Regional General Hospital Williston (Fla.) was purchased in 2014 after going through bankruptcy reorganization. With debt rising and bills past due, the hospital's future is once again uncertain.
Debt from the bankruptcy and indigent care costs have taken a toll on Regional General's finances. Devaiah Pagidipati, MD, who owns the hospital, told WUFT that he has spent $6 million of his own money in the last two years to keep Regional General open.
With its financial troubles, Regional General has failed to pay utility bills. "If the city were to cut off the utilities, that hospital would disappear literally overnight, and once it's gone, it's very doubtful that it would ever come back in any form," Williston City Manager Scott Lippmann told WUFT.
However, Mr. Lippmann said he doesn't want the hospital to close. He told WUFT that the city is working with Regional General to create a payment plan for outstanding utility bills.
Dr. Pagidipati is also committed to keeping the hospital open. "Whatever it takes, I'm going to make this work — I'm determined," he told WUFT. "After putting in this much money, I sincerely don't want this hospital to close."
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