Doctors move on as the Heights Hospital in Houston, Texas remains shuttered indefinitely
The Heights Hospital in Houston, Texas, remains closed and is expected to stay that way after a dispute between the owner of the hospital, AMD Global LLC, and its creditor, Arbitra Capital Partners LLC, over the non-payment of loans of more than $3 million including interest and maintenance, repair and insurance costs.
Patients and staff only found out about the situation on Monday, January 18, when they found they were locked out of the building, with all the locks having been changed over the weekend. The hospital filed for bankruptcy on the same day. Patient records remain locked in the building, while staff were only allowed into the building briefly to secure their personal belongings.
Houston, Texas hospital remains locked over financial dispute, putting hundreds of patients at risk
The Heights Hospital in Houston, Texas, remains locked, with the situation still unresolved after the hospital was closed without warning last Monday. The closure is the result of a financial dispute over a loan payment between the owner of the hospital, AMD Global and Arbitra Capital Partners LLC, as well as the non-payment of maintenance, repair, and property insurance.
Dr. John Thomas, an internal medicine specialist who is affiliated with the Heights Hospital, told the WSWS that all the locks were changed over the weekend when the medical facility is typically closed, with staff only finding out on Monday. Dr. Thomas stated that Dr. Felicity Mack was treating “quite a few” COVID-19 patients at the hospital before it was shut down, and that around 100 coronavirus tests were being performed at the hospital per day.
Doctors locked out of hospital in Houston, Texas over rent dispute, forced to treat patients in parking lot
Staff and patients were locked out of the Heights Hospital in Houston, Texas without warning Monday, leaving medical equipment locked away, and forcing doctors to treat patients in the parking lot without access to their records.
The only notice given was a note on the locked door stating, “Please be advised that the door locks to the leased premises have been changed and tenant shall be excluded therefrom due to non-payment of rent.” The note further stated that the back rent and fees amounted to almost half a million dollars. Medical workers and other employees at the clinic, which treats more than 500 patients per week, are left not knowing if they will be paid their wages.
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee visited the hospital Monday. She sent ABC13 the following statement: This morning, I reached out to the representatives of the owners of the loan on the building. The owners are in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. I wanted them to instruct their local counsel to do the right thing, which is to allow doctors to be able to practice in the building for 45 days with the proper procedures in place, so their patients can be treated and that the doctors ultimate move is done orderly. Right now, the owners of this loan are crushing patient care in the area surrounding the Heights community. I ask that these parties get together in the name of good medicine and the dignity of these patients. For that reason, I am in the midst of conversations with all of the representatives and I expect results as soon as possible.
The Heights Hospital remains locked, lawsuit says it owes more than $2 million
Doctors and patients are still not allowed inside The Heights Hospital and a lawsuit filed this month in Harris County claims it owes money. Author: Anayeli Ruiz (KHOU) Updated: 5:33 PM CST January 19, 2021
HOUSTON Doctors and patients at The Heights Hospital want answers. They showed up to work Monday to find the locks had been changed on the building and they were no longer allowed inside.
On Tuesday, some were allowed inside briefly. We have been out here for a few hours before finally, they let us in two at a time to get items out of the building, Family Medicine Physician Dr. Tisha Rowe said.