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Children's Hospital and Touro, both based in New Orleans, have joined together to create a two-hospital nonprofit community-based hospital system, according to a news release.

St. Mary's Good Samaritan Hospital, based in Mt. Vernon, Ill., has received approval for certificate of need applications to build a new hospital, surgery center and medical building, according to a report from the Mt. Vernon Register-News.

Catawba Valley Medical Center in Hickory, N.C., has been forced to halt its $89 million expansion project due to downturns in financial markets, according to the Charlotte Business Journal.

Virtua Health, a multi-hospital healthcare system based in Marlton, N.J., has announced that the steelwork of its new, replacement Vorhees, N.J., hospital is completed, according to a news release.

The Illinois health planning board has approved a replacement for Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital in Lincoln and a new surgery center in Springfield, according to The State Journal-Register.

Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center, based in Lafayette, La., has announced plans to build a $211 million hospital, according to a report in The Daily Advertiser.

A new American Hospital Association survey of 639 non-federal hospitals found that nine of out 10 hospitals are finding it more difficult to borrow money or attract charitable donations in this economic downturn.

Abbott Labs has announced that it is acquiring Advanced Medical Optics (AMO), according to a press release from Abbott.

As community hospitals face increases in competition, declines in admission rates and decreases in profits, along with the current national credit crunch, some organizations are considering whether to sell a portion of the hospital to a capital partner. While such…

Ardent Health Services. Based in Nashville, Tenn., Ardent owns and operates 11 acute care hospitals, two multi-specialty physician groups, a 220,000- member health plan and one national medical laboratory. A partner of some the most respected names in healthcare, such…