The current lease with the clinic expires in 2027. The lease
obligates the Clinic to provide very specific services through out the term of the lease.
The question to be
asked and ultimately answered is: What should a community based health care
service and facility look and behave like in 2028?
The compelling issues to ponder include:
- Who will pay and how much will be paid and for what service?
- How will technology continue to change the health care and medical delivery systems?
- What trends are apparent today that render systems built in the last century obsolete?
(For example, pharmaceuticals have minimized the need for heart bypass surgery. Hip replacements are soon to be done on an outpatient basis. early diagnostics will make prevention the focus rather than intervention(sick in bed).
Once we understand these trends and their implications, we must identify strategies to be implemented to address them.
This will not be quick nor easy. It will be very interesting and very important to our community and citizens.
We will begin to address all of these issues and questions in 2013. This Fall,
the Hospital Trustees will be shaping a framework to lead us to the best
solution for Lakewood. Citizens will be engaged in a thoughtful manner.
I believe it is appropriate to begin this thoughtful and complex journey while time is our ally.
