Lincoln Health tells county commission Huntsville Hospital purchase incoming; flags EMS staffing and apprenticeship plans

Mary Beth Seal, president of Lincoln Health, delivered the health system’s update to the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 20.

Seal said Huntsville Hospital announced it will purchase Crestwood Medical Center and that the transaction is expected 'somewhere around April 1.' She said Lincoln Health plans to move Fayetteville Medical Associates into another local building in March and emphasized the system is not closing services, only relocating them, and that patients will be informed prior to the move.

Seal outlined workforce initiatives including an active nurse apprenticeship program in partnership with TCAT and Motlow that will bring LPN and RN students into mentored clinical rotations while they complete schooling and be paid for their training. She said Lincoln Health hopes many of those trainees will remain on staff after completion but that retention is not mandatory.

On emergency medical services, Seal said average monthly EMS call volume has risen from about 500 calls per month to roughly 600, increasing the need for ambulances and staffing. She said the regional EMS systems have aligned under an umbrella she called HHEMS and that Lincoln Health will work with partners to improve staffing coverage and equipment. Seal said the West Station is not staffed at desired levels and that staffing improvements would be a focus for 2026.

Seal also said Lincoln Health is pursuing options to maintain or expand outpatient cardiac care locally after a nearby physician’s announced retirement, with an expected new outpatient cardiac option by June 1.