WELLMONT HEALTH SYSTEM IS PROPOSING TO PARTNER WITH UNICOI COUNTY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL. WELLMONT IS PROPOSING TO BUY 50.1 PERCENT TO 90 PERCENT OF THE HEALTH ORGANIZATION AND THEN BUILD A NEW HOSPITAL THERE. HOSPITAL CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER JIM PATE SAID HE NEEDED TIME TO DIGEST THE IDEA WHICH HAS NOT YET BEEN PRESENTED TO HIM. BOARD MEMBERS HAVE INDICATED TO HIM THAT THE SMALL HOSPITAL IS NOT READY FOR A PARTNER OR THAT THEY ARE NOT INTERESTED. WELLMONT BELIEVES IT COULD INCREASE PATIENT DISCHARGES FROM ONE THOUSAND TO AS MUCH AS FIVE THOUSAND. WELLMONT BELIEVES THAT 70 PERCENT OF UNICOI COUNTY RESIDENTS GO TO ANOTHER COUNTY FOR THEIR HEALTH CARE NEEDS.