People in San Benito County disappointed in latest development with Hazel Hawkins Hospital

HOLLISTER, Calif. (KION-TV)- On Wednesday, the San Benito Health Care District voted unanimously to continue negotiations with Michigan based Insight Health.

This is the latest step in the financial future of Hazel Hawkins Hospital which has been in financial disarray since 2022.

The San Benito Health Care District is moving forward with negotiations with Michigan based company Insight, to potentially own Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital.

There's still one more hurdle in place for insight to take over, San Benito County Voters.

“The voters ultimately have to decide on whether to sell the hospital because it’s a public taxpayer funded healthcare district healthcare district," San Benito County Sueprvisor Kollin Kosmicki said.

Kosmicki shared his concerns about the company putting profits before patients.

"That a business is due when they make decisions that can be driven by profit, and that means that our community could lose certain services," Kosmicki said. "Ultimately the hospital could close at some point if this company feels it in their best interest.”

People in the community are worried about the potential for jobs to be lost as well.

“My friend's aunt that works there and I feel like she could potentially lose her job just because she’s been there for five years now and it's more of a family thing there," Paul Jimenez who lives in Hollister said.

"We’re grateful to the San Benito health care district board of directors for allowing us to work with them to bring a new vision to life for Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital," the founder of Insight Health System said.

San Benito County still has time, the negotiation process will start and if the deal goes through, voters will be able to vote on the sale comes this time in November.