Community Health Visioning 2017
Lee Memorial Health System
From: Rebsamen, C.B., M.D.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008 4:40 PM
Subject: LMHS facility plannng process
Jim Nathan asked me to give you a progress report on the status of the
updating of the LMHS long range facility plan. The update was necessitated by
the acquisition of the HCA hospitals (which was not an event that was
anticipated on the previous facility plan). With that significant event in
place, we needed to revisit how we could most wisely spend limited capital on
in-patient facilities over the upcoming ten years. This process actually began
in 2017(sic), so our effort is to develop a plan that extends out to 2017. We
began the work internally within senior administration to attempt to see where
we had agreements and disagreements. This occurred simultaneously with the
Community Visioning Exercise (with which you are familiar), which provided us
with very valuable input on wide ranging issues (many with facility planning
implications). Preliminary findings were discussed with our Board of Directors
at a retreat, and they then directed administration to engage the medical staff
in discussions to get their input. It is, of course, impossible to engage 1,000
physicians in a discussion of anything, so this was done with a representative
group in night meetings that occurred between October and February. As many as
40 physicians attended each session and “the physician perspective” was heard.
We then began the next phase of the process which involved senior management
meeting jointly with 7 physician representatives (chosen from the larger group),
along with a facility planning consulting organization known as TriBrook.
Whereas the initial phase with the physicians was focused on simply hearing what
they wanted in future hospital facilities, this phase was an effort to say
”OK—this is what we all want, but what size and number of facilities should we
operate that will allow optimal clinical staffing, enhance clinical outcomes,
and be sustainable and affordable long term. TriBrook‘s work was completed two
weeks ago, and they are now preparing their report for our Board. We currently
anticipate this report will go to the Board in June and will consist of what
were felt by the combined administration/physician planning group to be the
three most viable facility options for achieving those goals. We do not
anticipate that a final decision will be made by the Board in June, as this will
be the first time this information will have been shared with them, and they
will want to allow time for public input and discussion with those who have
participated in the process to date. I anticipate a possible final Board vote at
a Board retreat which is currently tentatively panned for August, although the
Board can continue to take this issue “under advisement” for as long as they
feel the time is needed to make a good decision. When they do finally vote, this
will, of course, be public information, and either Kevin or I will be glad to
discuss it with you at that time.
Chief Medical Officer
Ambulatory & Strategic Services
Background
The Estero Council of Community Leaders (ECCL) participated in a
program along with organizations representing our entire area (Lee County). Lee
Memorial Health System is charting the course for Health Care in our area for
the future. It is very important that Estero communities have the opportunity to
provide input into the important decisions that are to be made.
For the past several years the ECCL has often discussed the need for
Hospital/Emergency Services in South Lee County. In the past year we have
participated with the City of Bonita Springs to find issues of common
importance. The need for health care services in our area came to the top of
that list. Joint meetings have been held with Lee Memorial and NCH this year and
they know of the desire of both communities to go forward with this issue.
The next step was Focus Groups held in local communities. The Focus Groups
are part of the Lee Memorial Health System Program and were designed to receive
community input.
Lee Memorial Health System later this summer will provide a detailed report
on all such meetings held in Lee County, when that information is available we
will include it on our web-site. Most of the groups have provided information back
to the ECCL on what they feel were the major issues discussed in the
meetings:
- The need for a Hospital/Emergency Care facility in South Lee County
- Physician’s communicating to patients where they may (hospital)
admit patients if necessary
- The theme that the Health Care community just has not provided much
information to the residents on how the ‘system’ works in Lee County
was repeated in many ways in most of the meetings
- The feeling that if you have ‘serious health care issues’ it is best
to return to the “North” was a repeated issue from those that do not
spend full-time in Estero.
- The failure of the health care system in our area to recognize and
provide assistance to part-time residents (ability to see
physician’s during the ‘season’)
- The general feeling of those responding that they do NOT understand
the health care system in our area including the transport system in
case of emergency
Steering Committee…..Community Health Visioning 2017
Lee Memorial Health System |
