Madera hospital’s creditors want to be repaid through the bankruptcy process — including the hospital’s chief executive, the Fresno (Calif.) Bee reported. Last month, the hospital’s creditors submitted to a federal bankruptcy court their plan to liquidate the hospital, which, if approved by the court, would start the process of selling off the hospital assets to pay back millions owed to the creditors. Among the dozens of businesses, doctors and individuals who filed claims is Karen Paolinelli, Madera Community Hospital’s chief executive. Earlier this year, she filed a claim requesting payment for $200,658 in unpaid vacation time and unpaid self-funded insurance benefits. Paolinelli, who earns an annual salary of $359,668, according to the hospital’s latest available tax records, is a key player along with the hospital board of trustees in trying to find a partner to reopen the hospital, which ceased operations and closed its doors nearly a year ago. The hospital has just months to secure a reopening partner before creditors plan to vote on the liquidation plan in February. The liquidation plan filed by creditors allows for the hospital to pursue an agreement with a partner to reopen the hospital, subject to creditor and court approval.
