Hamilton County, Erlanger sign memo of understanding

Erlanger Health System continues transition to 501 c3 nonprofit

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) — Hamilton County continues to move forward with Erlanger Medical Center’s transition from public to private.

On Monday, both county and Erlanger officials met to sign a memo of understanding, getting Erlanger that much closer to transitioning into a 501 c3 nonprofit.

Officials noted the importance Erlanger has in the region and that its transition will only benefit the community.

Sheila Boyington, Erlanger’s Chair of Hospital Authority Board of Trustees,  says becoming a private nonprofit will not alter the health system’s mission of being “the safety net hospital” for the community.

However, she does believe the transition will make Erlanger “more sustainable in the future.”

“We will be able to have partnerships with other medical organizations,” Boyington said. “We will also be able to plan our strategy in a more competitive way that will allow us to even give a higher quality of care if that is even possible.”

Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger believes Erlanger becoming private will only make it more competitive.

He says other hospitals in the region are also in support of the transition.

“The patient’s going to continue to see excellent care,” Coppinger said. “But they’re also going to be able to see competitive pricing and competitiveness in terms of the physicians, the types of medical devices that have to be purchased, even the medication. So it’s just going to put them on the total even playing ground with the private sector.”

Boyington further emphasized the hospital’s transition, saying Erlanger still remains Chattanooga’s largest employer.

Becoming a 501 c3, she believes, will help the health service become “stronger” while offering “more services” in the years to come.

“We need to be keeping up with the times,” Boyington said. “I think moving to a 501 c3, which is a process that many other hospitals in our country have pursued will allow us to even give better and better care for our community.”

Mayor Coppinger only has until Thursday, Sept. 1, until he retires and Mayor-elect Weston Wamp takes over his seat.

He says his relationship with Erlanger dates back to the ’70s when he was a first responder.

Coppinger described the evolution he’s seen from the hospital over the past five decades as “amazing.”