PHILADELPHIA, May 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell and U.S. Senator Arlen Specter today announced a joint proposal that the physicians of the Medical College of Pennsylvania (MCP) run the acute-care hospital as a not-for-profit corporation. Both emphasized that the proposal is not a completed transaction and still requires extensive negotiation with current owner Tenet Healthsystems.
“Since last December when Tenet announced its intention to close MCP Hospital, Senator Specter and I have been working to find an entity willing to continue delivering health care at that location that would meet the needs of the community,” Governor Rendell said. “Today, we’re pleased to announce our joint proposal, which we believe best meets the needs of the community previously served by MCP Hospital: have the physicians run the hospital that they dedicated themselves to save.”
Rendell and Specter said they have asked Temple University Health System to work with the physicians from MCP as their “education partner.” That partnership will be developed as the negotiations proceed.
Earlier this year, the Commonwealth had reached an agreement with Tenet Healthsystems to keep MCP Hospital open until June 30, 2004. At that time, the Governor said he was confident that health care would continue to be offered at the site but not optimistic that keeping the facility as an acute care hospital was achievable. Because any proposal would require government funding, proposals were submitted to Governor Rendell’s office and shared with Senator Specter’s office to determine if government support would be available.
Three groups submitted proposals to continue operations at MCP: Temple University Health System; Drexel University College of Medicine; and the Association to Save MCP.
Tenet officials were notified last week of the Governor and Senator’s support of the physicians’ proposal. Staff will now begin discussions with Tenet over the many outstanding issues in an effort to complete a deal that meets the community’s needs.
“This is still far from being a completed transaction,” Governor Rendell said. “We are confident, however, that health care will continue to be delivered at this location and we will continue to work tirelessly to make that a reality.”
CONTACT: Kate Philips, Pennsylvania Office of the Governor, +1-717-783-1116.
Pennsylvania Office of the Governor
CONTACT: Kate Philips, Pennsylvania Office of the Governor,+1-717-783-1116
Web site: http://www.state.pa.us/