In recent years, Atlanta-based Piedmont Healthcare has been on an accelerated path toward growth.

Hartford (Conn.) HealthCare has acquired St. Vincent's Medical Center in Bridgeport, Conn., from Ascension, according to the Hartford Business Journal.

Decatur (Ill.) Memorial Hospital has officially joined Memorial Health System, a Springfield, Ill.-based network that now includes five hospitals, according to TV station WAND.

Despite concerns from financial analysts and physicians, Tower Health executives are standing behind their plan to buy St. Christopher's Hospital for Children in Philadelphia out of bankruptcy, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

New Orleans-based Ochsner Health System took over management of Teche Regional Medical Center in Morgan City, La., on Oct. 1.

Ripley, W.Va.-based Jackson General Hospital officially joined Morgantown-based West Virginia University Health System Oct. 1.

Auburn, Ind.-based DeKalb Health became the sixth community hospital to join Parkview Health on Oct. 1. 

Brentwood, Tenn.-based Quorum Health owns one hospital in California after completing the divestiture of Watsonville (Calif.) Community Hospital.

Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems has completed the sale of 92-bed Bluefield (W.Va.) Regional Medical Center to Princeton (W.Va.) Community Hospital.

Meadows Regional Medical Center in Vidalia, Ga., has signed a letter of intent to join Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare.

Cleveland Clinic signed a letter of intent Sept. 27 to add Mercy Medical Center, a 476-bed hospital in Canton, Ohio, to its hospital portfolio.

As part of a new clinical and strategic affiliation, Hackensack (N.J.) Meridian Health has agreed to provide $60 million to Paterson, N.J.-based St. Joseph's Health to improve clinical operations, according to Crain's New York. 

The total number of healthcare mergers and acquisitions hit a record high in 2018, and dozens of deals have been announced so far this year.

The board of trustees of Lafayette (La.) General Health and New Orleans-based Ochsner Health System signed a letter of intent to merge, the health systems announced Sept. 25.

Morgantown, W. Va.-based Mon Health System and Grafton (W. Va.) City Hospital have entered into an affiliation agreement that will help the 25-bed community hospital stay afloat.

A bankruptcy court has approved the sale of St. Christopher's Hospital for Children in Philadelphia to a nonprofit duo for $50 million, which prompted concern from the hospital's physicians about the hospital's status as a trauma center, according to local media.

The New Hampshire attorney general's charitable trusts unit issued a report Sept. 20 objecting to Boston-based Partners HealthCare's plan to expand further into New Hampshire, according to the Boston Business Journal.

Lehigh Valley Health Network plans to acquire Coordinated Health, a system focused on orthopedic services that employs 1,200 people at more than 20 locations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Both systems are headquartered in Allentown, Pa.

A nonprofit duo won a bid to buy St. Christopher's Hospital for Children out of bankruptcy, edging out for-profit hospital operator KPC Global, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. 

A consortium of four health systems that was expected to submit a bid for St. Christopher's Hospital for Children in Philadelphia bowed out of the auction, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.