HealthSouth Corporation in Birmingham, Alabama, US, has signed a letter of intent to purchase Walton Rehabilitation Hospital in Augusta, Georgia.
Walton Rehabilitation Hospital is a 58-bed inpatient rehabilitation centre owned by the Walton Rehabilitation Health System.
HealthSouth’s southeast region president Linda Wilder said although HealthSouth has rehabilitation hospitals in 27 states, including four that share a border with Georgia, the company does not currently have a presence in the state of Georgia.
"The acquisition of Walton Rehabilitation Hospital will allow HealthSouth to serve a new market, complement HealthSouth’s existing network of rehabilitation hospitals, and be an important start to the continued growth of that network in Georgia," Wilder added.
The sale of the hospital to HealthSouth is expected to help Walton Foundation and Walton Community Services to focus on providing community health services to people with disabilities.
Walton Rehabilitation Health System president and chief executive officer Dennis Skelley said the acquisition of the hospital by HealthSouth will result in a clear and focused commitment to preserve and extend access to Walton Rehabilitation Hospital’s high standard of care for Augusta and the entire Central Savannah River Area.
"We are excited about how this decision will bring financial strength and advanced capabilities (including a fully integrated electronic medical record system) to Walton Rehabilitation Hospital in the years to come," Skelley added.
The transaction, which is expected to be finalised during the first quarter of 2013, is subject to customary closing conditions as well as review by the Georgia Attorney General’s office and the Georgia Department of Community Health.