HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/23/2007 Work Session
City of Springfield
Work Session Meeting
MINUTES OF THE WORK SESSION MEETING OF
THE SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL HELD
MONDAY, APRIL 23, 2007
The City of Springfield Council met in a work session in the Umpqua Room, McKenzie-
Willamette Hospital, 1460 G Street, Springfield, Oregon, on Monday, April 23, 2007 at 5:43
p.m., with Council President Lundberg presiding.
ATTENDANCE
Present were Council President Lundberg and Councilors Wylie, Ballew, Ralston, Woodrow and
Pishioneri. Also present were City Manager Gino Grimaldi, Interim Assistant City Manager
Mike Harman, City Attorney Joe Leahy, City Recorder Amy Sowa and members of the staff.
Mayor Leiken was absent (excused).
1. Meeting with McKenzie- Willamette Hospital.
Dinner was served to the participating members of the meeting.
Councilors introduced themselves and thanked McKenzie Willamette Hospital for their
hospitality.
Chief Executive Officer of the hospital, Maurine Cate, introduced herself and Director of
Marketing and Programming, Rosie Pryor.
Mr. Grimaldi said this meeting was long overdue and was a way to communicate between the
City and the hospital. McKenzie Willamette had been and would continue to be an important
part of our community, even after they moved from Springfield.
Ms. Cate said she was delighted to have the Council here. She felt it was important that
McKenzie-Willamette had a relationship with the City and were meeting the needs of the
community where they resided. She said the hospital was meeting with the Eugene Planning
Commission tomorrow night, but her effort was to focus on the here and now. They would
continue to be a part of Springfield for at least the next three and a half years and she wanted to
make it all it could be now.
Ms. Cate said they had recently started doing open heart surgery at the hospital and had
performed twelve surgeries, which had all been very successful. They were also doing some
complicated interventional cardiology procedures in their Cath Lab. The hospital had a new
relationship with the Oregon Medical Group (OMG) and those physicians were now bringing
more of their patients to McKenzie Willamette, so the hospital would be busy and vibrant. She
said the hospital wanted to know what they needed to do to be good neighbors. She discussed
some things planned for the remainder of 2007, including spending about $6M on the
beautification of the facility. Triad had put nearly $20M into the facility over the last year and a
half, including a new MRI, CAT Scan, and other expensive equipment. She said the surgical
floor had been upgraded and the Cardiac unit was new. All the patient care areas would be
remodeled in the coming year.
City of Springfield
. Council Work Session Minutes
April 23, 2007
Page 2
Ms. Cate said the hospital had two partners, Cascade and Triad. Their Triad partner was
acquired by Community Health Systems (CHS) and the transaction was expected to close the
first of July. She said there was limited information about what would happen with the change,
but the mission of CHS was similar to Triad's and she expected that there would be minimal
change in the eyes of the community and employees. The mission of the hospital was driven by
the employees and management. She said McKenzie Willamette had a great workforce, with a
lot of staff that had been with the hospital for many years. It was a wonderful hospital and she
was happy to be here.
Councilor Ralston asked why they were putting money into the current location when they were
planning to move. He asked if they would be able to recoup their investment and what the
current facility would become once they relocated.
Ms. Cate said the question of what the building would become once McKenzie Willamette
moved out was not yet decided. When Triad became a partner, the hospital was struggling and
the cost of doing business was significant with new technology and other costs. The hospital
needed a viable partner. Much of the costs incurred over the last couple of years had been catch-
up to upgrade equipment. Triad knew what was needed to upgrade the hospital when they
became a partner. The hospital needed to continue to upgrade now to serve patients now.
Councilor Woodrow asked if Triad would retain controlling interest in the hospital.
Ms. Cate said CHS would take Triad's place, but would still remain a partner with Cascade, the
non-profit group. OMG also took a share of the hospital in recent months.
Councilor Ballew .asked ifOMG would only be at McKenzie-Willamette or if they would be at
both hospitals.
Ms. Cate said both hospitals believed in choice for patients. Choice and multi-competition in
health care improved quality and made healthcare more affordable. There was a commitment on
the basis of their relationship for OMG to send most of their business to McKenzie- Willamette,
but it would not be exclusive.
Councilor Pishioneri asked if some of the new equipment could be transferred to the new
hospital.
Ms. Cate said the majority of the equipment was moveable and would be transferred to the new
facility.
Councilor Pishioneri noted that PeaceHealth was going to be the regional cardiac center for the
region and asked how that would affect the smaller cardiac unit at McKenzie- Willamette.
Ms. Cate said there would be competition. She said they could compete because a lot of the
medical staff in the community supported the concept of both hospitals being viable hospitals.
The referrals were generated from each of the cardiologists, who supported both programs.
City of Springfield
Council Work Session Minutes,
April 23, 2007
Page 3
Councilor Wylie said she was concerned about the clients and patients that depended on this
hospital that were in the low-income and poverty level. With McKenzie~Willamette Hospital
moving to north Eugene, she questioned who would take care ofthose people.
Ms. Cate said she hoped the patients would follow the hospital. The current facility could not
continue to support the ever changing technology. More hospital services were coming to care
for the baby boomers as they got older. There was a need for both hospitals and for this hospital
to grow. Building on site was very difficult. She said they hoped that not only their current
patients would follow them, but they would gain new patients. She noted the high-touch
reputation McKenzie- Willamette had and the importance of preserving that reputation.
Ms. Pryor said a federally qualified health care facility, RiverStone Health Center, across the
street from the hospital was a welcome addition to address some of those needs. She discussed
urgent care treatment and treatment through an Emergency Room. It was an issue for all of Lane
County to determine how best to care for those patients that couldn't afford to pay, not only in
Springfield, out throughout the County. She noted that Ms. Cate had set a new standard in
collaboration with PeaceHealth and a freshened relationship with PeaceHealth's Executive
Director Mel Pyne and other staff. There would be more opportunities for the two hospitals to
work together to address issues.
Councilor Ballew asked if they anticipated McKenzie-Willamette would eventually pick a
specialty for their facility.
Ms. Cate said it was something she was looking at and she may find there were areas they did
excel. Ms. Cate asked what the hospital could do to be a better corporate citizen and community
member.
Councilor Ballew said it would be great to have hospital employees as volunteers for the City in
their different City boards, commissions and committees (bee's).
Councilor Pishioneri said there were probably some bee's with vacancies now. The City can let
McKenzie- Willamette know when current positions were open.
Mr. Grimaldi said as a property owner, he would like the hospita1.to be involved in discussions
about neighboring development, such as the old Waremart building.
Councilor Wylie asked if they had a Plan B if the location in north Eugene didn't work out.
Ms. Cate said they did not have a solid Plan B, but she believed that the right thing would work
out.
It was decided that rather than take the tour at this time, Council would break into their Regular
Meeting and Executive Session and take the tour later in the evening.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 6:02 pm.
City of Springfield
Council Work Session Minutes
April 23, 2007
Page 4
Minutes Recorder - Amy Sowa
Attest:
~~
Amy So
City Recorder