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Feb 12, 2008 4:38 pm US/Central
Lancaster Hospital Abruptly Closes Doors
LANCASTER (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
The closing of a North Texas hospital means a major loss for the residents of Lancaster and southeast Dallas County. The Medical Center at Lancaster abruptly closed its doors Tuesday afternoon and is in the process of transferring patients.
The 90-bed acute care hospital opened its doors in 1983 and was acquired by Merit Health Systems in 2004.
Before the medical center closed, MCL was reportedly planning $20 million in expansions and upgrades over the next five years.
In a press release sent out Tuesday, the City of Lancaster said the Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) will work to minimize the impact of the hospital closing. Officials say the fire department and EMS will give patients the option to be taken to a hospital of their choice and in critical situations, transport patients to the closest appropriate hospital.
A hospital spokesperson told CBS 11 News that the facility was losing money on non-paying patients, an inability to negotiate higher payment rates from insurers, and from the economic downturn.
With the hospital closing an estimated 50 registered patients are left looking for alternative care.
"It's a pretty sad day in the City of Lancaster that our hospital's closing down," said Deborah Votaw, the daughter of one patient. "I will tell you, I am so impressed with this hospital. When I came here Tuesday morning I've never seen an emergency room work like they worked and saved my mother's life."
Two meetings were held for the 200 hospital staff members on Tuesday. The group will reportedly get a compensation package.
The Medical Center at Lancaster is expected to be fully closed down by Thursday. The owners anticipate going into Chapter 7 Bankruptcy - which means closing the facility and selling off all the assets.
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