HEALDSBURG: Hospital Group Makes Offer To Columbia
A consortium of Healdsburg businessmen and doctors made a bid Friday to buy Healdsburg General Hospital from Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corp., the Santa Rosa Press Democrat reports. The North County Hospital Association made the move after Columbia announced in February that it would close the financially troubled hospital "unless a way was found to stem the financial losses." The association has formed the nonprofit Nuestro Hospital Inc. to run the hospital if the bid is successful. "The community has made a bid to get its hospital back," said Dr. Dan Rose, "a Healdsburg physician who is spearheading the purchase effort" and who is president of Neustro. Columbia has valued the hospital at $6.5 million, but Rose would not comment on the offering price. Columbia spokesperson Jeff Prescott said his company will be "evaluating" the offer, but there is no telling when a final decision will be made. According to Rose, Columbia "has made it clear" that Neustro will not receive any special preferences. Other interested buyers include Pacific Health Corp. of Long Beach, Doctors Community Healthcare Corp. of Phoenix, Sutter Health and Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange (Benfell, 4/25). ( Click here to see a related story.)
This is part of the California Healthline Daily Edition, a summary of health policy coverage from major news organizations. Sign up for an email subscription.