TRMC $32 million in debt, board releases financials and says future is hopeful

TULARE, Calif. (KFSN) -- Tulare Regional Medical Center remains a skeleton of itself tonight. The fate of the hospital is hanging in limbo. If money does not start rolling in by February, the board says there could be trouble.

Former employees of Tulare hospital are getting antsy in their seats. Since November, former employee Melissa Waters has come to every board meeting, hoping to hear a date.

"We all want to know when they are reopening the hospital, that's our biggest concern right now," said Waters.

She did not get a direct answer but did learn about the hospital's finances for the first time.

The hospital owes a staggering $32 million in debt and needs to borrow more money in order to reopen.

"The short range is the frustrating part, you open a hospital the revenue doesn't come in for 60 to 90 days. We need some money and trying to get that through a bankruptcy court," said Board President Kevin Northcraft.

Board members believe the hospital can still succeed. A preliminary budget estimate TRMC can bring in $10 million in profit annually, as long as 40 beds are occupied daily.

"We've got a big hole to fill obviously with a lot of creditors and expenses and no revenue coming in, $10 million a year is going to help us," said Northcraft.

To get back on their feet the board plans to hire an outside group to collect past dues.

"We just need to get past that, we've got a great community that backs us, we just need to the backing and the financing," said Waters.

Once there is enough, funding plans will be made to reopen both the hospital and clinics.