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Healthcare District Announces Dates for Community Meetings on Hospital Lease Negotiations

News from: Desert Healthcare District and Foundation

Coachella Valley residents will have two opportunities in April to attend community meetings about hospital lease negotiations between the Desert Healthcare District and Foundation and Tenet Health.

The hospital, Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, is owned by the Healthcare District and Foundation, but it has been leased and operated by Tenet since 1997. The current lease expires in 2027, and Tenet Health has proposed to lease the hospital for another 30 years. The difference this time: Tenet’s new proposal would give the company ownership of the hospital at the end of the new lease.

The Desert Healthcare District and Foundation Board of Directors wants to hear your questions and comments about the proposed lease and what it means for Coachella Valley residents. The public meetings begin at 6 p.m. (subject to change). Three meetings were held in February, March and early April in Desert Hot Springs, Mecca and Cathedral City. The remaining meetings will take place this month in areas to reach a broad spectrum of residents as designated below:

  • April 16 — Indio/Coachella residents, Fantasy Springs Special Events Center, 84-245 Indian Springs Parkway, Indio
  • April 30 — Palm Desert/Indian Wells/ La Quinta residents, UCR Palm Desert – Building B, 75080 Frank Sinatra Drive, Palm Desert

Tenet’s current 30-year lease will expire in 2027. In September 2023, the company presented a new proposal to lease the hospital again, culminating in its purchase of the hospital at the end of the new lease. The District and Foundation Board has requested that Tenet remove the purchase option from the proposal, which has not yet occurred. Talks are ongoing.

The public is invited to participate in the community meetings listed above.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86757292133?pwd=ZjdmbEFJcmhhSVNBUlBGcUdYWjIvdz09

Webinar ID: 867 5729 2133

Passcode: 801738

(669) 900-6833 or Toll Free (833) 548-0282

Please visit this site, dhcd.org, for updates on meeting venues and other pertinent information.