New chief of Memorial shares his concerns about impact of new Sutter hospital
During a meeting with The Press Democrat Editorial Board Tuesday, Kevin Klockenga, the new CEO of Memorial Hospital in Santa Rosa, said he was concerned that more of Sonoma County's uninsured and underinsured patients could end up at Memorial if Sutter is allowed to build a 70-bed hospital near Wells Fargo Center.
But how is that possible if Sutter is now operating at an average of 66 patients a day without, as Sutter CEO Mike Cohill contends, impacting other community hospitals? Sutter contends it is, in effect, already operating as a 70-bed hospital.
Klockenga (pronounced "Clock-en-gay") was careful in his answer to give credit to Sutter for caring for its share of the uninsured in the community, but here in a nutshell is what he had to say. The key is to look at Sutter's plans to drop medical/surgery beds from 91 to 20 and its proposal to reduce ICU beds from 16 to eight. While it's true that Sutter's average number of patients has dropped to less than 70, its average for medical/surgery beds is around 41 patients per day now, which means Sutter is preparing to build a hospital that only meets half its needs in that area.
The reason that is significant to the issue of uninsured patients is that last-minute, emergency surgeries are more likely to involve uninsured patients, mainly because those without health insurance tend to let a health problem advance to a critical stage before seeking help through an emergency room. Those with insurance tend to be the ones who have scheduled surgeries. And if a block of Sutter's beds are taken up by scheduled (insured) patients, those last-minute emergency (likely uninsured) cases may have to be diverted to other hospitals (such as Memorial.)
As it is, Memorial already takes care of half of Sonoma County's uninsured patients. Sutter has the next biggest share, while the communithy hospitals and Kaiser make up the rest.
In addition, Klockenga told us that in recent months Memorial "has seen a significant and steady increase in the number of uninsured patients." Part of this is a result of our archaic system of tying health insurance to employment. Lose your job and your child loses his doctor.
Finally, Klockenga also was skeptical about Sutter's plans to use perinatal beds as a backup when medical/surgical beds are taken. "Show me any hospitals that do that on a regular basis," Klockinga asked. "It seems good in concept, but it doesn't work very well. I've tried it."
Klockenga, formerly chief operating officer at Memorial, was appointed as interim chief after former lead George Perez stepped down in September. He was officially named as CEO in early March. Prior to coming to Sonoma County, he worked for three years as chief operating officer for Catholic Health Care West's two hospitals in Bakersfield.
- Paul Gullixson
Very deceptive! The fact is that Sutter Medical Center of Santa Rosa cares for SUBSTANTIALLY MORE of Sonoma County's uninsured and underinsured patients as a percentage of their census (payor mix). Kevin Klockenga's "spin" that somehow Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital is already caring for its fare share is appalling and lacks compassion (ironic coming frm a Catholic faith-based health system). Apparently, he is more concerned about Memorial's bottom line than the needs of the vulnerable and disadvantaged in our community.
Unfortunately Sonoma Joe, $$$$$ is the bottom line. To Mr. Klockenga's credit, it's difficult to maintain a hospital when a huge majority are not insured; therefore, how can the hospital afford to stay afloat??!! It's not about lack of compassion; no patient is EVER turned away for insurance needs, in fact insurance info. is only obtained after the patient has been seen by an MD.
Sutter is trying to do everything and anything the can possibly do to alleviate some of the freeloaders who use their hospital without looking like the Grinch.
I made a very serious mastake and went to Memorial Hospital in June. I was injured and needed medical help. I was asked about my insurance BEFORE the Dr. saw me. Which was a total of about 4 min. The experience has left me somewhat bitter regarding Memorial. Mr. Kevin Klockenga is so very wrong when he states that "the children" lose their DR. What about the adults that have lost their job, don't they also becjome unisured?. I will never again go to Memorial Hospital after the way I was treated. The Dr on staff was rude, sarcastic and seemed somewhat bitter. And being unisured they have charged me far above what I would have been charged had I been insured. Memorial you very much need to clean it up in the caring department!
I made a very serious mastake and went to Memorial Hospital in June. I was injured and needed medical help. I was asked about my insurance BEFORE the Dr. saw me. Which was a total of about 4 min. The experience has left me somewhat bitter regarding Memorial. Mr. Kevin Klockenga is so very wrong when he states that "the children" lose their DR. What about the adults that have lost their job, don't they also become unisured?. I will never again go to Memorial Hospital after the way I was treated. The Dr on staff was rude, sarcastic and seemed somewhat bitter. And being unisured they have charged me far above what I would have been charged had I been insured. Memorial you very much need to clean it up in the caring department!
Sutter had the contract with the County and gets County $$ based on that fact that they take the indigent. Can't cry after the fact that they get the business.