Christus St. Michael looks to take over Atlanta Memorial Hospital | Business

Christus St. Michael Hospital of Texarkana has signed a letter of intent to start talking about a lease agreement with Atlanta Memorial Hospital.

"We anticipate the new name of the hospital to be Christus St. Michael Hospital - Atlanta," said Christus St. Michael President Chris Karam. "Cass County is very important to Christus St. Michaels and this region as for as health care goes."

Atlanta Memorial Hospital has served the region since 1972 and now employs more than 200 people.

The Atlanta Memorial Hospital Board voted unanimously to sign the letter of intent, a move they say will save the hospital.

"Atlanta Memorial has been facing many of the challenges that small hospitals faces in today's health care environment," said Board Chairperson Bobbie Wright.

Wright also said the hospital has seen a drop in revenue, but not a drop in service. "We have grown in many areas and we provide services that (many) small town hospitals don’t, but it is getting harder and harder to be able to provide those services."

Administrators with Christus St. Michael say when the agreement is finalized, they hope to offer additional services through the Atlanta hospital. As of now there are no planned employee changes with the agreement.

Both hospitals say they hope to have all the paperwork signed as soon as possible.