The entity charged with running three hospitals in eastern Middle Tennessee has named Baptist Hospital’s chief medical officer to its board, deepening the ties between Saint Thomas Health Services and Franklin-based Capella Healthcare. According to a statement released today and linked here, Dr. Geoffrey Smallwood has joined the Capella-Upper Cumberland Healthcare Initiatives board, which oversees the joint venture between Capella Healthcare and the UCHI physicians group that includes DeKalb Community Hospital in Smithville, Highlands Medical Center in Sparta and Stones River Hospital in Woodbury.

The three hospitals, along with River Park Hospital in McMinnville, are part of the Capella-Saint Thomas joint venture formed late last year.