Texas Business reports:  LONGVIEW—Diagnostic Clinic of Longview (DCOL) and Longview Regional Medical Center (LRMC) will merge.

To form the affiliation, DCOL will enter into a merger agreement with a subsidiary of Community Health Systems, Inc., the parent company of Longview Regional Medical Center. 

The transaction is subject to normal closing conditions and is expected to be completed over the next few months.

In connection with the transaction, all physician ownership interests in Longview Regional Medical Center will be repurchased.

“DCOL and Longview Regional have worked side-by-side for more than 30 years to bring revolutionary medical advancements to our patients, recruit physicians to our region, and broaden the health services we each provide,” said DCOL president Robert Wheeler in a prepared statement. “We have deep respect for one another and common goals for medical excellence and patient service. Affiliation between our organizations solidifies an already strong relationship and brings the promise of immeasurable benefit for our patients and the region.”

Shifting dynamics in the healthcare industry have encouraged greater collaboration among providers, which ultimately may lead to better medical results and better patient experiences. 

As physicians and hospitals look for ways to accomplish these goals, providers are developing health systems across the continuum of care.

“DCOL physicians value the opportunity to create a system of coordinated patient care across the full spectrum of health services,” said DCOL chief executive Bert Ratay in a statement.
“Whether it's an office visit, a diagnostic test, an emergency room visit, surgery or hospitalization, DCOL physicians will have a greater involvement in the healthcare landscape than ever before.”

DCOL is one of the largest multi-specialty groups in East Texas with more than 700 employees, including 132 physicians and mid-level providers in 18 locations. DCOL will continue to operate in all of its current locations under the name Diagnostic Clinic of Longview, with the same physicians and employees.  Though the transaction will change the ownership structure of DCOL, it will have little effect on the day-to-day operations of the practice and is expected to be invisible for patients.

DCOL will be guided by a joint oversight committee with representatives from DCOL and Longview Regional Medical Center.  Additionally, DCOL physicians will serve on the LRMC Board of Trustees, actively participating in hospital governance.

“The forward-thinking physicians at DCOL have always been pioneers in their field,” said Longview Regional Medical Center chief executive Jim Kendrick in a statement. “We have great respect for their commitment to their patients, the community and to clinical excellence.  We welcome their increased involvement in our hospital.”

Diagnostic Clinic of Longview, P.A. (DCOL) is a multi-specialty physician group practice consisting of more than 130 physicians and mid-level providers in 18 locations. The principal focus of the group is in the delivery of primary care services such as Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Obstetrics/Gynecology, Family Practice and Internal Medicine, though recent additions to the group have included an array of medical specialists.  

Longview Regional Medical Center (LRMC), a 131-bed acute care hospital, is committed to investing in our region and bringing our patients the latest treatments and technology. LRMC is the only hospital in Longview where patients can receive daVinci robotic surgery, Stryker joint replacements, off-pump beating heart surgery, HALO procedures for reversing the damage of Barrett's esophagus, and bariatric surgery for weight loss.