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52 HEALTHCARE NEWS California Hospital Files for Bankruptcy After Missing Payroll By Ayla Ellison T ulare (Calif.) Regional Medical Center, a 112-bed hospital managed by Tulare- based HealthCare Conglomerate As- sociates, filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy. e hospital filed for bankruptcy a few days aer HCCA, which is paid by the local hospital district, said it was done footing the hospital's bills. "HCCA provided substantial revolving funding to the hospital over the years, to a cumulative total of $14 million," Benny Benzeevi, MD, chairman and CEO of HCCA, said at a board meeting Sept. 28, according to the Valley Voice. "But in light of the current destructive political environ- ment, HCCA will not continue to do so." Tensions have flared between HCCA and the hospital district's board since last year, and that battle is partially to blame for a recent credit rating downgrade by Fitch Ratings. On Sept. 29, less than 24 hours aer Dr. Benzeevi declared HCCA would no longer provide financial support for the hospital, several nurses and other staff walked off the job aer not being paid. HCCA said a cash shortage by the hospital district was the rea- son it was unable to fund the entire payroll. Tulare Regional Medical Center's bankruptcy petition revealed the hospital has zero cash in its bank accounts. e cash shortage poses a risk to public health and safety, as the hospital does not have the funds to purchase adequate medical supplies and "critical vendors" have discontinued service to the hospital due to lack of payment, according to bankruptcy documents. Chapter 9 bankruptcy is a bankruptcy pro- ceeding that offers distressed municipalities protection from creditors while a repayment plan is negotiated. n Surgical Resident Sues St. Louis University, Alleges Discrimination due to Nursing Background By Mackenzie Bean A fourth-year surgical resident filed a civil lawsuit Aug. 25 against St. Louis University over alleged misconduct issues in- volving program leaders, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Here are six things to know. 1. Surgical resident Mandy Rice, DO, claims she is being forced to redo her fourth year of residency due to shortcomings and retaliatory actions made by her program leaders. 2. The lawsuit names Catherine Wittgen, MD, director of SLU's sur- gery residency program, and Carl Freeman, MD, chief of the trauma service, as defendants, along with the university. 3. Dr. Rice claims the leaders dis- criminated against her because of her past experience as a registered nurse. Dr. Freeman allegedly told Dr. Rice she was "too nice" and "too much of a nurse," and Dr. Wittgen told her to "stop being a nurse" on numerous occasions in front of col- leagues, according to the suit. 4. The lawsuit also alleges numer- ous instances where SLU leaders did not comply with the program's policies and procedures. After Ms. Rice was placed on probation for failing a training test, the university allegedly did not outline the terms of her probation, give her regular feedback about her performance or provide her with a physician men- tor, according to the report. 5. When Ms. Rice found out she was going to be held back a year in her residency, she tried to appeal the decision, but was unsuccessful. The lawsuit claims Dr. Wittgen retaliated against Dr. Rice for the appeal by assigning her to rotations usually given to third year residents. 6. Dr. Rice said she brought the issues up to medical school leader- ship, but was dismissed. She's seek- ing $25,000 in damages and court costs. She also wants to be pro- moted to her fifth year of residency. A spokesman for SLU declined St. Louis Post-Dispatch's request for comment on the lawsuit. n Colorado Ophthalmology Group Buys, Renames ASC to Insight Surgery Center: 4 Things to Know By Mary Rechtoris P arker, Colo.-based InSight Vision Group purchased Lone Tree, Colo.- based Renewal Surgery Center. Here are four things to know: 1. As per the deal's terms, the ophthal- mology group is renaming the ASC to Insight Surgery Center. 2. Ophthalmologist C. Starck Johnson, MD, led the sale on the group's behalf. Dr. Johnson is the team ophthalmolo- gist for the Denver Broncos and the Denver Nuggets. 3. Renewal Surgery Center solely of- fered plastic surgery. Following the transition that ensued Aug. 4, Insight Surgery Center will offer ophthalmol- ogy, orthopedics and plastic surgery. 4. Insight Surgery Center is affiliated with Pinnacle III. Pinnacle III has developed over 40 centers in 18 states since 1999. n