Eden Township Healthcare District Plans To Purchase San Leandro Hospital

The Eden Township Healthcare District on Wednesday announced plans to purchase San Leandro Hospital from Texas-based hospital chain Triad Hospitals for $35 million, the Chico Enterprise-Record reports (Bartholomew, Chico Enterprise-Record, 5/28). The health care district will lease the hospital to Eden Medical Center, an affiliate of not-for-profit Sutter Health Network. Medical center directors, not including district directors, approved San Leandro's lease to Eden for 20 years, including provisions to maintain emergency department and acute care services at San Leandro for three years (Holzmeister, Oakland Tribune, 5/29). Under the agreement, the hospitals will be governed by a single board of directors and will operate "independently but collaboratively," according to the Enterprise-Record. San Leandro employees will be given the option to remain in their positions (Chico Enterprise-Record, 5/28). Medical center officials and hospital district directors met Thursday to discuss changes, including the possible transfer of rehabilitation services to San Leandro, which could occur as early as July. The first of two required public hearings on the issue will be held Wednesday (Oakland Tribune, 5/29). The district board is expected to approve the agreement this month (Chico Enterprise-Record, 5/28).