Talks have fallen through with a Tennessee-based company as two local hospitals seek a "strategic health care partner" to help them grow.

But at the same time, the parent company of Ohio Valley Medical Center and East Ohio Regional Hospital is trying to squash rumors that hospitals are for sale.

Ohio Valley Medical Center's chief executive officer said, over the last three months, the hospitals have tried to strike a deal with another health care system.

-WEB EXTRA: Unedited news release from Ohio Valley Health Services & Education

Mike Caruso, CEO of Ohio Valley Health Services & Education, said the hospitals are not for sale, but they are just looking to expand to become better equipped financially and with more technology.

Caruso said, after much thought, it was mutually decided that the organization -- Community Health Systems of Tennessee -- would not partner or affiliate itself with OVHS&E.

"Over the last 90 days, they looked at our organization and we looked at their organization and spent a lot of time trying to evaluate if that should go any further," Caruso said.

Though talks with the Tennessee group have discontinued, the OVHS&E is still looking for a partner.

"And when you have economies the scale of other health care partners, they bring resources, the bring capitol, a number of health care technology that you can't typically get by itself," Caruso said.

He said, for months, rumors have circulated that OVMC and East Ohio Regional Hospital were up for sale, but Caruso said that is not true.

"Neither hospital is up for sale, the hospitals are doing really well. They've done economically well over the past couple of years. They are fiscally stable. And we are looking to improve the quality and technology and care in our region," he said.

With the potential of a partnership still in the works, Caruso said that no deal with any health care system will be reached this year. In the meantime, he said the health care facilities are doing great financially and continue striving to be the best.

"The whole goal would be to make sure that we provide excellent care in our region for the people who live here for a long time," he said.

The hospital system also announced a $5.3 million operating profit this year and Caruso said it should be opening up its new Child & Adolescent Center sometime in October.

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