Updated: 1/25/2008 5:37:53 PM
Baptist hospitals will keep their name but change the way they approach reproductive procedures.
Under their merger agreement, Baptist and St. Mary's hospitals will fall under one umbrella management group, but they will keep their individual names.
Friday, Mercy Health Parters, the management group for the newly merged hospitals, announced that Baptist hospitals will adopt the Catholic healthcare ethical and religious guidelines practiced by St. Mary's.
That makes an impact on a few different areas of healthcare provided, reproductive healthcare in particular.
Tubal ligation will no longer be performed at Baptist hospitals. Vasectomies will not be performed at any clinics owned by St. Mary's or Baptist.
Baptist will also no longer do business with a local embryo adoption and fertility clinic with which it was previously affiliated.
As for emergency contraception for rape victims, the "morning after pill" will still be provided, after the victim has taken a pregnancy test to ensure the victim was not pregnant before the rape occurred.
Living wills and "do not resuscitate" orders will still be honored by both groups of hospitals.
A statement, released by Mercy Health Partners spokesperson Craig Griffith, is below.
St. Mary's has operated under the Catholic healthcare ethical and religious guidelines for more than 75 years and has been able to provide women and their families in our community with outstanding medical services at any stage in their life.
Baptist and St. Mary's remain committed to providing and expanding women's services. A small number of procedures related to reproductive health will not be available at any of the Mercy Health Partner facilities. These procedures are available elsewhere in the community if needed.
Throughout the merger process with Baptist Health System, it was clearly understood by all parties that the facilities in the new healthcare system would operate under Catholic healthcare guidelines.
Baptist and St. Mary's have merged to form the largest faith-based healthcare system in East Tennessee. It is this strong belief in the core mission of our organization that guides our employees in the delivery of healthcare services every day.
You can find out more about the ethical guidelines for Catholic healthcare by consulting the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website.
