By Melissa PatrickKentucky Health News Hopkinsville’s Jennie Stuart Health has signed a non-binding letter of intent to join Deaconess Health System, headquartered in Evansville, Ind. “Rural hospitals today are facing huge challenges to provide the healthcare needed to best serve our communities,” Jennie Stuart President and CEO Eric Lee said in a news release. “By coming together with Deaconess, we will be able to continue our mission and expand services that we know will positively impact the health and well-being of the communities we serve.” The letter of intent allows the hospitals to begin “a due diligence process that allows both health systems to evaluate each other and finalize the specific details of the agreement that would strengthen and grow medical services for Hopkinsville and the surrounding communities,” according to a news release. “This process is expected to be completed by late 2024 after further board and regulatory approvals.” Jennie Stuart Health has served the community for 110 years, according to the release. Hoptown Chronicle reports that it is a private, not-for-profit, acute-care community hospital licensed for 194 beds. Deaconess is also a not-for-profit health system, with 23 hospitals, 12 urgent care centers, 46 clinics and 31 outpatient centers, according to its website. The Kentucky facilities include Deaconess Union County Hospital in Morganfield, Baptist Health Deaconess Hospital in Madisonville, Livingston Hospital in Salem and Deaconess Henderson Hospital. It also operates numerous clinics in the state. “Our aim is to ensure that quality healthcare remains local, driven by local decision-making and a community-focused approach,” Shawn McCoy, CEO of Deaconess, said in the release. As reports of the possible sale or merger began circulating in the days before the announcement, Jennifer P. Brown, editor and publisher of Hoptown Chronicle, reported that this news came as a surprise to many in the community, including the chair of the Jennie Stuart Health Foundation that recently raised about $3 million for the hospital’s cancer center. The post Jennie Stuart Health in Hopkinsville signs letter of intent to join Deaconess Health System appeared first on The Lexington Times.