Paul Jones Hospital in Camden, Alabama, has entered into a management agreement with UAB Medicine to become a member of the UAB Health System. The hospital joins two other rural Alabama hospitals with management agreements with UAB: Bryan W. Whitfield Memorial Hospital in Demopolis and LV Stabler Memorial Hospital in Greenville.

This past August, the 30-bed hospital, located in one of Alabama's poorest counties, announced that the hospital, which has been in operation for 60 years, would soon be forced to close due to the difficult financial environment facing small, local hospitals.

"We believe it is part of the UAB Medicine mission to help provide assistance to hospitals throughout the state and to do what we can to ensure the survival of these rural hospitals," said Will Ferniany, PhD, CEO of the UAB Health System.

"Joining hands with UAB can be the key strategic relationship that keeps John Paul Jones Hospital open and able to continue to serve this community," said George Alford, chair of the hospital board.

Under the new relationship, UAB Medicine will provide managerial expertise and assist in supply chain logistics, revenue cycle management and compliance issues. UAB will also help with clinical resources such as assistance in physician recruiting and staffing.

The UAB Health System now includes UAB Hospital, UAB Highlands Hospital, UAB Callahan Eye Hospital and management relationships at Medical West, Baptist Health Montgomery and Whitfield, Stabler and Jones Hospitals. Affiliation relationships exist with Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital in Florence, Northeast Regional Medical Center in Anniston, Infirmary Health in Mobile and Russell Medical Center in Alexander City.