Pacifica Hospital of the Valley was supposed to go on the auction block this year, but now the Sun Valley facility may remain in the hands of Doctors Community Healthcare Corp., the Scottsdale, Ariz.

Pacifica Hospital of the Valley was supposed to go on the auction block this year, but now the Sun Valley facility may remain in the hands of Doctors Community Healthcare Corp., the Scottsdale, Ariz. company forced to file for bankruptcy protection following the collapse of its chief lender. The company expects to file a reorganization plan by next month in an effort to keep its four remaining hospitals instead of auctioning them off. But if outside bids being submitted to U.S. Bankruptcy Court better compensate creditors, they could take the issue out of Doctors Community's hands. Doctors Community listed $400 million in debts in its bankruptcy filing, which followed the collapse of National Century Financial Enterprises.

Staff reporter Laurence Darmiento can be reached at [phone] ext. 237 or at [e-mail].