A proposed deal between the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Health System and the Community First Foundation that would give the Sisters sole ownership of Exempla Healthcare’s three Denver-area hospitals is being challenged by Exempla’s board of directors.
Currently, the CFF and SCLHS are both owners of Exempla Healthcare. They created the Exempla board in 1998 to govern the hospitals – Exempla St. Joseph, Exempla Lutheran Medical Center and, later, Exempla Good Samaritan.
Monday, Exempla’s board voted to oppose the agreement – which is pending – and to ask the state attorney general to look into it, said Jeff Selberg, president of Exempla Healthcare and a board member.
The board said it is concerned that under Catholic ownership, the hospitals will no longer offer some women’s services, including tubal ligations and abortions at Good Samaritan and Lutheran hospitals.
