Watsonville Community Hospital sold to Halsen Healthcare

Employees at Watsonville Community Hospital are anticipating a big change. On the August 1, the hospital’s current owner, Quorum Healthcare, will step down, and California-based, Halsen Healthcare, will take over.

Chief Executive Officer of Halsen Healthcare, Dan Brothman , said the company purchased the hospital for $30 million.

” It was a sigh of relief immediately, but then the question was ‘Who bought us?’ and ‘What are they going to do with us?’ ” said Watsonville Community Hospital Surgical Technician, Christopher Gill.

Gill said the relief comes after years of struggle with current owner: Quorum Healthcare. Gill has worked at Watsonville Community Hospital for the past four years. He said, under Quorum, services were cut and staff were placed elsewhere. ” There’s so much that a hospital can and should do for a community that we’re just not providing. I really hope that the new company coming in sees that need and is willing to fill it, ” said Gill.

Chief Executive Officer, Dan Brothman , said that is exactly what they plan to do. The small, Los Angeles-based team is moving up to the Central Coast to focus solely on Watsonville . Brothman said the team’s California roots, and extensive backgrounds in the medical field, make them a perfect fit for the community. ” We’ll be working closely with the doctors, employees, and community to make changes at the hospital that make sense to the community. We want to make the hospital an asset that the community is proud of, ” said Brothman .

While Brothman said the Halsen team plans to provide more opportunities for the community, they also want to keep some things just as they are. Brothman said the hospital will keep its current name and staff.

Employees hope Watsonville residents will finally get the care they deserve. ” A strong hospital has the ability to unite a medical community like nothing else can. It needs it and deserves it as much as any other community in the United States, ” said Gill.

In a statement to KION , Watsonville Community Hospital officials said they will remain focused on providing safe, quality, and compassionate care for their patients. They added that they look forward to the months ahead as they enter this new chapter.

Watsonville city officials will answer the questions and concerns of hospital staff at City Hall, Sunday, July 14, from 2 to 4 p.m. The public is invited.