The Hospital Authority of Albany-Dougherty County and Phoebe Putney Health System have agreed to halt the integration of the former Palmyra Medical Center — now known as Phoebe North Campus — with Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital while an administrative law judge considers a Federal Trade Commission complaint challenging the merger.

In a federal court order entered by U.S. District Judge W. Louis Sands on Tuesday, Phoebe officials also agreed to maintain the viability of Phoebe North until the completion of a full administrative trial on the merits and all related appeals, extending a similar temporary restraining order issued by Sands on May 15.

This means Phoebe is not permitted to transfer or sell any assets of Phoebe North except on a temporary basis, modify or change physician privileges unless the physician requests it, cause destruction or deterioration or do anything else that would impact the status quo at the hospital. In the meantime, it is expected that Phoebe North will be provided with sufficient funding and working capital, and that officials will maintain the marketability of the hospital, the order states.

These orders are coming through as Phoebe officials have been working to convert Phoebe North into a freestanding women’s and children’s center.

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