Huntsville Hospital Takes Over Management of Lawrence Medical Center

MOULTON, Ala. (WHNT) – The Lawrence Medical Center in Moulton is in the process of contracting with Huntsville Hospital for management, leadership and direction into the future.

The Medical Center’s authority board approved the move on Monday night.

Hospital staff members have a new energy in anticipation of a new direction for their facility.
    
“There’s just so much potential that they can bring to the table,” said Cary Payne, Lawrence Medical Center’s Interim CEO.

Payne has done this before, being part of similar transitions between Huntsville Hospital and Athens-Limestone Hospital and Helen Keller Hospital.

“There were no services cut at either hospital,” said Payne.  “There was growth, increase in services, those hospitals have done extremely well.”

Payne says the contract with Huntsville Hospital will mean new resources, expertise and buying power of a much larger hospital to Lawrence Medical Center.  That could mean new equipment acquired at a cheaper cost, possible expansion and access to medical specialists for patients.

Lawrence Medical Center is in the process of correcting past problems with construction that surfaced earlier this year and led to Medicare and Medicaid putting the facility on “immediate jeopardy” status.

Payne’s plans to fix those problems satisfied the U.S. government, who later lifted the jeopardy.

Now he’s excited to hear recommendations by Huntsville Hospital for efficiency and improvement.

A spokesman for Huntsville Hospital issued a statement saying, in part,  “We have a long history of working together.  As we move forward, our goal will be to assist the LMC team in providing the very best care and service to their patients.”

Payne says the transition will allow Lawrence Medical Center to retain its staff and give them more hours.

The Lawrence County Healthcare Authority Board will still assume financial responsibility and governance of the facility.