Three-hospital Charleston (W.Va.) Area Medical Center Health System has signed a letter of intent to sell 74-bed Plateau Medical Center, Oak Hill, W.Va., to Community Health Systems, Brentwood, Tenn. For-profit Community owns or leases 56 hospitals. Plateau Medical, a not-for-profit, had been part of Heritage Health System, a joint venture between the Charleston system and Appalachian Regional Healthcare that was unwound last year. Both Plateau Medical and its former partner, 190-bed Beckley (W.Va.) Appalachian Regional Hospital, have continued to lose money. Plateau lost a little more than $1 million on revenue of $16 million in 2000. David Ramsey, president and CEO of the system, said he hopes a deal can be completed during the first quarter of 2002.

Modern Health Care

-- Anonymous, October 31, 2001