Richard Burruss, M.D.

Like many others who work at, or are close to TCMC, the past months have been particularly frustrating for the Medical Staff. On February 3, 2009 the Medical Staff submitted a letter to the Chair of the Health District Board expressing our concerns and asking that the Forensic investigation be completed within the next 15 business days. The deadline (February 20) came and went without any response, disclosure, notice, or communication from the Board. Then at the February 26 District Board meeting, Board members discussed the preliminary findings of the investigation, but the Medical Staff was excluded from that discussion, The next morning the chairperson faxed a letter which offered no details regarding the findings of the investigation, explaining only that “The Board intends to call a special meeting to complete the discussion of this matter on March 16th or 17th and there should be more information available at that time.”

In short, the District Board continues to keep the Medical Staff, as well as nurses, technicians and the community in the dark. Further, the District Board insists upon governing TCMC without regard for the Medical Staff’s concerns or opinions.

Many of the problems we face are nationwide problems. Rising unemployment is resulting in fewer elective surgeries all across the country. The growing numbers of uninsured have nowhere to turn for healthcare except the ER. Capital markets remain in turmoil. But Tri-City’s challenges are made even more daunting by the actions of the District Board. The Medical Staff believes that the Tri-City communities who rely on this community hospital deserve much better. We also believe that that the nurses, technicians and other medical professionals who help care for our patients deserve better.

The medical staff Ad Hoc committees have been busy. The communication committee is nearing completion of a new medical staff website that will facilitate timely communications among our members. The Future Agenda/ Finance Committee has investigated the benefits and risks of privatization, partnerships, and other ownership/management models. We have met with politicians, union leaders, friends and supporters of the hospital to share our concerns and to let them know that the physicians at TCMC are taking steps to insure that recent actions by the District Board do not affect the quality of care at Tri-City.

But we must do more. We are calling a special meeting of the General Medical Staff on Thursday, 3/12/2009 to discuss our options and to see if we can reach consensus regarding our next course of action. We will then publicly present our intentions to the District Board at their next meeting.

Your attendance at the March 12 meeting is very important. If the Medical Staff is to play a leadership role in this dilemma, we must have support from our physicians. Our goal on March 12 is to take steps that will eventually help right this ship and preserve the quality of healthcare at TCMC.