MADERA COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) — Adventist Health and UCSF unveiled a new plan that could help reopen Madera Community Hospital.
On Thursday, UCSF officials announced they plan to participate in a bidding process to acquire Adventist Health and the hospital.
“We're trying to keep critical care local here,” said Suresh Gunasekaran, president and CEO of UCSF Health.
The next step in the process involves UCSF and Adventist Health entering into hospital bankruptcy proceedings.
If approved, Adventist Health, UCSF and Madera County will submit a bid proposal to bankruptcy court.
But the proposal comes as another company seeks approval to reopen its shuttered facility.
American Advanced Management said it is days away from seeking court approval to manage, reopen or purchase the shuttered hospital.
American Advanced Management's statement reads in part:
“In the seven weeks since our proposal was selected by the debtor, AAM has made significant progress with the support of many government agencies, including the Attorney General’s Office. This could result in delays of several months, further endangering the lives and health of the Madera community.
You can read American Advanced Management's full statement below.
But UC-SF and Adventist Health's latest proposal could lead to a change in direction.
“We will work with each council that has expertise in bankruptcy and bidding procedures,” said Kelly L. Heinrich, president and CEO of Adventist Health. . “We will continue to work directly with UCSF and Madera County.”
The 100-bed hospital closed in December 2022 after years of financial difficulties.
Last July, Adventist Health agreed to manage the hospital in a non-binding letter of intent.
The deal collapsed in November when Adventist Health announced that reopening the hospital would be too expensive given the limited financial resources available at the time.
“Adventist Health looked at the situation surrounding Madera and realized we couldn't do it alone,” Heinrich said.
The closure has left residents across Madera County in need of medical care. Hospital Councilor David Batch said it was important to get hospitals reopened.
“One of the things we lost when the Madera community closed was access to obstetric care and prenatal care,” Bach said. “Currently, people have to travel at least 30 minutes. But during labor it can take him 45 minutes or he can take an hour.”
He added that once the hospital is operational, it will ease the burden on the surrounding medical community.
“They are so affected and overburdened,” Bassi said. “That's because we know people aren't seeking the care they need when they need it.”
Apart from making plans, Gunasekaran said he is also very aware that there is still a lot of homework to do.
Both UCSF and Adventist Health will be involved in operations, but UCSF Health said Adventist Health will take control of Madera Community Hospital.
Madera County Executive Jay Barney said county leaders support this new approach to reopening hospitals.
If the new partnership goes forward, the hospital could become a teaching facility, said state Sen. Anna Caballero.
As for American Advanced Management, it said it remains committed to reopening the facility after making an offer for Madera Community Hospital last year.
The company said it welcomes any form of support from UCSF.
Action News has also reached out to Madera Community Hospital's bankruptcy attorney and is working to get a response.
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