The coronavirus pandemic has pushed back a hospital lease to the last possible minute.
Allen County Regional Hospital’s lease to the Saint Luke’s Health System will take effect July 1, after being pushed back for a few months first for various logistical reasons and now because of delays caused by the global health crisis.
The hospital’s current management contract with HCA Healthcare ends June 30.
Progress on the transition has ramped up, as employees prepare to transition from Allen County employees to Saint Luke’s. Numerous policy discussions have taken place as officials decide which of Allen County’s policies and programs to keep, and which they’ll adapt from Saint Luke’s.
A new administrator, Elmore Patterson of Alabama, is training with the Kansas City-based system and likely won’t take the reins at ACRH until shortly before the transition.
“A lot of activities are winding down,” Larry Peterson, ACRH chief financial officer and interim CEO, said. “We’re working with Saint Luke’s and HCA to make sure everything happens nice and smooth on July 1.”
