ERLANGER APPEARS FAVORABLE TO A QUICK AGREEMENT TO TAKE-OVER MANAGEMENT OF HUTCHESON MEDICAL CENTER, PENDING A FUNDING AGREEMENT FROM WALKER, DADE AND CATOOSA COUNTIES.
   

ERLANGER BOARD CHAIR DAN QUARLES SAID MONDAY "I UNDERSTAND THAT A LOT OF GOOD WORK HAS BEEN PUT INTO THIS EFFORT AND I BELIEVE, IF APPROVED, IT REPRESENTS A SOLID FUTURE FOR COMMUNITY-BASED HEALTHCARE IN NORTH GEORGIA."
   

AFTER LOSING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND IMPORTANT RESIDENT-DOCTORS… HUTCHESON’S BOARD HAS BEEN NEGOTIATING WITH ERLANGER FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.
   

THE ONLY STICKING POINT APPEARS TO BE HUTCHESON’S 20-MILLION DOLLAR DEBT.   QUARLES WENT ON TO SAY "THIS LEAVES THE QUESTION OF SECURING THE ESTIMATED INTERIM FUNDING OVER THE NEXT 18 MONTHS.  IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE THREE COUNTIES ARE PREPARED TO PROVIDE THAT SECURITY.  UPON ACKNOWLEDGMENT FROM THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE SECURITY AGREEMENT, I LOOK FORWARD TO BRINGING THE PROPOSED MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT TO THE (ERLANGER) BOARD OF TRUSTEES FOR DISCUSSION."
   

A NEW APPRAISAL OF PROPERTIES ON THE HUTCHESON CAMPUSES IS PROPOSED… BUT WILL TAKE SEVERAL WEEKS TO COMPLETE.   THAT APPRAISAL WILL ALLOW THE THREE COUNTIES TO USE THE HUTCHESON PROPERTIES AS BACKING FOR THEIR THEIR RE-FINANCE OF THE HOSPITAL’S DEBT.
   

ERLANGER ALSO HOPES TO RECRUIT NEW PHYSICIANS TO PRACTICE AT HUTCHESON… AND THEY PLAN TO RE-BRAND THE FORT OGLETHORPE HOSPITAL UNDER THE ERLANGER NAME.