Petaluma Valley Hospital chooses Paladin Healthcare to run facility

The Petaluma Health Care District has selected Paladin Healthcare as the recommended long-term lease operator of Petaluma Valley Hospital (PVH), effective Sept. 1, 2017.

Paladin, through its subsidiaries, operates community hospitals in the Greater Los Angeles area and Washington, D.C. This will be its first Northern California location.

PHCD had also considered Pipeline Health, based in Los Angeles, and The KPC Group.

Paladin has guaranteed employment for current PVH staff in good standing for at least six months, with no plans to make material changes to the composition of the staff, and has stated that it will honor all current union agreements.

The company also said it is committed to making capital investments for ongoing facility improvements, medical equipment and technology upgrades at PVH. Its commitment of resources extends to engaging in community partnerships, education efforts and local initiatives.

“PVH is a high-quality hospital and coveted community asset, which we wholeheartedly celebrate. The community will, without a doubt, see that tradition continue with us,” said Barry Wolfman, president of Paladin Healthcare. “As an independent operator, we fully intend to build needed service offerings at PVH, restoring its role as a community provider with broad capabilities inside the hospital walls. We will foster close partnerships with PHCD, other acute and non-acute providers, and community organizations to improve Southern Sonoma County’s health outcomes.”

St. Joseph Health currently operates the hospital on a 20-year lease that was set to expire in January. The health care district last year held extensive talks with St. Joseph about continuing to operate the hospital after a process that yielded four interested bidders.

Negotiations ended with St. Joseph last fall after the two parties could not reach an agreement on financial terms and preserving women’s reproductive health services. St. Joseph agreed to stay on through September or until a new operator could be identified.

Next, PHCD will hold employee forums and public meetings over the next few weeks to discuss its recommendation. It is currently negotiating definitive agreements with Paladin and will begin facilitating the transition plans and terms between Paladin and St. Joseph Health. If all necessary agreements and processes can be timely resolved, the public will have the opportunity to vote on Paladin as PVH’s new operator on June 6.

“In evaluating the bids, Paladin provided a thoughtful and thorough proposal that addressed the criteria we identified as important for an operator, demonstrated its strengths as an organization, and articulated a strong vision for PVH. Further, the company presented a well-researched and solid understanding of Southern Sonoma County’s acute care needs, coupled with a proven track record for sustaining or improving community hospital operations and the patient care experience,” said Ramona Faith, PHCD CEO. “Paladin’s proposal includes keeping and restoring core services; ongoing financial investment in operations, service lines and physician services, and our facility; maintaining quality levels; a long-term agreement; and offering our community fair-market-value rent for the hospital facility.”

Show Comment