The Eureka Springs Hospital commission met Monday evening and unanimously voted to send a formal 30-day notice to the hospital Lessee, Allegiance, requesting remedy of failure to maintain the hospital building.
Commissioners came to this decision after reading the independent inspection report indicating the building was not being maintained as agreed upon, and according to Chair John House it stated the conditions were “jeopardizing patient safety.”
If representatives from Allegiance fail to reply or remedy Allegiance will be in breach of contract and will likely be notified of a 180-day lease cancellation. House stated that the Hospital Commission has been forced to take over the Hospital more than once in the past and is preparing for that possibility again. Additionally, hospital staff confirmed that the Eureka Springs Hospital Medical Clinic in Holiday Island, an outreach of Eureka Springs Hospital, is closing its doors and the physician allocated to that location, Dr. Daidone, is resigning.
Staff stated there is no indication from Allegiance management that Dr. Daidone will be replaced and stated they believed the building lease was nullified and returned back to Cornerstone Bank.
Commissioners stated these types of cutbacks are adversely affecting the community. To make matters more concerning, the lease payment from Allegiance was due on the first, but was not received until the 10th of June.
Commissioners discussed surveying the current hospital employees to ask if they would stay on the payroll if the commission took control. Commissioners scheduled a special workshop for Saturday, August 3 at 2 p.m. in the ECHO clinic to discuss beginning operations of ancillary services, such as providing durable medical equipment, sleep studies, mammograms, psychiatric care, and other services not currently provided by Allegiance.
It was stated that they may possibly put the Brown House adjacent to the hospital into commission for these types of services.
The next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 19 at 6 p.m.