In the Spotlight

fh_crew400Fishermen’s Hospital Completes Transition to Community-Owned & Operated

July 1, 2011 - MARATHON, Florida Keys—Today, Fishermen’s Hospital officially became a community-owned and operated, not-for-profit organization, ending its 25-year association with Health Management Associates (HMA), which leased the hospital as a for profit organization.

“This is a momentous day as we return direct control of the hospital to the greater community through the Fishermen’s Hospital Board of Trustees,” said Michael Cunningham, board chairman.  “Going from a for profit organization to a community operated, not-for-profit status is big plus for everyone.  Now all the revenues, after expenses, will be reinvested in the hospital rather than sent to corporate shareholders.”

 

Board of Trustees President Michael Cunningham

Board of Trustees President Michael Cunningham

Cunningham noted the board’s appreciation for the many years of successful operation of the hospital by HMA, but said that the time was right to move to a more community-oriented direction to ensure that necessary hospital upgrades and local health needs were met.

The changeover to a community-operated hospital offers several opportunities.  The Board of Trustees will focus on increasing and expanding those hospital services that meet community health needs, strengthening patient care and safety, upgrading technology, and creating a sound financial plan for the hospital.

“Over the past 25 years as a leased, for profit hospital, the Board of Trustees had very limited input on Fishermen’s mission and operations,” said Cunningham. “With our new status, the board will take an active role in setting hospital policy and financial oversight.  We won’t micromanage the hospital, but we will ensure that appropriate health goals are set, immediate needs are addressed, and long-term financial stability is achieved.The hospital is securing financing to cover the costs of the transition as well as necessary technology and physical plant upgrades. 

The board hired Quorum Intensive Resources (QIR), Brentwood, TN, to handle the administrative and managerial functions of the hospital as it makes the complicated transition from for profit to a not-for-profit community-operated hospital.   QIR, one of the nation’s leading providers of management services to small hospitals, places experienced hospital executives in client hospitals, analyzes hospital finances and operations, develops policy and procedures, negotiates contracts with physicians and vendors, and helps recruit permanent hospital leadership.

Scott Landrum, from QIR, is the chief transition officer of Fishermen’s and will serve in that position until a permanent CEO is chosen by the board, likely by early winter.

“Our management objectives are to create a hospital that functions efficiently, adds needed services and technologies, but keeps its heart and focus on the community,” said Landrum.  “We have a lot of work to do over the next several months to determine where to allocate resources and what changes to implement.  Even so, we expect to make steady progress because of the strong support for the transition from our skilled and dedicated staff.”

After analyzing QIR’s review of current operations and its recommended changes, the Board of Trustees expects to make major announcements regarding the new direction of the hospital in the fall.

In 1959, a group of concerned citizens headed by Phil Sadowski created a nonprofit organization to raise funds to construct a hospital in then fast growing Marathon. Fishermen’s Hospital admitted its first patient in September 1962 and was operated as a nonprofit hospital until HMA leased it in 1986.

Fishermen’s Hospital Board of Trustees

•             President Michael Cunningham, CEO of Keys AHEC, a countywide community health and education organization

•             Vice President Daniel Samess, executive director of the Marathon Chamber of Commerce

•             Secretary Ginger Snead, Mayor of the City of Marathon and a physical therapist

•             Treasurer Peter Chapman, co-owner of Chapman Cardwell Asset Management, a financial services firm

•             Member David Kirwan, attorney

•             Member Jeff Coldren, owner of Sunshine Quality Roofing

•             Member Richard Malafy, attorney