3 Hutcheson boards vote to OK Erlanger pact

Three of the four boards that own or oversee Hutcheson Medical Center in Fort Oglethorpe voted today to accept a partnership agreement with Erlanger Health System in Chattanooga.

The holdout was the Hospital Authority of Walker, Dade and Catoosa Counties, which actually owns the hospital. Authority trustees were scheduled to meet today at the same time and place as the other three boards, but their meeting was canceled Saturday. Members said today the meeting was reset for Wednesday.

Hutcheson officials and community leaders have been negotiating a partnership that would pump money into the struggling hospital and help it rebuild its physician and patient base.

Erlanger has promised to put in $20 million, but Hospital Authority officials have worried about requirement that the three counties guarantee the loan.

See Monday's Times Free Press for complete coverage.

Upcoming Events