vision2020
RE: hospital merger
Nice ideas! These are some good suggestions. I see the importance of
respecting autonomy, however, I also see the value of cooperation. They are
different organisms. Maybe a symbiotic relationship is possible. Jeff
Carl Jeffry Goebel
Goebel and Associates
Web page: www.aboutlistening.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Bert Cross [mailto:bcross@uidaho.edu]
Sent: Saturday, December 02, 2000 12:09 AM
To: vision2020@moscow.com
Subject: hospital merger
It seems to me that the two major obstacles to any kind of a merger between
Pullman Memorial Hospital and Gritman Medical Center
are: (1) the state line, and (2) the differences in organization.
As I understand it, Pullman Memorial is a county hospital, supported in part
by taxes and governed by a board of directors elected by the
Whitman County electorate. It operates under the laws of the state of
Washington. As a governmental entity, its board must operate openly and be
responsible to the public it serves.
Gritman is a private non-profit corporation incorporated under the laws of
the state of Idaho. As a private corporation it has no direct
responsibility to the public of Latah County. It is not supported by public
funds and its board meetings do not have to be open to the public. It has
operated successfully as a business on its own.
The point is that they are two different kinds of organizations, and trying
to merge them presents almost insurmountable problems.
But that doesn't mean that something can't be done to limit expensive
duplication and bring the best state-of-the-art facilities to the Palouse.
Several months ago I suggested forming an alliance between the two hospitals
which would provide a mechanism for greater cooperation. Both hospitals
could remain autonomous and retain their own methods of
governance. But if such an alliance were to function successfully, each
might have to give up a bit of its autonomy.The alliance could have
a board of its own with representation from both hospitals, the medical
community and the public. Hopefully, agreements could be worked out
considering the broader public interest. Maybe it is a naive idea, but I
personally don't see how a merger can ever take place.
Bert Cross
1448 Borah Ave.
Moscow, ID 83843
Phone: (208) 882-7660
email: bcross@uidaho.edu
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