Chillicothe-based Adena Health and Fairfield Medical Center are exploring a partnership almost two years after the independent Lancaster health system sought the same with health care goliath OhioHealth.
The two smaller, primarily rural health systems announced that they had signed a “nonbinding letter of intent” to see if a formal affiliation will benefit them both.
Fairfield Medical Center has been seeking this kind of partnership since at least 2024.
In an email obtained by The Dispatch in September of that year, John R. Janoso, Jr., CEO and president of Fairfield Medical Center, told the medical center’s employees that while the hospital system has been successful in “righting the ship” in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, it wasn’t enough to continue on their own.
The health system, he said in the letter, recognized a “growing and near immediate need” to expand their future operations to meet the needs of both a growing and an aging population.
In 2024, OhioHealth appeared to be the best candidate, and was in talks to acquire Fairfield Medical Center until at least November 2025. The possible merger was endorsed by both the Fairfield Medical Center Board and the OhioHealth Board.
Fairfield Medical Center said in a June 1 statement that both they and Adena Health “recognize the importance of nurturing strong regional networks.” This exploration “reflected their shared commitment to expanding services and strengthening access to local, high-quality care.”
“Fairfield Medical Center has proudly served this community for more than 110 years with excellence and compassion, and selecting a strong strategic partner is vital to our next 100 years,” Janoso said in a statement. “We believe this relationship creates an exciting opportunity to build on an already strong foundation while investing in the future of healthcare throughout Fairfield County and beyond.”
“Adena Health is pleased to be engaging in conversations with Fairfield Medical Center as we continue to focus on meeting the needs of rural communities,” Kathi Edrington, president and chief executive officer of Adena Health, said.
The two health systems will continue to operate independently while the agreement undergoes internal review. It must also gain approval from the Federal Trade Commission or the United States Department of Justice.
In a statement to The Dispatch, a spokesperson for OhioHealth said on June 1 that “regulatory hurdles” impeded a partnership between them and Fairfield Medical Center, but they “fully support Fairfield’s decision to move forward with another partner and remain appreciative of their collaboration.”
“We wish them and their community continued success and remain committed to our mission of providing healthcare services close to home for patients across the state,” the spokesperson said.
Business and consumer issues reporter Samantha Hendrickson can be reached at shendrickson@dispatch.com
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: OhioHealth deal off as Fairfield pursues hospital partnership with Adena
Reporting by Samantha Hendrickson, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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