Bert Fish Medical Center in New Smyrna Beach, Fla., will re-hold meeting regarding its merger with Adventist Health System, parent company of Florida Hospital in Orlando, following a lawsuit by the hospital's foundation that the transaction violated Florida's Sunshine Law, according to a San Francisco Business Times report.
Bert Fish Medical Center, which is owned by the Southeast Volusia Hospital District, officially merged with Adventist in July under a five-year lease agreement. The Bert Fish Foundation, which donated the medical center to the Southeast Volusia Hospital District in 1996, filed suit in August alleging that the meetings surrounding the merger violated Florida's Sunshine Law because the public was prohibited from attending meetings where the merger was discussed and ultimately approved. The Sunshine Law establishes a basic right of access to most meetings of boards, commissions and other governing bodies of state and local governmental agencies or authorities.
The hospital district will hold a public meeting on Sept. 27 regarding the merger and will re-vote on whether or not to affiliate with Adventist. Other systems who submitted proposals for an affiliation will be allowed to amend them for reconsideration, according to the report.
Read the San Francisco Business Times report on Bert Fish Medical Center.
Read previous coverage on Bert Fish Medical Center:
- Florida Hospital Foundation Files Suit Against Merger of Public Bert Fish Medical Center With Private Hospital, Argues Transaction Violates State Law
- Bert Fish Board Withheld Transcripts
- Florida's Bert Fish Officially Merges With Adventist Health
Bert Fish Medical Center, which is owned by the Southeast Volusia Hospital District, officially merged with Adventist in July under a five-year lease agreement. The Bert Fish Foundation, which donated the medical center to the Southeast Volusia Hospital District in 1996, filed suit in August alleging that the meetings surrounding the merger violated Florida's Sunshine Law because the public was prohibited from attending meetings where the merger was discussed and ultimately approved. The Sunshine Law establishes a basic right of access to most meetings of boards, commissions and other governing bodies of state and local governmental agencies or authorities.
The hospital district will hold a public meeting on Sept. 27 regarding the merger and will re-vote on whether or not to affiliate with Adventist. Other systems who submitted proposals for an affiliation will be allowed to amend them for reconsideration, according to the report.
Read the San Francisco Business Times report on Bert Fish Medical Center.
Read previous coverage on Bert Fish Medical Center:
- Florida Hospital Foundation Files Suit Against Merger of Public Bert Fish Medical Center With Private Hospital, Argues Transaction Violates State Law
- Bert Fish Board Withheld Transcripts
- Florida's Bert Fish Officially Merges With Adventist Health