Starke Hospital Lease Negotiations Continuing

 
 

The Starke County Commissioners have reluctantly agreed to another 30 day extension of the Starke Hospital lease. The county owns the property and building at the corner of Culver Road and South Heaton Street, but the hospital is managed by Tennessee-based Community Health Systems. Their plans are to build a new hospital on the site and tear the current building down once it’s complete. Continue reading

Commissioners Promise Meeting Before Hospital Deal is Finalized

 
 

Negotiations between Starke County government officials and the owners of Starke Hospital regarding a new lease on the existing facility are continuing, according to information shared during Monday’s county commissioners meeting. Starke Hospital officials are hoping to build a new hospital on the current site at the intersection of U.S. 35 and State Road 8 in Knox. The county owns the building and land on which it sits, and the hospital’s lease on the site is almost up. Both sides agreed last month to a 90 day extension of the notice period should the hospital decide not to renew. That pushes their deadline to reach a new deal out to the end of June. Continue reading

Hospital CEO Reaffirms Commitment to New Facility

 
 

The CEO of Starke Hospital says the new owners of the local facility would prefer to construct a new building on the existing site at the intersection of South Heaton Street and Culver Road. The county owns the land and the building, but Tennessee-based Community Health Systems now owns 80-percent of the hospital. IU Health has retained 20-percent ownership, and a subsidy of CHS is running the day-to-day operations. The name change to simply “Starke Hospital” reflects the shift, and a new branding symbol is in the works. Continue reading

Commissioners Debunk Hospital Rumors

 
Starke County government officials are negotiating with Community Health Systems over construction of a new building to replace the existing IU Health Starke Hospital.

The Starke County Commissioners last week reaffirmed their commitment to building a new hospital in Knox. County officials are still negotiating with Tennessee-based Community Health Systems, which recently acquired 80-percent ownership of IU Health Starke and LaPorte Hospitals. The county owns the current hospital building and land on which it sits. Commissioner Kathy Norem quoted an email received by the commissioners stating they are “ignorant, clueless and intentionally blocking the building of a new facility.” She says they want to ensure adequate services are provided. Continue reading

Change in Hospital Ownership Leads to Establishment of Healthcare Foundation of LaPorte

IU HealthThe affiliation between Community Health Systems, IU Health and IU Health LaPorte and Starke Hospitals has been finalized.

Indiana University Health is now a minority owner of IU Health LaPorte and Starke Hospitals. They own 20 percent, and CHS subsidiaries own 80 percent. IU Health will share equal governance of the new organization. Officials say this will ensure a local voice is heard in all future decisions.

Part of the agreement is the creation of the Healthcare Foundation of LaPorte (HFL). It’s a new, independent, nonprofit foundation that’s dedicated to empowering residents in and around LaPorte to live healthy and well. Continue reading

IU Health Starke Hospital President Updates Council, Commissioners

Felty, Craig
IU Health Starke Hospital President Craig Felty

IU Health Starke Hospital intends to renew its lease with the county for the current facility. President Craig Felty told the council and commissioners Monday a formal notice will be forthcoming in 30 to 60 days. Right now due diligence is continuing in the proposed acquisition of IU Health Starke and LaPorte Hospitals by Community Health Systems. Continue reading

Due Diligence Ongoing in IU Health Starke Affiliation Agreement

IU HealthIU Health LaPorte and Starke Hospitals continues to work through an affiliation phase with Community Health Systems.

The announcement was made in March of this year, but before any agreements can be finalized, due diligence must first be completed. Work to verify information about the hospital group by Community Health systems has been going on for several months.
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IU Health Starke Hospital President Talks Partnership, New Building

Felty, Craig
IU Health Starke Hospital President Craig Felty

IU Health Starke Hospital President Craig Felty hopes to close on the sale of the Knox and LaPorte facilities to one of the nation’s largest for-profit hospital groups by the end of the year. He told the Starke County Council the hospitals and Community Health Systems are still in their due diligence period prior to finalizing the purchase. Continue reading