In a recent flurry of signatures in late July, Saint Thomas Health agreed to buy out Capella Healthcare’s interest in their four joint venture hospitals in Tennessee. Saint Thomas Health’s parent company, St. Louis-based Ascension, signed a definitive agreement to solely acquire River Park Hospital (McMinnville), Highlands Medical Center (Sparta), DeKalb Community Hospital (Smithville) and Stones River Hospital (Woodbury).

A few days later, it was announced Capella’s parent company and sole stockholder, Capella Holdings, Inc., had signed a definitive agreement with Medical Properties Trust, Inc. for the acquisition of Capella for $900 million in cash. The plan is for Birmingham-based MPT to acquire and oversee Capella’s real estate interests while Capella’s current senior management team will own, with MPT, hospital operations and will continue to manage current properties while expanding the footprint.