PRIVATE HOSPITAL TO OPEN IN 2007 FACILITY TO EMPLOY MINIMUM OF 800.

Byline: Charles F. Bostwick  Staff Writer

LANCASTER - Construction is expected to start next month on Palmdale Regional Hospital Medical Center, a hospital official said Thursday.

Built for 239 beds, the new hospital is expected to open in early 2007 with 171 beds, because that is as many as officials expect they can find the staff for, hospital official Robert Trautman said.

``If we can staff it, we'll open at 239 beds,'' said Trautman, CEO of Lancaster Community Hospital, which is owned by the same chain that is building the new Palmdale hospital.

Pennsylvania-based Universal Health Services had hoped to have work under way already, but construction firms have been so busy they had to push back the bidding and divide the work into separate contracts, Trautman said.

The new hospital, which will be built at Palmdale Boulevard and 10th Street West, will employ at least 800 people, Trautman said. Lancaster Community Hospital, with 117 beds, has 560 employees.

Speaking at a Kiwanis Club of Antelope Valley luncheon, Trautman defended the Palmdale hospital against criticism from Antelope Valley Hospital officials, who assert the new hospital will transfer out poor patients.

Antelope Valley Hospital officials said they fear that a new private hospital will draw off patients with insurance, leaving Antelope Valley Hospital caring for a higher percentage of patients unable to pay for their treatment.

Trautman said Lancaster Community Hospital last year provided $6 million in treatment to patients who had no insurance and could not afford to pay.

By law, the hospital must treat any patient who shows up at the emergency room, whether or not they have insurance or money to pay, Trautman said.

Lancaster Community has not transferred out poor patients to county hospitals since the closure of High Desert Hospital in 2003, Trautman said.

By law, it must try to transfer poor patients covered by the state MediCal program to Antelope Valley Hospital, which has a MediCal contract, he said. Seldom does Antelope Valley Hospital have room to take them, he said.