Fairmont General Hospital in Morgantown, W.Va., announced Friday it will file for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection this week in an attempt to restructure labor contracts and long-term debts, a move that a spokeswoman says was demanded by both of its potential strategic partners, the Associated Press reported Friday. The hospital has been looking for a partner since December 2011, but it has not yet settled on one. The hospital would not immediately release information about its debts and assets, but those figures will be outlined in the filing, which is expected Tuesday in federal bankruptcy court. The hospital was founded in 1939 and employs some 700 physicians, nurses and other personnel. Health benefits and pensions are among the company's key concerns.
