Baylor Scott & White Health and Fairfield Hospital District (FHD) have signed an affiliation agreement, promoting cooperation and enhancing health care in Freestone County, a primarily rural area of East Texas between Palestine and Waco along the I-45 corridor. FHD governs and oversees ETMC Fairfield, the only hospital in Freestone County, and plans to re-name the facility Freestone Medical Center after the transition.
In accordance with the agreement, Baylor Scott & White Health will provide advisory and educational services to FHD management and staff to improve operations and care, as well as provide access to other resources which smaller health care organizations typically do not have.
“We know a large number of patients in our community already travel west to Baylor Scott & White facilities in Waco or Temple for health services,” says Tony Price, FHD executive director. “That’s where their specialists are. So this relationship will benefit our community in addition to benefiting the medical center.”
FHD’s ETMC Fairfield serves not only the town of Fairfield, but a number of small East Texas communities such as Teague, Lanely and Buffalo among several others. The medical center provides both inpatient care and outpatient services, including imaging and laboratory services, and has a 24-hour emergency department designated a level IV trauma center. The medical center cares for about 2,000 patients a month in addition to receiving 750 monthly emergency department visits.
“ETMC Fairfield has an excellent reputation, and most importantly we share similar values,” says Joel Allison, president and CEO, Baylor Scott & White. “This agreement will allow us to assist Fairfield Hospital District in enhancing its service to the community.”
Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Hillcrest in Waco is the closest Baylor Scott & White medical center to FHD, so much of the guidance and consultation will come from administrative and clinical staff at that facility.
“We look forward to developing a closer relationship with this outstanding team of healthcare providers. We are already privileged to care for a number of patients from the greater Freestone County area seeking specialized care, and we are aligned in our desires to work together to further enhance the services provided in our respective regions,” said Glenn Robinson, president, Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Hillcrest.
Robinson will act as Baylor Scott & White’s representative at FHD Board meetings.
“Baylor Scott & White is so well known and what I’d consider the ‘blue chip’ of health care,” says George Robinson, FHD board chair. “So I think it is going to be a wonderful fit for residents in this area.”
About Baylor Scott & White Health
Formed from the 2013 merger between Baylor Health Care System and Scott & White Healthcare, the system referred to as Baylor Scott & White Health is the largest not-for-profit health care system in the state of Texas. With total assets of $9 billion* and serving a population larger than the state of Georgia, Baylor Scott & White Health has the vision and resources to provide its patients continued quality care while creating a model system for a dramatically changing health care environment. The system now includes 48 hospitals, more than 900 access points, 6,000 active physicians, and 40,000 employees, plus the Scott & White Health Plan, Baylor Scott & White Research Institute and Baylor Scott & White Quality Alliance — a network of clinical providers and facilities focused on improving quality, managing the health of patient populations, and reducing the overall cost of care. For more information visit: BaylorScottandWhite.com
* based on unaudited 2015 fiscal year statements
