Fla. hospital districts to end 7-year partnership

Halifax Hospital Medical Center, Daytona Beach, Fla., said it will dissolve a seven-year partnership with South Volusia Hospital District because after 4 1/2 years of negotiation the two public hospital districts have not agreed to truly centralize management of their hospitals. The partnership, known as Halifax-Fish Community Health, oversaw services such as human resources, purchasing, security and marketing for South Volusia's 116-bed Bert Fish Medical Center, New Smyrna Beach, and 487-bed Halifax Medical Center, Daytona Beach. In a written statement, Fred Cooper, chairman of the South Volusia and Bert Fish boards, called Halifax's decision a surprise and said that despite its demise, the partnership had accomplished a great deal for Bert Fish. Halifax district spokesman John Evans said the district presented South Volusia with a proposed management agreement in October 1999. In Halifax's view, South Volusia desired a level of independence that was not consistent with true central management of the hospitals, Evans said. Halifax is willing to continue a joint oncology program and a planned kidney-transplant program at Bert Fish if an agreement can be worked out, he said. -- by Vince Galloro