Palm Partners in Big So Fla Med Surg Facility Conversion Bid

Addiction Treatment Industry Newswire

01/18/2014 -ATIN – In one of the largest expansion plays in the history of the South Florida addiction treatment drug rehab alcohol rehab marketplace, Palm Partner’s Peter Harrigan is attempting yet another big increase of his capacity in a deal for conversion of a big vacant med surg facility in the Fort Lauderdale area. The proposed deal comes on the heels of Palm Partners’ purchase in recent years of Miami-based Holistic G&G and Palm Beach women’s specialty center The Orchid, which approximately doubled the Delray Beach-based center’s size and vaulted Harrigan into being one of the largest treatment entrepreneurs in the key “destination” addiction treatment market and, indeed, in the nation as whole. If Harrigan can pull off his latest move, he will have addiction treatment capacity capability approaching 800 beds and emerge without a doubt as among the major for-profit addictions entrepreneurial forces in the country.

NIMBY Arrow

In recent months, Harrigan has been attempting to win over the hearts and minds of residents, according to local reports, while also winning over zoning and planning board staff of the city of Oakland Park, where the 11-acre hospital has been sitting vacant for half a decade. Says one treatment CEO who has toured the facility: “The place is just massive. I found myself wishing I’d brought a box lunch ‘cause I was there all day practically. It’s a lot of risk to take on, no question.” Bought for $20M years ago by Holy Cross Hospital and immediately shut down by Holy Cross, the former acute care North Ridge Hospital would turn into a 300 bed capacity psychiatric and addictions facility under Palm Partners. But located as it is near a number of schools, what was a strong zoning and planning staff approval for the Palm Partners’ proposal turned into a unanimous vote a few days ago by the Oakland Park Zoning and Planning Board against approving Palm Partners’ plan. The ultimate say, of course, rests in the hands of city politicians as is typical in planning and zoning matters and, in this case, that means the Oakland Park City Commission. Local reports say a vote on the matter is scheduled for February.

Private Pay Clientele

According to local reports, in agenda documents Palm Partners said its new facility will not accept any kind of Medicaid, walk-ins, Baker Act (court forced) or indigent type clientele. The cost for stays at the new North Ridge Palm Partners’ facility would be just shy of $25K for 30-days, with clientele consisting of the privately insured and cash-pay variety, local press reported agenda items as saying. Holy Cross has agreed to sell North Ridge to Palm Partners, but according to local reports the sale is conditional upon approval of Palm Partners plans.

POST YOUR COMMENTS BELOW… start a debate!

Got Addiction News? …TELL US!