Happy Birthday!

Rachel Brooks, left, and Rebecca Steinberger
 
 AIMEE

Owner of Wyoming Valley Health Care Systems purchases Scranton hospital, affiliates for $150M.


SCRANTON -- A Lackawanna County judge on Monday approved the $150 million sale of Scranton&rsquo;s Mercy Hospital and affiliated facilities to Community Health Services Inc. 
The decision is the last formal step in the sale of hospitals in Scranton, Nanticoke and Tunkhannock, along with some outpatient clinics, to the for-profit company. 
Judge Carmen Minora said Monday that Mercy Health Partners &ldquo;sold it in the most responsible way possible.&rdquo; 
Before the ruling, Mercy Health president Kevin Cook said the hospital could not generate capital needed for improvements and staff recruitment. Community Health Services has promised to invest at least $68 million over the next five years. 
Cook said the sale price will offset the $214 million in liabilities that will be assumed by parent company Catholic Health Partners, according to The Associated Press.
In the deal, the Tennessee-based company has purchased Mercy Hospital, Scranton; Mercy Tyler Hospital, Tunkhannock; and Mercy Special Care Hospital, Nanticoke.
Referring to the $68 million, Tomi Galin, vice president of corporate communications for Community Heath Systems, said in an e-mail on Monday that, &ldquo;The capital investment will be used to improve facilities, and upgrade medical equipment and facilities. After the transaction is complete more specific plans will be developed in collaboration with a new hospital board, which will be made up of local community leaders and members of the hospital medical staffs.&rdquo;
This purchase comes only a few years after Community Health Systems purchased Wilkes-Barre General Hospital, which recently broke ground on a $50 million expansion, which includes a new Emergency Department. 
After the sale of the hospitals, Community Heath Systems &ldquo;will have access to capital, assistance in recruiting physicians to the community, group purchasing power, and the many resources of our system, including clinical quality initiatives,&rdquo; Galin said.
Part of their promise when purchasing the hospitals included all employees in good standing will be hired into their current jobs at their current rate of pay with their seniority recognized, essential services will continue for a minimum of five years, the charity policies will continue, and Catholic traditions will remain intact &ndash; including religious displays left with the hospital by the Sisters of Mercy.
&ldquo;We look forward to expanding our commitment to serve the health care needs of this region, and especially to working with the outstanding medical staffs and employees of the Mercy Health Partners hospitals in northeast Pennsylvania,&rdquo; Galin said.

Staff writer Ruth Whispell contributed to this story.

Judge Approves Sale Of Mercy Hospitals To Chs