For-Profit Hospitals

The Westerly Hospital has announced that a company out of New Jersey that turns financially troubled hospitals into for-profit hospitals is interested in purchasing Westerly Hospital.  Westerly Hospital which ended the 2011 financial year $5.7 million dollars in the red certainly meets that criteria.  The hospital is still being run as an independent hospital under receivership. For-profit hospitals generally do not have emergency rooms and will not accept medicaid, insurance for the poor.  That means L&M hospital in New London will be the only hospital in miles that will see poor patients.  Bad news for L&M, which like most city hospitals, already struggles.

Although those deciding the fate of Westerly Hospital say they hope to keep the hospital independent, the reality may be that its only viable suitor is a for-profit corporation.

Michael Quinn, Esq.