The fate of Hutcheson Medical Center is yet to be determined after Erlanger Health System missed its June 4 deadline for a leasing and management agreement with Hutcheson.
Now other hospitals, both private and public, have the opportunity to submit their letters of intent to lease and manage the North Georgia hospital that has suffered from debt for some time. Some of Hutcheson’s employees petitioned Walker County Sole Commissioner Bebe Heiskell at her recent public meeting, asking the county to reconsolidate the hospital’s debt instead of relying on a leasing agreement.
“I have a lot of letters here that are amazingly accusatory,” said Heiskell. “But I want the same thing you want. I want the hospital to stay and remain a community hospital.”
In order for the county to fully back the hospital instead of relying on a leasing agreement, the commissioner said she would have to levy an additional $9 million in taxes annually, which she said would more than double the current tax rate.
“I can’t levy 9 million a year to sustain a hospital that, if it fails, we’ll have to continue for the next 30 years to pay for,” said Heiskell. “We can’t do it on our own anymore.”
During their petition Hutcheson employees repeatedly listed the hospital’s recent successes under the administration of Roger Forgey and stated that if the hospital would stabilize, more physicians would come to the hospital, which would ultimately help its continued success.
“We cannot move forward without county’s support and community’s support,” said one Hutcheson employee. “We’re not asking for your money, just asking for your signature. Our hospital will make it. We just need to consolidate debt. We can’t move forward without the county’s support.”
Heiskell ensured her support for the hospital and a future leasing agreement but did not agree to back Hutcheson through the county.