MADISONVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- Trover Health System CEO Bert Whitaker says any deal would ultimately result in Baptist Healthcare purchasing the assets of the Madisonville facility. Whitaker told The Messenger in Madisonville that Baptist Healthcare won out over LifePoint Hospitals Inc. of Brentwood, Tenn., and Owensboro Medical System.

Baptist Healthcare System owns five hospitals in Louisville, Lexington, Paducah, Corbin, and La Grange, and also manages Hardin Memorial in Elizabethtown and Patty A. Clay in Richmond.

Baptist reports annual revenues of $1.5 billion and total assets of $1.9 billion. Trover's hospital's last assets top $177.99 million, with net revenue of $194.62 million.

Whitaker says the two sides are pushing to make a final announcement by spring.