For-profit to reopen shuttered Dallas-area hospital

For-profit Renaissance Healthcare Systems, Houston, said it plans to open an acute-care hospital in the former Dallas Southwest Medical Center building, initially staffing 64 of 104 licensed beds. Patients will begin to be admitted June 10, said Michael Smesny, chief financial officer at Renaissance and president of its hospital division. Renaissance has spent $1.5 million on renovations and expects to spend $5 million on hospital equipment, Smesny said. The company expects to do better at the site than not-for-profit Southwest, which he said suffered from "poor management" and excessive costs. Renaissance also owns hospitals in Houston and Groves, Texas. -- by Paul Barr