By BRETT ROLLER

Staff writer

GEORGETOWN - The Brown County General Hospital Board of Directors accepted four bids to either purchase or lease the hospital at a special board meeting Thursday, Aug. 27.

Both Lifepoint Hospitals Inc. and Quorum Health Resources, both of Brentwood, Tenn., returned bids. Two new players from the Nashville, Tenn., area entered the discussion as well.

According to their website, Essent Healthcare is a hospital manager focused on long term growth.

“Essent will make acquisitions only when the strongest opportunities present themselves; the number of hospitals in the company’s portfolio will not be the measure of our success,” the website states.

Brim Healthcare is a hospital management firm that operates hospitals “under contract to community organizations,” according to their website. They also provide short term consulting services for troubled hospitals. They have recently begun acquiring hospitals as both sole owners and through partnerships, as well as leasing hospitals.

The board refused to comment on whether or not the bids were strictly for purchasing, or whether they included a lease option. They rejected bids from Lifepoint and QHR on July 30 and resubmitted a request for proposals with a preference given to bids for purchase.

Board member Ben Houser said they will not be able to make a decision on the bids without reviewing them with their attorney, David Spialter, attorney with Bricker and Eckler who would not be able to meet with the board before Thursday, Sept. 3.

“It needs to be done expeditiously but we still need some time to do it and do it right,” Houser said.