United Hospital System expressed interest in wake of Aurora’s decision to close O.B. department
By Ed Nadolski
Editor in Chief
Officials with United Hospital System of Kenosha and the City of Burlington are in talks that could lead to the construction of a second hospital in Burlington.
Mayor Bob Miller and Ric Schmidt, president and CEO of United, confirmed Tuesday the sides have met twice and are interested in pursuing further talks until they decide whether a new medical facility is feasible here.
The discussions are direct fallout of the recent decision by Aurora Health Care to close the obstetrics department at Aurora Memorial Hospital of Burlington.
Miller initially lobbied Aurora officials to reverse their decision, saying labor and delivery services are vital to the community’s health and prosperity. However, after Aurora declined citing sustainability issues, Miller followed through on a pledge to seek alternatives for the community.
It turns out he didn’t have to search far or wide.
Miller said a United Hospital System official contacted him after reading a story in this newspaper regarding his intentions.
Miller conceded Tuesday it was “not a direction I wanted to take, but for the betterment of the city and on behalf of its citizens I needed to seek alternatives.”
The mayor is now in the process of seeking business and community leaders to form a committee that will gauge the level of support for another hospital as well as its feasibility.
Miller said he’s most excited about the possibility of the community having a greater input in the services offered.
“It would be a hybrid community hospital with a local board of directors that would have a say in the operation of the hospital,” he said.
Both Miller and Schmidt stressed the discussions are preliminary, but they also expressed excitement over the possibilities for the city and United.
“We’re hopeful, but we’re looking at it from the perspective that we want what’s right for Burlington,” Schmidt said. “This is a non-pressure situation. We want both sides to feel good about going forward.”
About United
United Hospital system operates two hospital/clinic campuses – Kenosha Medical Center near downtown Kenosha and St. Catherine’s Medical Center on Highway 50 near Interstate Highway 94 – as well as four standalone clinics, including two in Kenosha and one each in Paddock Lake and Gurnee, Ill.
United has about 300 physicians, 80 of whom are system employees with the others independent contractors.
The hospital system, according to Schmidt, consists of three material partners: United (the former Kenosha Medical Center), which controls 67.5 percent of the operation; Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare, which accounts for 22.5 percent; and Froedtert Health of Milwaukee, 10 percent.
The affiliation with Froedtert enables United physicians to refer patients to the Milwaukee hospital for highly specialized treatments, Schmidt said.
United Hospital System is guided by a local board of directors, which, among others, includes the corporate leaders of Kenosha-based Jockey International and Snap On Tools, according to Schmidt.
He said that is the same model the system would follow if a facility is built in Burlington.
“We wouldn’t do it without (a local board),” Schmidt said. “That’s the only way we’d want to work in any community.”
The big question
While those who opposed Aurora’s decision to close the obstetrics department at Memorial Hospital are likely thrilled by the idea of health care competition in Burlington, the big question is whether the Burlington area can sufficiently support two hospitals.
Aurora is the state’s largest health care system and is Burlington’s largest employer with roughly 600 employees at four local facilities – Memorial Hospital, Burlington Clinic, Vince Lombardi Cancer Clinic and Aurora Wellness Center.
Mayor Miller said he is well aware of that fact and admits to moving forward with more than a little bit of trepidation.
Schmidt, who is well acquainted with Aurora – St. Catherine’s Medical Center is directly across Highway 50 from Aurora Kenosha Medical Center – said he sees this situation not in a competitive light but as an opportunity for United to grow.
“As the market changes, that area between I-94 and Burlington will grow,” he said.
But, Schmidt added, “We’re not aggressive. We want to be where folks want us to be.”
Adding a hospital in Burlington expands United’s potential patient pool and could allow the system to add doctors in sub-specialties that currently have just two physicians. Having three doctors, Schmidt said, reduces the amount of time each doctor must be on call and improves job satisfaction.
“It’s better for everyone – the doctors and the patients,” he said.
City’s role
Miller said he has been looking at several sites in the city that could accommodate a hospital, including at least one city-owned parcel.
The mayor envisions the city as simply a facilitator in the process, but said he’s aware some municipalities have gone as far as setting up public-private partnerships to ensure a sufficient level of health care for residents.
While that level of involvement doesn’t seem likely in this situation, Miller said it remains to be seen what the city’s role will be.
Schmidt said United is in a good position to consider facility expansion. The system will be debt-free by the summer of 2014.
Both Miller and Schmidt said the talks could lead to the conclusion that another hospital is not feasible in Burlington.
But that didn’t appear to dampen the enthusiasm both men expressed toward continued talks.
-
-
-
-
-
Compliments to the Mayor and His Fellow Staff..
Competiton is Way Overdue?
Seems to me, We need to take the Paul Ryan Approach towards Managing our Health Care , on being more Wiser on Spending our Health Care Dollars.
And that Includes Increasing Competition for our Medical Care.. having just One as a Monopoly is Not the Answer..
As well as Encouraging ( Going out to Sell The City) to attract More other Businesses to Come to the the area.. From More Resturants to A COSTCO to Compete with Wal Mart to a Host of Others..
Does the Mayor and or whomeve have a Compay /City Vehicle and Expense Account to do such a Job? If not, why not? What’s the Chamber of Commerance Doing to Attract New Business?
And Not Allow 1 Business to Dominate and Maybe even Influence Towns Growth.. Being a “1 Horse” town is not a Good idea..
Getting the Mayor (and as many others) , out representing the Town and Selling it to Attract Business is the key..
Of course, I’m sure there are others Who Do not want Growth and Expansion of it’s Town, seeing as a Major % of the Homeowners are Not Here year Round and want to keep the Area as their Summer Reprieve and Resort..
But, Consider this> If you are sending your Kids to College? Do you want them to Graduate and then Have to LEAVE the Area to Get a Better Paying Job, that are not available around here?
The Possibilites are Endless, if pursued by Good Open Minded , Growth Orientated , Sales Type People.. Selling all the Finer Things that the City and the Area Has to Offer..
If oyu want your Kids to Live here and raise their Families, Don’t think about You & Your Present Communities Needs, think about Your Childrens Needs for their Future.
And not a Bad idea to Influence a Better Retirement System for all Workers in the City and State to Be able to Retire by age 62, to open up those Jobs to The Next Younger Generations to Have them..
Ave $40k yr Incomes in the State, – $17k SS , one needs another $23k yr to retire on and That requires some $500k in savings to Draw 4% from it..
How many Will have that Kind of $ saved up by the time they are age 66, let alone age 62?
and to have that Min. $500k ? Have to be saving at Least $2,000 a yr + 2.5% more every yr thereafter for 40 yrs , making 7% apy
How many are doing at least that?
and If start Later than at age 25? Have to Save anothter est. $10/mo = $120 a yr More for every Yr older than starting at age 25.. ( Age 30, needs to be saving how much a yr? , try est. $2,600 a yr )
I bet, not too many in these parts ..?
and Is retirement Planning even Discussed in our High Schools for our Seniors to Be Made aware of?
Getting into the Medical Profession is One Answer to the problem of Getting a Decent Paying Job and Career.. and expansion of Having More Medical Businesses In the Community is a Solution..
How many Of the Medical Staff comes from Other Towns, Cities and Counties and even From Illinois to work here?
Over 70% of the One’s I met being a Patient…
I think this would be wonderful . I live in union grove and have crohns disease for the last 20 yrs so I go to the ER many times. so having another chice so close to home would be great. im closer to Burlington than racine and the reputation burlinngton has got over many yrs. I think a lot of people will welcome a new hospital
Here is a good idea for an alternate to Aurora!
http://wdtprs.com/blog/2013/03/a-newold-model-for-catholic-health-care-an-interesting-small-clinic/
Hi, I think a new hospital would be good, my cousin is expecting a baby in September she don’t drive, she’s depressed about Auroras decision and I think there should be more stores out here, we have 10,000 people out here, Lake Geneva less people but they have more stores Target, BestBuy pet co OfficeMax and a lot of others and its really hard to get to these places if you don’t drive. there should be a dmv out here to I get frustrated about this because I want to learn how to drive but there’s no 1 to help me and plus there should be a homeless shelter for men there’s not just for woman and children