The Washington State Department of Health delayed a decision on Walla Walla, Wash.-based Providence St. Mary Medical Center's proposed ASC expansion once again, the Union-Bulletin reports.
What you should know:
1. Providence is attempting to earn state approval to turn a portion of the defunct Walla Walla General Hospital into an ASC with two operating rooms and two procedure rooms.
2. St. Mary's expected a decision by April 23. Nancy Tyson, executive director of the state's certificate of need program, said in a letter, "Unfortunately, the [CON] program is behind schedule for processing decisions because of the current workload."
3. The state's new deadline is May 23.