Jewish Hospital
Rabbi Nadia Siritsky
Rabbi Nadia Siritsky
As we begin the Jewish month of Elul, which is the start of the High Holy Day season, our Jewish calendar encourages us all to enter into a time of reflection, of endings and new beginnings.
For Jewish Hospital, this reflection is especially timely. The staff of Jewish learned on Aug. 14 that the hospital will begin a new chapter in its mission to serve the community.
KentuckyOne Health, its parent company, CommonSpirit Health, and University of Louisville have confirmed the signing of an asset purchase agreement for the transfer of ownership and operation of all KentuckyOne Health sites of care and operations in the Louisville regional market to UofL.
Pending regulatory approvals and the consent of the Catholic church, which must approve the sale of Sts. Mary & Elizabeth and Our Lady of Peace, UofL should assume ownership of the facilities on Nov. 1.
The facilities and operations included in this agreement are Jewish Hospital, Frazier Rehab Institute, Sts. Mary & Elizabeth Hospital, Our Lady of Peace, Medical Centers Jewish East, South, Southwest and Northeast, Jewish Hospital Shelbyville and KentuckyOne Health Medical Group provider practices in the Louisville region.
These facilities will now join University of Louisville Hospital, James Graham Brown Cancer Center and UofL Physicians comprising UofL Health.
UofL, which has been interested in acquiring Jewish for some time, had previously announced that it was not able to complete the transaction with KentuckyOne. Since then, with new support from UofL leaders, Gov. Matt Bevin, Kentucky legislators and community partners, UofL can finally assume ownership and operation.
Gratitude is owed to Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s Foundation and the Jewish Heritage Fund for Excellence both of which played a key role in the deal. Together, they provided half of the funds necessary to help UofL complete this purchase. The confirmed agreement includes support from Gov. Bevin and other UofL partners and leaders, and allows for a strong, sustainable future for all facilities in this portfolio, led by UofL Health.
As the recent exhibit at the Filson Historical Society demonstrates, the relationship between Jewish Hospital, the University of Louisville and the entire City of Louisville is long standing. Jewish Hospital helped put Louisville on the map in terms of medical firsts, and it has been an integral part of the University of Louisville’s growth.
Similarly, our own growth has been intertwined with the university, and most of our service lines, such as transplant and cardiology, depend upon our close relationship with the university. We are a teaching hospital, and this is a core part of our ability to provide cutting edge care to all in need.
We are excited and hopeful about this announcement. Additionally we are grateful that the services we offer to our patients will continue without disruption. We look forward to continuing to grow in our ability to care for our patients and to help Louisville remain a global health leader.
(Rabbi Nadia Siritsky is vice president of mission at KentuckyOne Health.)