Mergers and Affiliations has become a common occurrence for healthcare systems to remain financially stable and provide patient care in various geographic areas. These mergers must be approved by each state which evalaute: 1) the need and benefit to the patients, 2) does mergers provide a competitive edge over other existing healthcare systems in the area, and 3) survival of healthcare system in rural areas ( Will this keep the rural hospital open?). Examples of mergers in East Tennessee: Ballad Health (Mountain State Healthcare System & Wellmont Healthcare System). This merger blended healthcare organizations in Tennessee and Virginia which required both the State of Tennessee and State of Virigina to approve before an acquisition could occur. Tennova Healthcare System: (Baptist Healthcare System & St. Mary’s Catholic Healthcare System which became Physicians Regional). This merger required the State of Tennessee to approved before acquisition.
