Tampa General Hospital buys three medical centers for nearly $300M

Tampa General Hospital signed an agreement to acquire Bravera Health network — including Bravera Health Brooksville, Bravera Health Spring Hill and Bravera Health Seven Rivers and their related businesses, including physician clinic operations and outpatient services — from subsidiaries of Community Health Systems Inc., TGH officials say in a late Monday news release.

The acquisition indicates TGH sees a market in the growing bedroom community of Hernando County, which sits north of Pasco County and is part of the Tampa metropolitan region, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Community Health Systems says TGH paid $290 million for the 120-bed Brooksville hospital, the 128-bed Bravera Health Seven Rivers in Crystal River and the 124-bed Spring Hill hospital, as well as associated assets.

"With this acquisition, TGH is not only expanding its geographic footprint to meet the needs of our state's growing population, but TGH is also increasing access for Floridians to the world-class rare and complex specialized care we offer," says John Couris, president and CEO of Florida Health Sciences Center, TGH's parent organization.

TGH's current geographic footprint spans from Tampa Bay to Palm Beach, hospital officials say. TGH serves patients from 23 counties across Florida, and the system is recognized as one of the nation's best hospitals, according to U.S. News & World Report. As the primary teaching hospital for the University of South Florida's Morsani College of Medicine, more than 700 residents and fellows are assigned to TGH for specialty training each year, TGH officials say.

The merger, subject to regulatory approvals, is expected to close later this year, TGH officials say. Once the transaction is complete, TGH will work with local physicians on the medical staff and leadership to develop plans for the future.

Serving Citrus and Hernando counties, the hospitals, outpatient clinics and physician offices of Bravera Health provided care to more than 300,000 patients last year, TGH officials say.

According to TGH officials, services offered at Bravera Health Brooksville include emergency medicine, orthopedics, cardiology, cardiac catheterization, general surgery, outpatient physical, occupational and speech therapy rehab centers. Bravera Health Spring Hill offers women's services including labor and delivery and neonatology, emergency medicine, vascular and general surgery, ear, nose and throat, plastic surgery, urology, outpatient physical, occupational and speech therapy, and wound care.

Bravera Health Seven Rivers services include a dedicated orthopedic bone and joint center, cardiology, urology, general surgery, robotic-assisted general, gynecologic and bariatric surgeries, and a freestanding emergency department in Citrus Hills.