Moving Forward

June 26, 2009

 

Management Consultant Team Selected

 

Last night the BOT deliberated on the Bingham and Quorum management proposals for the last time. Representatives from both Bingham and Quorum were present at the meeting and spent over two hours answering final questions from the board and the public. After accepting public comment and hearing from Mitch Felchle, Dr. Mo Brown (both non-voting ex-officio members) along with each individual trustee, a roll call vote was taken. Four votes went to Bingham and three votes went to Quorum. The final motion passed by the board was a unanimous vote for the Bingham Management Proposal.

 

The Bingham proposal accepted by the board is a two year contract for a gross cost of $376,000. Thirty-four percent of this total contract amount will be recovered per TVHC's Critical Access Status, for a net cost of $248,160. The contract will have a 90 day out clause with six month evaluation/performance reviews to determine if the relationship is still working. In addition these bi-annual reviews, monthly benchmarks and progress reports will be provided to the board.

 

Quorum's three year Management Assistance proposal would have cost TVHC a gross $943,384. Thirty-four percent of their total contract would also have been recovered per TVHC's Critical Access Status, for a net cost of $622,634 for the three years. Flight and hotel for onsite help would have been additional costs under this proposal. This agreement has a 60 day breach of contract out clause and would be up for review after the end of the three years.

 

Throughout deliberations, several individuals echoed the belief that both Bingham and Quorum would be capable of bringing needed help to our hospital. The choice was not an easy one because both proposals were strong and offered opportunities and resources that would benefit TVHC. Audience members, trustees, and representatives from both Bingham and Quorum repeatedly stated that, regardless of the decision made at the end of the meeting, it was crucial that everyone stand behind the final decision.

The bottom line is that our community needs a hospital. Apart from all of our differences, individuals on all sides of the issue share in the same goal: seeing our hospital thrive while providing quality, patient centered healthcare to the community. Regardless of what type of outside management support TVHC receives, this hospital will only survive with unified support from both the community and staff because it is, in the end, our hospital.

 

Let's move forward together.