Baptist Healthcare System, Inc. officials announced today the rebranding of its health system to Baptist Health. The rebranding comes as the statewide system acquires an additional hospital, Pattie A. Clay Regional Medical Center in Richmond.

Founded in 1924, Baptist Health is renowned for high quality, personalized care that has earned numerous national recognitions. The new name is a brand that unifies the family of hospitals and health-related entities and helps to better align medical expertise, services and resources to provide a continuum of care throughout the state.

“We have for many years been much more than a system of hospitals, and the new name reflects the broad scope of services that Baptist provides throughout the state,” said Tommy J. Smith, Baptist Health President and CEO. “The addition of Pattie A. Clay Regional Medical Center means that we will be able to make our care more convenient to a greater number of Kentucky residents.”

Baptist is known throughout the state and nation for its experienced, comprehensive care that utilizes the latest medical innovations. In 2010, 1 out of every 6 inpatients and 1 out of every 9 outpatients in Kentucky received care at a Baptist hospital. The new brand promotes the system’s cohesiveness while still keeping health care “local” in each entity’s markets.

The new brand is effective immediately, but changes on signs, the corporate website and each entity’s website will be made over the next few years.

The hospital acquisition comes as a result of a growing relationship with Pattie A. Clay and Baptist Health. In 2010, Pattie A. Clay Regional Medical Center and Baptist-owned Central Baptist Hospital entered a three-year management agreement which developed into ownership.