Community Hospital issued a press release today announcing it has ended discussions to merge with Centura Health, a religious hospital management company. Community Hospital’s board of trustees has decided to stay secular and independent for now.
Here is the hospital’s statement:
“After thoughtful consideration and thorough due diligence, Centura Health and Community Hospital have agreed to discontinue merger discussions. Although this was a difficult decision and one the Community Hospital Board of Trustees (BOT) did not take lightly, the board has made the decision to remain independent. The board wants to do what is best for the hospital and the community. The entire BOT and leadership team at Community Hospital were impressed with the Centura Health organization and the great work they are doing across the state and region. Likewise, Centura leadership respects the tremendous growth and physician partnerships that have been developed by the team at Community Hospital. Both parties remain open to discussing future partnership opportunities.”
Centura manages hospitals for the Adventist and Catholic religions. Treatment options at their hospitals are restricted by the religious dogma dictated by the religious groups they work for. There was fear among locals that if the merger went through, Mesa County would no longer have a hospital whose treatments weren’t restricted by religious dogma.
The Grand Valley dodged a bullet with this one.
Now we just have to help Community Hospital survive financially and thrive into the future so we can preserve our area’s secular healthcare option.
It looks like sarah Palin in one of the windows, turning another pillow into a baby again. She must be running for office.
We should still be pressing to have the federal designation of “Sole Community Hospital” revoked from St. Mary’s Hospital. The growth of western Colorado and the Grand Valley have allowed Community Hospital to grow and its current stature in the area should be recognized by CMS so that both hospitals can be reimbursed by MEDICARE and MEDICAID at the same rates. A level playing field should temper the rise in medical costs for all of us.