Plans to bring Watsonville Community Hospital—and the property on which it sits—into public ownership took a step forward Wednesday.
The Pajaro Valley Health Care DistrictBoard of Directors approved a proposal to hire Isom Advisors, a municipal bond advisory firm that will help determine the feasibility of bringing a bond measure to the public next year to help raise money for the $40 million purchase.
If passed by voters, the bond would also fund a renovation of the emergency department and the second floor of the hospital.
When Halsen Healthcare bought the hospital from Quorum Health Corporation in 2019, the company sold the property and building to Alabama-based Medical Properties Trust (MPT), and leased it from them in a sale/leaseback.
The Health Care District is currently paying MPT more than $250,000 per month.
The hospital’s Board of Directors ousted Halsen after the company was unable to pay its bills, Good Times reports. Read more.
