Health Management Associates Acquires Virginia Hospital

September 24, 2001 Health Management Associates Acquires Virginia Hospital  Health Management Associates (HMA) of Naples, Florida, announced in September 2001 that it has purchased 80-bed Lee County Community Hospital in Pennington Gap, Virginia. The purchase marks HMA's first Virginia acquisition. HMA operates 38 facilities in 12 states, primarily in the Southeast and Southwest.  John Merriwether, Director of Financial Relations with Health Management Associates explains why the company purchased Lee County Community Hospital, "It was in bankruptcy, it perfectly fits our niche of a non-urban community, with a proven demographic need for health care. And, it's going . . .