St. Vincent’s to shutter, file for Chapter 11

St. Vincent’s Hospital, the struggling Greenwich Village institution that for the past several months has been fighting to stay open despite $700 million in debt and $10 million in monthly operating losses, will shutter its inpatient unit after a vote by the hospital’s board last night, Crain’s reported. Elective procedures will stop in two days’ time and other services, save an urgent care center, will be phased out over the next few weeks. The vote clears the way for a Chapter 11 filing. If a partner can be found during the bankruptcy process, the urgent care center could remain open. Mount Sinai Medical Center and Continuum Health Partners had previously expressed interest in taking over the hospital, but lenders GE Capital and TD Bank resisted forcing the hospital into bankruptcy, and each of the potential acquirers backed out as the task of returning the St. Vincent’s to profitability loomed large. Governor David Paterson said in a statement that the state Department of Health would seek proposals for partners in St. Vincent’s new, limited care services. [Crain’s]