The Mississippi County Hospital System Strategic Planning Committee reviewed several options for the county's hospital system during a meeting Monday with members of QHR, the company contracted by the county to operate the hospitals in Blytheville and Osceola, to define key issues facing both hospitals.
Charles Moore, chairman of committee, said the purpose of the meeting was to provide a forum for local input from a broad base of community leaders. The committee will examine alternative solutions to resolve the issues facing the county hospitals, to prioritize alternative solutions based on local preferences, and to present the findings to the committee of the board of directors.
Alternatives reviewed at a prior meeting included the following options: The first is to have one central hospital located in Blytheville, Burdette or Osceola. Another option would provide a main hospital in the northern part of the county with a smaller health resource in the south county. A third option would be a central Mississippi County Hospital with a northern- and a southern-based health resource. A health resource facility would have all health services available with the exception of no inpatient, overnight acute care service.
The findings of the committee, according to Moore, are expected to be delivered to the board within 90 days, at which time the committee will review reports on the future of health care delivery in the United States. Moore encouraged the citizens of Mississippi County to provide input regarding the hospital situation by writing to MCHS Strategic Planning Committee, P.O. Box 351, Blytheville, AR 72316.
Moore added that when Baptist Memorial Hospital operated of the county's hospital, BMH agreed to build a new hospital in the county, with one proviso: that the county should close the Osceola hospital. The county declined the proviso, and BMH halted its operations of both hospitals in Mississippi County. Ameris Corporation was the next company contracted to run the county hospitals. Upon the departure of Ameris earlier this year, QHR was contracted by the Board of Governors of the Mississippi County Hospital System to operate the hospitals.
Jim Richardson, CEO of the county's hospital and an employee of QHR, pointed out the operational challenges confronting the hospitals. Justice John Alan Nelson, chairman of the Quorum Court's Finance Committee, explained that an additional $4 million dollars would be needed to operate both hospital facilities until the end of the year. These funds would have to come from the general county funds since the monies collected from the county's 1/8-cent sales tax, along with the decrease in revenue from patient admissions to the hospital cannot keep up with the expenses.
William Carder, associate vice president of QHR, presented various points to the committee to consider while anticipating the future of Mississippi County's future health care system. Consumers, according to Carder, will be the driving force in health care. Patients will expect quality, efficiency, value, transparency and satisfaction.
"We are seeing an industrial revolution in our health care system, away from your basic cottage industry," Carder said.
Michael Heard, vice president of QHR, requested the committee give its opinions on the pros and cons of having the hospital located in Blytheville, Burdette, or Osceola. Members voiced varying thoughts based on population, existing facility integrity, industry location, doctor availability, convenience, and community support.
County Judge Steve McGuire also pointed out that the county's resources are finite. Justice Nelson added that the county needs to explore "another source of revenue" for the hospital system.
Carder and the committee agreed that the next meeting will be at 6 p.m., Monday, Oct. 19. A recommendation will be presented with information, processing reports, and proposals.
MCHS Strategic Planning Committee members are Charles Moore, chairman; Mason Day, Becky Hawkins, Linda Warhurst, Clif Chitwood, Jerry Sims, Dr. Ron Smith, Dr. Sherita Willis, Sandra Kennett, Rogers Ford, Dwayne Mays and Odalis FitzPatrick. The committee was appointed Aug. 24 by John Ed Regenold, chairman of the Board of Governors of the Mississippi County Hospital System during last month's quarterly meeting.
bapease@blythevillecourier.com