Back in December of 2010, HCA set out to purchase the 82-bed acute-care hospital in Wichita, its would-be second facility along with the HCA's flagship in the area, 760-bed Wesley Medical Center.
The decision to join HCA was impart due to a federal health care reform law in March of 2010 that placed limits on growth of existing physician-owned hopsitals, but Joseph Galichia, the hospital's founder, says it was always his long-held vision to eventually affiliate with a larger health care organization.
The deal was originally expected to go through in the first quarter of 2011.
The acquisition improves Wesley Medical Center's reach in the community by increasing the number of emergency facilities in the area. Galichia is now its third.
Galichia first opened its doors in 2001. It has since been promoted as a medical tourism destination, opening its doors to more patients by venturing into acute-care and full service operations than standing by its original cardiology path. Cardiology still accounts for 50% of its business, however.
Initially, Galichia Medical Group was considered as part of the transaction but Wesley decided later to focus on its emergency services instead.
Dr. Galichia has a long history with Wesley and we are very happy to have him join the HCA family.