Baptist Health System announced earlier this month that it will focus primarily on its hospitals, leaving nursing home facilities such as Shelby Ridge with uncertain futures.

The medical group’s new focus on hospitals arrived with an announcement that it will close three of its 10 hospitals as part of the company’s restructuring.

David Jarrard, a spokesperson for Baptist Health System, said the company is focusing on acute care facilities such as hospitals, culminating in a &uot;substantial investment in ambulatory care.&uot;

When asked whether the company would close Shelby Ridge nursing facility in Alabaster, Jarrard said the company will re-evaluate its nursing homes which &uot;might not necessarily fit with our focus on acute and ambulatory care.&uot;

&uot;Since we’re focusing much more sharply on hospitals, we’re going to take another look at our nursing homes,&uot; he said. &uot;We’re looking at other opportunities for Shelby Ridge.&uot;

One opportunity could be the sale of the nursing home, Jarrard said. For now, he said there is no plan to close Shelby Ridge.

Currently, 123 employees work at Shelby Ridge nursing home in Alabaster.

Baptist Health System’s closing of three hospitals and its announcement to focus on hospital and ambulatory care followed an eight-month revaluation process, Jarrard said.

&uot;Now the system can move forward,&uot; he said.

Despite a renewed focus on hospital care, three of Baptist Health System’s 10 hospitals are closing. Baptist Coosa Valley in Sylacauga, Baptist Cherokee in Centre and Baptist Lawrence in Moulton are being sold