St. John makes offer to take over OSUMC

[Ibanez]

St. John Medical Center representatives presented a proposal to state officials Wednesday to take over operation of the OSU Medical Center and maintain its residency program.


http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20081120_16_A1_Sherri328606

[sgrizzle]

Woohoo!!

As I see it, they need three major things:
goverment funding for indigent care (being fought for)
philanthropic giving to help get things caught up (some committed)
hospital administrator (now St Johns)

It says there were some conditions with the St John's agreement, hopefully it includes a request for state/federal funds like is needed.

[guido911]

Will DOs that did not have training at an ABMS recognized program be allowed to work there? just kidding

[brunoflipper]

the devil is in the details... let's see how fast/if the state will move on this...

but don't hold your breath, i saw some graffiti in the bathroom at the elephant run that claims the nashville boys are pissed and have different plans for the building... ardent is moving towards a RAPID close- shutting the doors on dec. 31... they are looking to clean up their books before '09... they have a track record and have pulled out of units in under 2 weeks...

combined with saint francis not being willing to give up on the osu residents moving... this all appears to be rearranging the deck chairs...

get ready...

[brunoflipper]

doh...

[cannon_fodder]

The resolution proposed would allow St. John to take control of it.    This email was sent out and again forwarded to me:

quote:Thank you to all the students who showed their support and signed the white coats yesterday. The coats seemed to go over very well, and they looked great! The city council is voting on a resolution tonight to place OSUMC in a city trust. The meeting is tonight at 6 PM at 200 Civic Center, plaza level, in the council room. Once the hospital is in a trust, St. John's or another entity can come in to manage it and keep it open. This is an important step in keeping all of the residencies safe. Please show your support by attending this meeting wearing your white coats. Attached is the resolution for your perusal. There will be an attending, resident, and student speaking on our behalf. We'll be meeting in the north lobby of the hospital and walking or carpooling over there at 5:40 PM. Please, Please, Please come if you can!

Amber Williams, D.O.
Emergency Medicine PGY2

The resolution as proposed:

(Published in the Tulsa Daily Commerce
& Legal News,
____________________________, 2008.)
RESOLUTION NO. _______________
A RESOLUTION ADVOCATING STATE, COUNTY, AND LOCAL ACTION TO PROVIDE FOR THE CONTINUED OPERATIONS OF THE OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER; DIRECTING THE CITY ATTORNEY TO TAKE SUCH ACTIONS TO PROVIDE THE CITY OF TULSA THE OPTION OF CREATING A PUBLIC TRUST TO TAKE OWNERSHIP AND CARE OF THE CENTER; REQUESTING ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS TO TAKE SUCH ACTION AS IS NECESSARY TO KEEP THE OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER OPEN AS A MEDICAL TREATMENT AND TRAINING FACILITY FOR THE BENEFIT THE CITIZENS OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
WHEREAS, it is one of the most basic and fundamental duties of government to provide for the safety and welfare of its citizens. Our great nation was founded, at least in part, due to the failure of the previous form of government to provide for its citizens.
WHEREAS, the Oklahoma Legislature appropriates approximately $41,850,000 every year for University Medical Center located in Oklahoma City to provide critical medical care for the indigent;
WHEREAS, the Oklahoma Legislature does not appropriate any annual funds to provide for indigent medical care in the city of Tulsa, or anywhere in northeast Oklahoma;
WHEREAS, indigent health care in northeast Oklahoma has been borne, in the largest part, by private hospitals and medical care facilities located in our communities;
WHEREAS, the disparate impact is broadened when the allocations of federal grants, residency programs ..... and other valuable programs aimed at providing health care to low income or indigent families is considered;
WHEREAS, Oklahoma State University Medical Center (OSUMC) has been serving Tulsa and all of Northeast Oklahoma with high quality medical care and graduate medical education for many decades;
2
WHEREAS, hundreds of physicians were trained at OSUMC, and practice and serve citizens throughout Oklahoma;
WHEREAS, OSUMC is accredited for one hundred and forty (140) resident medical students. Those residents serve a crucial function in indigent healthcare for northeast Oklahoma, and many will be lost if OSUMC is closed down;
WHEREAS, OSUMC has a long history of providing excellent care for the medically indigent of Tulsa and all of Northeast Oklahoma;
WHEREAS, it has become clear that a hospital serving the clientele, providing the services, and facilities which OSUMC now provides is not financially viable without public assistance. Such assistance can take many forms and may include being owned by a public trust, public financial assistance, and continued service by medical students, interns, residents and faculty;
WHEREAS, officials and medical budget specialists from area hospitals and from multiple states have reviewed OSUMC's financial situation and agree on a solution. The solution is well defined, would only cost funds previously appropriated or allocated for necessary capital improvements but never provided to OSUMC, plus twelve million dollars ($12,000,000.00) a year, (twenty eight million dollars ($28,000,000.00) a year less than what the state pays University Medical Center annually). Everyone knowledgeable of the situation agrees such a solution would not be a "black hole", but the most cost efficient and effective solution which will benefit all citizens in Oklahoma;
WHEREAS, the failure of OSUMC will create a hardship for thousands of Tulsa's and northeast Oklahoma's less fortunate citizens, and create an impossible situation for Tulsa's remaining acute care hospitals; and
WHEREAS, the failure of OSUMC is imminent, but can be prevented by prompt decisive action by the State of Oklahoma and the City of Tulsa.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF TULSA:
Section 1. The City Attorney is directed to take the necessary actions to provide the City of Tulsa the option of creating a public trust organized under title 60 of the laws of the state of Oklahoma capable of owning the Oklahoma State University Medical Center with all deliberate speed.
Section 2. The City of Tulsa calls upon the State to provide financial assistance to Oklahoma State University Medical Center sufficient to assure the facilities are brought up to current standards, maintained in that condition and allowed to operate for ten years.
3
Section 3. The City of Tulsa requests the Oklahoma State University College of Medicine continue to provide for the same or an increased level of Graduate Medical Education traditionally provided at the Oklahoma State University Medical Center.
Section 4. The City of Tulsa invites all elected officials of northeastern Oklahoma to join with Tulsa to protect the health and welfare of our citizens by calling upon the Legislature and Governor of this great state to provide not separate, but equal access to medical care for all of its citizens.
Section 5. That an emergency is hereby declared to exist for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety, by reason whereof this Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption and approval.
ADOPTED by the Council: _______________________________.
Date
___________________________________
Chairman of the Council
ADOPTED as an emergency measure __________________________________.
Date
______________________________________
Chairman of the Council
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
Received by the Mayor: ___________________________, at_______________.
Date Time
Kathy Taylor, Mayor
By: ________________________________
Secretary
4
APPROVED by the Mayor of the City of Tulsa, Oklahoma: ________________,
Date at ____________.
Time
______________________________
Mayor
(Seal)
ATTEST:
_____________________________
City Clerk
APPROVED:
_____________________________
City Attorney

[brunoflipper]

so let's say the city council votes it into a trust but the state wont fund it... then what?

[TurismoDreamin]

I work at St. John. I worry about my future at my hospital when we take on another hospital's burden. I worry that it may take us down with it.

[Ibanez]

quote:Originally posted by TurismoDreamin

I work at St. John. I worry about my future at my hospital when we take on another hospital's burden. I worry that it may take us down with it.

You should be more worried about what will happen if OSUMC closes down and its 40,000 ER visits per year end up having to go to St. John and Hillcrest instead.

[sgrizzle]

quote:Originally posted by TurismoDreamin

I work at St. John. I worry about my future at my hospital when we take on another hospital's burden. I worry that it may take us down with it.

St John's will not take on the burden if OSUMC stays open, only if it closes. St John's is only contracting to operate the hospital (billing, administration, etc. They won't own it)

[TurismoDreamin]

quote:Originally posted by wavoka

quote:Originally posted by TurismoDreamin

I work at St. John. I worry about my future at my hospital when we take on another hospital's burden. I worry that it may take us down with it.

You should be more worried about what will happen if OSUMC closes down and its 40,000 ER visits per year end up having to go to St. John and Hillcrest instead.

Trust me, there was a time when we were at full capacity and all the beds were taken up. They went to other hospitals. There are two floors that aren't even open at SJMC...similar can be said about other hospitals. And it's not because those floors are inadequate either. And you can cut that 40,000 in half. Not everyone that comes to the ER will end up being admitted such as the worry wort patients who think they were having a heart attack when all it was was acid reflux.

There are more hospitals around the area who can handle the ER load. What has not been mentioned is that other smaller area hospitals who are well staffed, for instance St John's Owasso, has seen days when there was only ONE patient in the ENTIRE hospital when they can handle nearly a hundred at a time.

And sgrizzle, thank you for clarifying that. Ultimately, I was simply worried for the future of my hospital that I love and would be deeply saddened had it closed because of another hospital's burden. I'm all for OSUMC staying open. They handle the largest load of indigent care and without it, we would definitely have a major crisis.

[sgrizzle]

Ambulances tend to go to the 5 major hospitals because those can handle almost every situation. I don't know that St John's Owasso is as rady as say, St John's Tulsa. Also, ambulances don't want to phone around and check to see which red lobster has immediate seating.

While the whole ER system needs an overhaul (so indigent patients quit using the ER as their PCP) closing this facility would be a long-jump in the wrong direction.

[nathanm]

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

quote:Originally posted by TurismoDreamin

I work at St. John. I worry about my future at my hospital when we take on another hospital's burden. I worry that it may take us down with it.

St John's will not take on the burden if OSUMC stays open, only if it closes. St John's is only contracting to operate the hospital (billing, administration, etc. They won't own it)

This isn't going to end well for anybody unless the state steps up and takes on some of the burden of indigent care. Especially at a time when more people with homes are finding it difficult or impossible to pay their bills and insurance companies are playing hardball with the contracted rates for their insureds.

[dsjeffries]

[sgrizzle]

Rock On!