UAB to acquire Ascension St. Vincent’s hospital system in $450 million deal

The UAB Health System is set to acquire Ascension St. Vincent’s in north central Alabama this fall in a deal worth $450 million following a vote of approval Tuesday by the University of Alabama Board of Trustees.

The deal would enlarge UAB’s footprint in Jefferson and surrounding counties with the acquisition of the main Ascension St. Vincent’s Hospital in downtown Birmingham, along with St. Vincent’s East, St. Vincent’s St. Clair, St. Vincent’s Blount and St. Vincent’s Chilton. The health system will also acquire physician offices, a freestanding emergency department in Trussville, the One Nineteen campus and imaging centers.

During a specially called board meeting, trustees said the deal had been in the works since 2023, when Ascension, a national system of Catholic hospitals, approached UAB about the sale. It could be finalized by the fall, pending approval by regulators and the Catholic Church.

Trustees said they planned to maintain St. Vincent’s network of providers and hoped to provide seamless care to patients.

“UAB is hopeful that most – if not all – of Ascension St. Vincent’s roughly 5,000 caregivers and associates will remain in their roles,” said UAB spokesperson Alicia Rohan. ” UAB’s goal is to support fulfilling and meaningful careers in service to our patients and communities.”

St. Vincent’s Hospital in Birmingham was founded in 1898 by the Daughters of Charity and is the city’s oldest hospital. The flagship hospital has more than 400 beds and has been part of Ascension Health since the system’s founding in 1999.

UAB and Ascension St. Vincent’s have had an operating agreement since 2020. Rohan said UAB Health System plans to operate the hospitals without any changes and has no plans to eliminate or consolidate services.

“We look forward to supporting continued operations and providing opportunities for Ascension St. Vincent’s caregivers and associates to essentially remain in their current positions; our goal is to support fulfilling and meaningful careers in service to our patients and communities,” said UAB Health System CEO Dawn Bulgarella.

At a press conference early Tuesday afternoon, Bulgarella addressed the concerns of St. Vincent’s patients.

“Today’s news will not disrupt your care,” Bulgarella said. “On the contrary, I hope it demonstrates to you as patients that we are willing to do the difficult and innovative things to make sure you maintain access to world class care that you deserve and have come to expect.”

Providers who work for St. Vincents will be able to remain at their current job and will not be asked to reapply for their positions, she said. The hospitals will continue to operate with no changes to admitting privileges for doctors, she said. UAB plans to make investments in the health system’s infrastructure, Bulgarella said.

“We consider it our duty and our honor to make sure the St. Vincent’s team feels secure and appreciated in this transition and beyond,” she said.