A "DONE-DEAL"… THE ERLANGER BOARD OF TRUSTEES, AS EXPECTED, VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE AGREEMENT TO TAKE OVER MANAGEMENT OF HUTCHESON MEDICAL CENTER IN FORT OGLETHORPE.  BUT RECOVERY FOR THE AILING HOSPITAL WILL NOT BE EASY… AND OFFICIALS MADE NO GUARANTEES CONCERNING FUTURE LAYOFFS.

"PROBLEMS AT HUTCHESON DID NOT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT… NOR CAN THEY BE SOLVED BY SIGNING AN AGREEMENT"… SAID ERLANGER PRESIDENT, JIM BREXLER.  THE TROUBLED HOSPITAL ANNOUNCED THE LAYOFF OF 75 EMPLOYEES LAST WEEK.

ERLANGER PLANS TO PROVIDE 20-MILLION DOLLARS IN A LINE OF CREDIT TO BACK THE RECOVERY EFFORT.  THEY WILL ALSO PROVIDE MANAGEMENT, STRATEGIC PLANNING AND PHYSICIANS.  DEBBIE REESE WILL REMAIN AS INTERIM PRESIDENT AT HUTCHESON, WHILE ERLANGER "SEEKS THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THAT JOB", BREXLER SAID.

THE VOTE OF THE ERLANGER BOARD TO ACCEPT THE RESCUE PLAN FOR HUTCHESON, WAS UNANIMOUS.