Hospital Chief Is Fired Amid Financial Troubles

The administrator of financially troubled Marina Hills Hospital in Ladera Heights was fired late Tuesday by the medical center’s board of directors, which announced that the board would scrap plans to file for bankruptcy protection and would pursue other financing to keep the hospital open.

Hospital directors removed administrator Greg DeFelice from the post and said that board member Michael Van Hall would serve as acting hospital chief until a permanent replacement is found.

Marina Hills employees were stunned recently when DeFelice announced that he could not meet the January payroll. The 103-bed hospital, which was filled to capacity at the time of the announcement, has had only one patient at times during the last two weeks. Hospital officials said they would make an announcement on future plans for the facility to employees today.