strongernow
05-20-2004, 09:05 PM
Milledgeville hospital might take over facility
By Gary Tanner
Telegraph Staff Writer
MILLEDGEVILLE - Georgia Department of Human Resources officials are considering an offer from Oconee Regional Health Systems Inc. to take over operation of health-care facilities at Central State Hospital as an alternative to closing the medical-surgical unit July 1 as planned.
"The department will make a decision in the next several weeks," DHR spokeswoman Xenia Wiggins said Wednesday.
Oconee Regional CEO Brian Riddle told Baldwin County Commissioners on Tuesday that time is quickly running out to complete a deal he said would save the state money and avoid crowding Milledgeville's community hospital with patients who would likely have to be segregated from others.
The 28-bed medical-surgical unit at Central State treats the hospital's residents and inmates from state prisons in the area who become sick, and is scheduled to be closed as part of widespread state budget cuts that take effect in the new fiscal year that begins July 1. Central State CEO Marvin Bailey said patients who would normally be treated there will have to go to Oconee Regional Medical Center.
"It'll be a challenge for Oconee," Bailey said. "But that's the direction we are going to have to go."
Riddle estimated the medical-surgical unit at Central State is running a deficit of $5.5 million per year, but predicted his company could have it operating at break-even within three to five years.
He urged commissioners to lobby the governor's office and other state officials to intervene and accept the health system's proposal to run the state facility. Riddle's remarks came at an annual joint meeting of commissioners and the health system's board.
"It's a situation that requires a political solution," he said. "If they let us solve this problem, we can solve it and do it well."
State House Speaker Terry Coleman, D-Eastman, said he supports Oconee Regional Health Systems taking over operation of the state facility.
"I think it's a terrific idea and hope the department will accept it," he said.
If the unit at Central State Hospital does close, it will likely cause crowding at Oconee Regional, Chief Financial Officer Jean Aycock said.
"We've told (state officials) there's not room to put all these patients," she said.
Riddle said hospital officials would likely have to reconfigure space in the hospital to separate the state patients from others in the 140-bed facility. The financial impact is unclear, he said.
County Commissioner Bobby Blizzard encouraged his fellow board members Tuesday to lobby the state to accept the Oconee Health System proposal.
"This sounds like we need to go to work, because this could be devastating for the county," he said.
By Gary Tanner
Telegraph Staff Writer
MILLEDGEVILLE - Georgia Department of Human Resources officials are considering an offer from Oconee Regional Health Systems Inc. to take over operation of health-care facilities at Central State Hospital as an alternative to closing the medical-surgical unit July 1 as planned.
"The department will make a decision in the next several weeks," DHR spokeswoman Xenia Wiggins said Wednesday.
Oconee Regional CEO Brian Riddle told Baldwin County Commissioners on Tuesday that time is quickly running out to complete a deal he said would save the state money and avoid crowding Milledgeville's community hospital with patients who would likely have to be segregated from others.
The 28-bed medical-surgical unit at Central State treats the hospital's residents and inmates from state prisons in the area who become sick, and is scheduled to be closed as part of widespread state budget cuts that take effect in the new fiscal year that begins July 1. Central State CEO Marvin Bailey said patients who would normally be treated there will have to go to Oconee Regional Medical Center.
"It'll be a challenge for Oconee," Bailey said. "But that's the direction we are going to have to go."
Riddle estimated the medical-surgical unit at Central State is running a deficit of $5.5 million per year, but predicted his company could have it operating at break-even within three to five years.
He urged commissioners to lobby the governor's office and other state officials to intervene and accept the health system's proposal to run the state facility. Riddle's remarks came at an annual joint meeting of commissioners and the health system's board.
"It's a situation that requires a political solution," he said. "If they let us solve this problem, we can solve it and do it well."
State House Speaker Terry Coleman, D-Eastman, said he supports Oconee Regional Health Systems taking over operation of the state facility.
"I think it's a terrific idea and hope the department will accept it," he said.
If the unit at Central State Hospital does close, it will likely cause crowding at Oconee Regional, Chief Financial Officer Jean Aycock said.
"We've told (state officials) there's not room to put all these patients," she said.
Riddle said hospital officials would likely have to reconfigure space in the hospital to separate the state patients from others in the 140-bed facility. The financial impact is unclear, he said.
County Commissioner Bobby Blizzard encouraged his fellow board members Tuesday to lobby the state to accept the Oconee Health System proposal.
"This sounds like we need to go to work, because this could be devastating for the county," he said.