With every table filled, members of the Hopkinsville Rotary Club packed the War Memorial Building Tuesday afternoon to hear from “Save Jennie Stuart” Chairwoman Theresa Nichol and fellow board member Darrell Gustafson — as the non-profit seeks to find, and share, understanding of a non-binding letter of intent between their local hospital, and regional medical giant Deaconess Health System of Evansville, Indiana.
Though still very much in the exploratory phases of a possible commercial sale, Nichol and Gustafson — along with many others joining this organization — have major concerns about a presumed lack of transparency, and are asking for all involved to “pause and explore” every avenue before venturing down this path.
In no uncertain terms, Gustafson said one of the biggest reasons JSH officials have targeted new ownership is to rectify a growing software and hardware issue — in which it has become somewhat imperative to move from a recently-purchased artificial intelligence boondoggle costing $8 million, to Epic Systems Corporations, which costs $30 million and requires its hospitals have major cash holdings.
A privately-held software company, its hospitals hold the medical records of more than 75% of patients in the United States. And Deaconess is a major client of its service.
Margaret Prim, executive director of the Pennyroyal Arts Council, openly asked if jobs would be impacted by such a partnership, and Gustafson said he had “asked that very question” during a conference with Deaconess.
He didn’t specifically mention the loss of doctors, practitioners and medical arts, but did say cuts would likely come from other angles.
Nichol said “Save Jennie Stuart” has already asked those close to the situation to refrain from quick action, and she also noted that JSH remains unlike other recent Deaconess purchases — which may have been necessary for other municipalities because of financial struggles.
A member of the Jennie Stuart Health Foundation’s board for about the past year, local lawyer James Adams said it was “an alarming moment” to have discovered this potential budding partnership through reporting from the Hoptown Chronicle — especially following what many have termed to be a “successful fundraising campaign” for JSH service like the E.C. Green Cancer Care Center.
Since, he said he has heard presentations from both the Jennie Stuart Health Board of Directors — which do legally, and privately, meet — as well as the chief operating officials for Deaconess. As such, work is currently being done on due diligence, and documents are being drawn for the JSH board to review.
The problems, Adams added, come with the lack of privy to finite details.
Senator-Elect Craig Richardson, meanwhile, said he had “a lot to add” to the growing conversation, noting that citizens were concerned more about the healthcare coming from JSH, and not the software issues.
He urged that JSH entered into a software company coming out of its “second bankruptcy,” because “they don’t know what they’re doing.” He said it was important to note that decisions were “not being made to benefit the hospital,” that “due diligence is not being done,” and that if JSH can get “this one thing right,” software can be fixed. He also said that Deaconess does not require its providers to be in a network, potentially increasing care costs.
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