Hutcheson Medical Center, continuing to make cost-cutting measures, is seeking court approval to sell the Trenton Family Practice at Trenton, Ga., for $350,000.
Ted Rumley, county executive for Dade County, said the medical center is so important for the county that officials have arranged for the Dade County Industrial Development Authority to buy it.
He said arrangements were being made "with a major hospital in Chattanooga" to operate it.
County Executive Rumley said, "For more than 25 years, the Trenton Family Practice has played an important part in providing necessary healthcare to the citizens of Dade County and surrounding area. This role played by Trenton Family Practice is just as important today as it has been throughout its history.
"The news that the Hospital Authority of Walker, Dade and Catoosa counties might sell or even close the facility has caused deep concern to our governing authority as well as our community. Upon hearing of this possible closing, the Dade County Commission immediately made arrangements with the IDA for the possible purchase of this facility and also made contact with a major hospital in Chattanooga to continue to provide medical services to our community.
"It is not known where many of our residents would receive their health care if Trenton Family Practice were not there. Even a temporary disruption in the medical services provided by this facility would pose a threat to the health and well being of our citizens. Not only would the closing of the facility have an enormous impact on our local healthcare system, but such a loss would also threaten our efforts to recruit and retain industry in commercial development in our county.
"Accordingly, we are fully supportive of the efforts of the Dade County Industrial Development Authority to purchase the facility and to keep it operating in our community. The Trenton Family Practice is viewed as critical to our local healthcare system and vital to our efforts to attract industrial and commercial expansion in our area.
"The Trenton Family Practice saw just fewer than 8,000 patients last year alone.
"It is hoped that the proceeds from this sale will benefit the Hospital Authority as it continues to work its way through is economic problems even as the purchase of the property will benefit Dade County by securing essential medical services for its citizens."
Hutcheson Medical Center is asking a bankruptcy court judge at Rome, Ga., to authorize an amendment of the existing lease between the medical center and the Hospital Authority to remove the Trenton facility from the lease.
The petition says it is not believed that the Trenton facility is among the properties that Erlanger Health System has a lien on to cover a $20 million debt incurred during the time that Erlanger operated Hutcheson.