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Largo's Struggling Sun Coast Hospital To Be Bought For $19.7 Million By HCA West Florida

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By DAVE SIMANOFF | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 28, 2007

HCA West Florida, the local arm of health care and hospital giant HCA Inc., said Friday it's planning to add Sun Coast Hospital in Largo to its portfolio.

Palm Harbor-based HCA West Florida announced a deal to acquire Sun Coast Hospital for $19.7 million, less some expenses for employee benefits and taxes that will be calculated later. The deal is expected to close early next year. It must be approved by a bankruptcy court judge, as Sun Coast Hospital will arrange the sale as part of its reorganization under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Sun Coast Hospital is located at 2025 Indian Rocks Road in Largo. Officials at the hospital, along with representatives from HCA West Florida, said the acquisition won't affect day-to-day operations at the hospital.

'We anticipate the transition being very smooth,' said HCA West Florida spokeswoman Debra McKell.

The hospital has 200 beds and about 625 employees.

McKell said she doesn't think there will be any layoffs.

'We anticipate the staff there now will become our employees when the transition is completed,' she said. 'Health care is a field where there are often lots of openings.'

Sun Coast Hospital has been searching for a corporate partner since July. It filed for bankruptcy protection on Friday in anticipation of the HCA deal.

'Operating independently in the competitive Pinellas County health care market has been challenging for Sun Coast Hospital,' said Darrell Lentz, Sun Coast Hospital's CEO.

'While we have many strong programs, we knew that the most responsible resolution for long-term success was to align the hospital with another established and secure organization.'

Sun Coast Hospital doesn't just add more doctors and hospital beds to HCA West Florida, McKell said. The acquisition will bring HCA West Florida an osteopathic teaching program, a rehabilitation center and a behavioral medicine program.

It's an 'excellent complement' to the other HCA facilities in the Tampa Bay region, she said.

HCA West Florida currently runs 15 hospitals with more than 12,000 employees.

Patients with questions may call Sun Coast Hospital at (727) 581-9474.

Reporter Dave Simanoff can be reached at (813) 259-7762 or dsimanoff@tampatrib.com.

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