Hutcheson Medical Center reopened to patients Tuesday after a stretch of closure and last-minute agreement with a buyer.
Following years of financial struggle, the Fort Oglethorpe, Ga.-based hospital filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in November 2014 with approximately $82 million in debt. It closed Dec. 4 due to limited cash flow.
On Dec. 11, it secured a buyer during a bankruptcy court hearing. A judge approved a $4.2 million offer from ValorBridge Partners, which is affiliated with Atlanta-based ApolloMD.
ApolloMD, a multispecialty group that staffs more than 100 hospitals and health systems across the U.S., has operated Hutcheson's emergency department since June. The company does not yet own Hutcheson, but manages it. The operator still needs to obtain a hospital license from the state and complete other procedural items before assuming ownership, according to the Times Free Press.
The 63-year-old hospital revived its emergency department, radiology department and lab Tuesday. An employee told the Times Free Press that ApolloMD has hired more than 50 former Hutcheson employees back.