Briefs: Tebow opens hospital; REIT scoops up offices; VA hiring up

Here’s a look at some more recent headlines in the world of healthcare finance.

Tim Tebow is finally performing well in the field … of healthcare. The former NFL quarterback recently opened the Tebow CURE Hospital in Davao City, Philippines, a children’s hospital that caters to the poor in the Indonesian country.

The 30-bed hospital will focus on orthopedic surgeries to fix deformities such as club foot, cleft palates, bowed legs and other congenital issues affecting limbs. The hospital was created through a partnership with Tebow’s charity, the Tim Tebow Foundation, and CURE International, a Christian organization. It is slated to open some time in 2015. (Christian Post)

CNL Healthcare properties, an Orlando, Florida-based real estate investment trust that deals in healthcare facilities, said it purchased nine medical office buildings in North Carolina and Georgia for $238 million. The buildings, which are 92 percent leased, are anchored by major health systems. CNL said it has now invested more than $895 million in healthcare properties. (Release)

Doral, Florida-based Hygea Holdings Corp. has scored a $5 million line of credit to help fund the expansion of its network of physician practices and other medical services. Cincinnati-based Fifth Third Bank issued the line of credit. (Release)

Hiring is starting to improve at the Puget Sound Veterans Affairs Health system, the Seattle-based organization said, with the vacancy rate for nurses falling to 6 percent compared to 16 percent in June. The staffing shortage has caused extensive delays in healthcare for the veterans that rely on it.

The trick now is to retain those jobs, something the VA has had trouble doing. Nationally, the VA system loses 32 percent of all new hires within five years. (Military.com)