Cullman Regional has completed an agreement with the local physician owners in a joint venture for The Surgery Center of Cullman, LLC.

In the purchase agreement, finalized Monday, Cullman Regional begins managing the day-to-day operations of the facility and acquires majority ownership in the facility. The 33 employees of The Surgery Center of Cullman will become employees of Cullman Regional, making Cullman Regional the second largest employer in Cullman County with 1,142 employees.

“We look forward to collaborating with our physician partners in order to capitalize on the strategic benefits of this joint venture,” James Clements, Cullman Regional chief executive officer said in a press release. “This is simply another way Cullman Regional can meet the consumer’s growing demand for high-quality, convenient and cost-efficient outpatient care.”

The Surgery Center of Cullman currently provides approximately 5,118 outpatient procedures annually, and will continue to serve the patients in our area. The primary change will be that the center will have the benefit of Cullman Regional investments in new technology, clinical quality integration and management.

“Our physicians are looking forward to the partnership,” Gregory S. Windham, MD, managing partner of the Physician Owners Group said in a press release. “We are committed to the consistent high quality, low cost care residents of Cullman County and the surrounding area have grown to appreciate in our surgery center.”

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and reviews by state and federal agencies and has been finalized.