Transactions & Valuation Issues

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has approved the merger between Lowell (Mass.) General Hospital and Saint's Medical Center in Lowell.

Scott Memorial Hospital in Scottsburg, Ind., has signed a letter of intent to lease its facility to The Regional Health Network of Kentucky and Southern Indiana, a new joint venture formed by Norton Healthcare in Louisville, Ky., and LifePoint Hospitals…

Mercy Health in Chesterfield, Mo., has entered exclusive acquisition talks with Jefferson Regional Medical Center in Crystal City, Mo., according to a St. Louis Today report.

Consultants advising the University of Louisville's University Hospital told the facility it must partner with another organization that will provide access to capital for growth, according to an Indianapolis Star report.

Virginia Urology, based in Richmond, is seeking approval to build a new surgery center in Colonel Heights, Va., according to a Progress-Index report.

The merger between South Jersey Health System in Vineland, N.J., and Underwood-Memorial Health Systems based in Woodbury, N.J., should complete this August pending regulatory approval, according to a Press of Atlantic City report.

Howard Greenfield, MD, principal of management and consulting firm Enhance Healthcare, explained five steps anesthesia practices should take when preparing to sell at the 2012 American Society of Anesthesiologists Conference on Practice Management.

The following hospital mergers and acquisitions took place within the past week, beginning with the most recent.

Hackettstown (N.J.) Regional Medical Center is exploring a strategic affiliation to support its continued service growth.

Fairmont (W.Va.) General Hospital has entered into a 60-day period of negotiations with West Virginia United Health System in Fairmont to explore options for a partnership, according to a WBOY 12 report.