Several years after running out of money, the unfinished tower at Adventist Health Tulare is one step closer to getting back on track to completion.
The Tulare Local Healthcare District – the entity that owns the tower and leases the hospital to Adventist Health – has issued a request for proposals.
The district is also requesting firms that submit proposals to assist with a fundraising strategy to complete the tower.
“Having the best possible health care accessible for all residents and visitors of the district is the primary objective of the Tulare Local Healthcare District,” said district board president Kevin Northcraft.
“We have worked very hard over the past three years to emerge out of bankruptcy. Moving forward to complete the tower construction is just one more step for us in the right direction.”
Voters approved an $85 million bond in 2005 to build the new tower at Tulare Regional Medical Center.
With the first phase of construction still not finished in 2016, the Tulare County Grand Jury investigated – a report titled “Tower of Shame” – and found mismanagement of construction and found a countless number of change orders.
With Healthcare Conglomerate Associates, the district’s management, to blame, the investigation was the beginning of the downfall of three to executives.
Those three executives – Healthcare Conglomerate Associates CEO Dr. Benny Benzeevi, CFO Alan Germany and chief counsel Alan Germany – were charged with 40 felony charges by the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office last Tuesday.
