The Valley Catholic
community
February 3, 2015
19
Two Physician Leaders Weigh In on Daughters of Charity Health System Sale to Prime
By Brant Foreman, MD
and Jack Fisher, DPM
As a current president of the Saint
Louise Regional Hospital medical staff
and former president of the O’Connor
Hospital medical staff, we know people
put a lot of faith in their doctors. It’s a
relationship built on sacred trust, one
that should never be taken for granted.
The doctors of O’Connor Hospital
and Saint Louise Regional Hospital
find themselves in a difficult position
that threatens to break those precious
patient-physician relationships. It’s a
position brought on by the challenges
of caring for an underserved population
whose medical coverage isn’t fully reimbursed. Without the resources of an
outside buyer, O’Connor, Saint Louise
and the other Daughters of Charity
Health System (DCHS) hospitals are in
danger of declaring bankruptcy.
Fortunately, DCHS identified a
buyer experienced in rescuing hospitals facing severe financial challenges.
Prime Healthcare System, founded by
Dr. Prem Reddy, a well-regarded South-
ern California cardiologist, has turned
relationship to maintain wellness.
around 29 struggling hospitals. includSince the sale was announced in
ing 15 in California. Among their many
October, letters and petitions of supaccomplishments, Prime hospitals have
port have been pouring in to the atbeen recognized as among the top 100
torney general, who by state law has
hospitals in the nation 27 times by Truto approve a sale of a non-profit instiven Health Analytics.
tution to a for-profit entity. An online
Prime was selected by the DCHS
petition at Change.org alone has nearly
board of directors after
30,000 signatures. The sale
a lengthy and detailed
also has the support of the
evaluation process and
O’Connor Hospital and
‘The attorney
was simply the best bid.
Saint Louise Regional Hosgeneral needs to do
Prime pledged to keep
pital Medical Staff; the San
the right thing and
the Daughters of Charity
Jose and Gilroy Chambers
approve the sale to
hospitals open, continue
of Commerce; California
Prime Healthcare.’
the charity care mission,
Nurses Association and
honor all union contracts
SEIU 121RN; Mayor Sam
and invest $150 million
Liccardo, San Jose; Mayor
in capital improvements over the next
Don Gage, Gilroy, as well as thousands
three years. Prime Healthcare has also
of physicians across the state, many of
accepted 100 percent responsibility for
them affiliated with Prime hospitals.
the pensions of the more than 17,000
The only obstacles lying in the path
union and non-union workers.
of attorney general approval are the
The physicians of Saint Louise and
SEIU-UHW, a large hospital union
O’Connor hospitals met with Dr. Reddy
whose leadership is using the sale as a
and came away duly impressed by his
wedge issue in negotiations with existphilosophy of care – a physician-driven
ing Prime hospitals, and the County of
model relying on the patient-doctor
Santa Clara, which failed to win sup-
port for its purchase bid.
The bid for our two hospitals by the
county was deficient on many fronts. It
would have increased pension liabilities by hundreds of millions of dollars,
created disruptive issues related to
union contracts and mandated DCHS
file for bankruptcy to consummate
the sale.
As for the SEIU opposition, it makes
little sense given the jobs of many of
its members would be lost if the sale is
blocked and the hospitals close.
The truth: Prime is not just the best
option; it is the only option to keeping
our hospitals functioning and maintaining our long-established patient
relationships.
The Daughters of Charity hospitals
have a rich history in California – a
legacy worth preserving. The attorney
general needs to do the right thing and
approve the sale to Prime Healthcare.
Brandt Foreman, MD, is former president of the O’Connor Hospital Medical
Staff. Jack Fisher, DPM, is the current
president of the Saint Louise Regional
Hospital Medical Staff.
Lecture and discussion with Vatican astronomer Brother Guy Consolmagno
A lecture by Bro. Guy Consolmagno,
S.J., on his latest book, Would You Baptize
an Extraterrestrial? will be held on February 21 at 3 pm. at the Community School
of Music and Arts, 230 San Antonio
Circle, Mountain View.
The event is sponsored by the Thomas
Merton Center of Palo Alto (TMC). All are invited at
no charge; donations gratefully received to suppo