The boards of Edgefield (S.C.) County Hospital and Greenwood, S.C.-based Self Regional Healthcare agreed to further the institutions' existing two-year partnership through an affiliation Sept. 19, according to the Index-Journal.
Under the affiliation agreement, Self Regional will lease Edgefield's facilities and equipment, begin operating the hospital and take over its financial responsibilities for 10 years with an automatic five-year renewal, according to the report.
The agreement also proposed the creation of a joint operating board of directors to govern clinical operations at Edgefield and the medical staff. Edgefield's existing board will remain intact, the report states.
The financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
"In general, when it comes to rural hospitals, the majority of those are in trouble primarily because they're isolated and don't have the resources they need to provide the care they need to provide locally," Edgefield County Hospital CEO Carlos A. Milanes said. "If we were not here, it would be an issue with patient care, so we're very fortunate that Self Regional is the kind of partner that is willing to invest in Edgefield."