Orlando Health To Acquire Alabama Health System, Expanding Presence And Patient Care In The State

Orlando Health today announced plans to acquire RMC Health System in Anniston, Alabama, expanding the organization’s presence in the state and creating new opportunities to enhance patient care across the region. RMC is a not-for-profit health system that includes a 375-bed medical center, outpatient facilities and specialty practices serving patients throughout Northeast Alabama. Once the acquisition closes, RMC will become part of the organization’s Alabama Region, which includes Baptist Health. The transaction is expected to be completed this fall. 

“We are excited to welcome RMC’s team members and physicians to Orlando Health,” said David Strong, president and CEO, Orlando Health. “Together, we look forward to investing in excellent services that will benefit the region, partnering with physicians, purposefully growing and becoming the best place to work.”   

RMC has nearly 2,000 team members and 200 physicians representing a broad range of specialties and is nationally recognized for its commitment to patient care, with multiple accreditations and distinctions reflecting excellence across clinical services such as cancer care, orthopedics and maternity services.  

“Since joining RMC just over a year ago, I have worked with our leadership team, Board of Directors and the City of Anniston leaders to develop a clear, strategic vision to revitalize RMC as a leading acute-care referral center in the region,” said Keith Parrott, CEO, RMC. “What excites us most about the partnership with Orlando Health is their proven ability to accelerate and strengthen growth and performance initiatives, and their demonstrated success in markets facing challenges similar to those at RMC.” 

Orlando Health is committed to investing significant resources over the next five years to enhance RMC’s facilities, equipment and technology. This initiative includes the implementation of an electronic health record system for medical records management.   

In 2024, Orlando Health purchased the majority interest in Baptist Health in Birmingham, Alabama, which consists of five hospitals across central Alabama with more than 1,700 licensed beds, 58 primary and specialty care clinics, 2,600 affiliated physicians and more than 6,100 team members. 

“RMC is an important addition to Orlando Health’s growing presence in Alabama and strengthens our ability to serve patients across the region,” said Thibaut van Marcke, senior vice president, Orlando Health and president, Baptist Health. “By bringing RMC into the Orlando Health system, we can expand services and collaborate with physicians and team members to enhance access to high-quality care for communities throughout Northeast Alabama.”   

Local leaders say the collaboration with Orlando Health will help accelerate plans to strengthen RMC’s role as a regional referral center and expand access to care for patients across the region. 

“The vision is to shape this hospital into a true referral center for Northeast Alabama, adding services, recruiting physicians and continuing to build trust with the community to provide high-quality, compassionate care close to home,” said Ciara Smith-Roston, mayor of Anniston. “We already have a strategic plan and a dedicated team. Orlando Health brings essential resources and experience to help us achieve our goals.” 

About Regional Medical Center  

Regional Medical Center (RMC) is a regional hospital based in Anniston, Alabama, serving patients across Northeast Alabama. Guided by its mission to provide state-of-the-art healthcare with integrity, RMC is committed to clinical quality, patient experience, community impact, and compassionate care. RMC is one of the region’s largest employers, supported by more than 1,800 team members, 300+ volunteers, and more than 200 physicians across a broad range of specialties. The hospital is accredited by the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer and has earned Blue Distinction Center+ recognition from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama for Orthopedic and Maternity Care. RMC was also the first Baby-Friendly designated birthing facility in Alabama and is recognized as an Age-Friendly Health System by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. 

About Orlando Health  

Orlando Health is a private not-for-profit, integrated academic healthcare system with $14 billion of assets under management, that serves the southeastern United States — including Florida and Alabama — and Puerto Rico. With corporate offices in Orlando, Florida, the system provides a complete continuum of care across a network of medical centers and institutes, community and specialty hospitals, physician practices, urgent care facilities, skilled nursing facilities, home healthcare, and long-term and behavioral health care services. Founded more than 100 years ago, Orlando Health is dedicated to improving the health and the quality of life of the individuals and communities we serve. The system provided nearly $2 billion in community impact in the form of community benefit programs and services, Medicare shortfalls, bad debt, community-building activities and capital investments in FY 2024, the most recent period for which the information is available. For more information, visit orlandohealth.com, or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and X. 

About City of Anniston

The City of Anniston, Alabama, serves as a regional center for government, commerce, culture, and community life in Northeast Alabama. Located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Anniston was founded in 1872 by Samuel Noble and Alfred Tyler as a private iron company town and officially opened to the public in 1883. Today, the city remains committed to strengthening economic opportunities, public safety, neighborhood revitalization, and transparent public service. Anniston continues to invest in infrastructure, business growth, historic preservation, and quality-of-life amenities that support both residents and visitors. The city is distinguished by assets including the Chief Ladiga Trail, Alabama’s first extended rails-to-trails project; the Anniston Museums and Gardens, home to a Smithsonian Affiliate museum; the Anniston Regional Airport; the Anniston Army Depot; and the former Fort McClellan area, which remains an important part of the city’s historical and economic landscape. Anniston is also proud to be a designated Main Street Alabama community and home to a highly rated ISO Class 2 Fire Department.

# # #