Kathy Catazaro-Perry: '(Quorum Health) is saying, 'send us a buyer,' and we're saying, 'what are you selling?'
MASSILLON The mayor is asking for more time to save Affinity Medical Center and wants to know what exactly is for sale and at what cost.
A letter dated Friday penned by Mayor Kathy Catazaro-Perry to Quorum Health — the Tennessee-based parent company of Affinity — asks for 120 days to allow for an orderly transition of patient care at the hospital. The document also requests that the company extend its planned closing date of Feb. 4 to allow time to facilitate a purchase deal.
"Time is ticking away. Every minute counts," the mayor said by phone Friday evening. "We need to get it slowed down, so we can work with a buyer."
In the four-page letter, which was emailed Friday afternoon to the company, the mayor also asks for specifics on what Quorum is selling — buildings, property, equipment, computers — and what the asking price would be.
"Potential investors want to know if they are purchasing a turn-key operation that will allow for a continuation of (medical) services," she said. "They're saying, 'send us a buyer,' and we're saying, 'what are you selling?"
In a letter received Wednesday by Catazaro-Perry, Quorum Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Marty Smith asked city officials to detail plans regarding Affinity's future. The mayor's letter Friday was in response to Smith's query.
Quorum, according to Smith, has worked for months to find a partner to purchase the hospital, but failed to find someone interested in maintaining medical operations.
"Given the significant financial loss we have already incurred over the last several years, we simply cannot commit the resources to continue to operate the hospital beyond the time frame previously announced," Smith wrote.
On Jan. 5, Quorum Health announced plans to cease medical services Feb. 4 at Affinity due to declining revenues, increased operational costs and a competitive market.
Quorum welcomes "meaningful, immediate interest" from anyone capable of purchasing and operating the hospital, said Smith, who asked the mayor to submit a preliminary transaction term sheet by the close of business Monday to provide as much detail as possible about a potential buyer.
Much of Smith's request seemed to draw the ire of Catazaro-Perry.
"Our community has been thrown into turmoil and crisis as a result of your incredibly reckless actions," the mayor wrote in her letter to Quorum. "While (we) are moving very quickly to make a serious proposal to Quorum to save the hospital, the timeline you have laid out leaves everyone to wonder whether Quorum cares at all about our community."