Community Healthcare Associates finalizes purchase of Memorial Hospital of Salem County

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Salem County Hospital Corp. – Salem Medical Center, a nonprofit corporation affiliated with Bloomfield-based Community Healthcare Associates, completed its purchase of The Memorial Hospital of Salem County from Tennessee-based Community Health Systems on Jan. 31.

In a press release Tuesday, CHA said the project marks a major milestone for the company because it presents the firm with an opportunity to successfully reposition a fully operational acute care hospital.

CHA said the anticipated investment of more than $30 million would modernize and transform the aging facility into its newly rebranded successor, the new Salem Medical Center.

CHA’s plans include the renovation of a substantial portion of the existing hospital’s physical plant, the consolidation and growth of various medical programs and the upgrading of the hospital’s medical equipment and IT systems.

“The opportunity to reposition the historic Memorial Hospital of Salem County represented a bold new chance to grow our business,” said Bill Colgan, CHA’s managing partner in a statement.

“Our plan to retain and expand the delivery of quality health care services in Salem County has been carefully crafted, presented, reviewed and updated by key stakeholders, including current medical staff, current hospital leadership, community advocates, and others, all of whom are integral to the hospital’s success,” said Colgan.

He added that CHA would seek to strengthen and expand the hospital’s existing relationships with local healthcare providers, including Cooper University Health Care.

In addition to its short-term plans, CHA said that it has also identified a number of long-term goals for Salem Medical Center including plans to reopen the now-closed ambulatory surgery center situated on the hospital’s campus, and to expand medical services to attract GYN, interventional radiology, urology, endocrinology, vascular and cardiac services.

CHA is also in active discussions with Cooper University Health Care for an expansion of its services within the hospital.