May 7, 2015 2 min read

It’s long been a complaint from many in this region there is not enough thinking in terms that are, well, regional.

Too often, elected officials are content to preside over their own fiefdoms, and some of their constituents believe receiving services from another municipality would erode their community’s identity or, illogically, problems from elsewhere would somehow pop up on their doorsteps.

But even as the merging and consolidation of services on the political level remains stalled, it’s increasingly happening in the private sector, as demonstrated this week with the announcement Southwest Regional Medical Center in Waynesburg will be joining Washington Health System, with the latter having put the wheels in motion to acquire the 49-bed hospital by July 1.

Washington Health System, which has Washington Hospital as its crown jewel, but also operates 40 off-site facilities and Greenbrier Treatment Center, will be purchasing the Southwest Regional Medical Center from RegionalCare, a Tennessee-based company that operates a handful of other hospitals in rural settings. Rural hospitals have been under financial strain in recent years, and Washington Health System established a substantial presence in Greene County. The acquisition of Southwest Regional Medical Center opens the possibility of greater ties between doctors at that facility and Washington Hospital.

It’s a deal where everyone wins.

A new name for Southwest Regional Medical Center has not yet been coined.

No matter the moniker, though, we like the regional thinking the acquisition of the hospital represents. This could well improve efficiency and health care outcomes throughout the region.

Elected officials, take note.