Mayor says he’s ‘in turmoil’ over hospital issue

He has been in contact with competing health care providers

By Ed Nadolski

Editor in Chief

Mayor Bob Miller admitted Tuesday that he’s lost sleep recently over Aurora Health Care’s decision to stop delivering babies at the local hospital.

He worries about the future of health care in his community and how the loss of the birthing center will impact Burlington.

And – having pledged to seek alternative health care providers for Burlington in the wake of Aurora’s decision – he worries about the impact of competition on the existing facilities and employees.

“That’s 600 lives we’re playing with here,” Miller said referring to Aurora, which just happens to be the city’s largest employer.

Counted among those 600 Aurora employees is his wife.

“It’s a delicate situation,” he conceded, adding that his “stomach is in turmoil” about the situation.

However, Miller remains committed to his notion that Burlington needs and deserves a full-service hospital, which means one that delivers babies.

“When relocating to an area, most young families look to see what health care is available,” he said. “If a young family can’t have a baby here, what’s stopping them from locating in Elkhorn instead.

“It’ll make it tougher for Burlington to compete.”

Miller was in attendance Monday when Vicki Lewis, president of Aurora Memorial Hospital of Burlington and Aurora Lakeland Medical Center in Elkhorn, spoke to the Rotary Club about Aurora’s decision.

“I think (the meeting) made it very clear they intend to close OB and that’s it,” Miller said.

The mayor sent a letter to Aurora’s corporate president seeking reconsideration of the decision in late November.

Since then he’s been in contact with at least two other health care providers to discuss their potential interest in providing service to Burlington.

Miller declined to offer further details of those discussions on the record, saying he preferred to give Aurora another chance to sell its plan. He is scheduled to meet with Lewis again next week to discuss the matter.

If, as expected, Aurora follows through with its decision to stop delivering babies locally, Miller will then be faced with some difficult decisions.

He said he intends to consult with community leaders one-on-one as he formulates his response.

“There are a lot of things weighing on my mind right now because of all the ramifications,” he said.

The overriding concern for Miller, however, is the continued delivery of services he sees as vital to the community.

Having expectant mothers and fathers driving 15 miles over rural roads to Lakeland Medical Center does not fit that model, he said.

“How many babies does it take to be born in a ditch along the highway to see that this decision is wrong,” Miller said.