Issues are occurring on the Key West hospital, which might be underneath new administration within the subsequent few years. Or the identical firm might nonetheless be operating the hospital, however underneath a revised lease settlement that’s extra suited to the neighborhood’s medical wants.
The yr 2029 brings the top of a 30-year lease underneath which the Tennessee-based firm Group Well being Methods, CHS, has operated Decrease Keys Medical Heart on Faculty Street, its affiliated medical doctors’ workplaces in addition to its psychological well being and substance abuse remedy facility on the former dePoo Hospital on Kennedy Drive.
Now, after greater than a yr, a gaggle of involved residents has satisfied the native hospital district board, whose members are appointed by the governor, to hunt proposals from completely different potential hospital operators who wish to run Decrease Keys Medical Heart slightly than merely renew the lease with CHS and be tethered to that firm for one more 30 years.
Thanks largely to the efforts of a residents fact-finding committee, led by residents Peter Batty, John Padget and Spencer Krenke, with involvement from Key West Metropolis Commissioner Sam Kaufman, the Decrease Florida Keys Hospital District Board agreed to rent consultants from Akerman, LLP to assist draft a Request for Proposals and search responses from corporations which might be involved in operating Key West’s hospital come 2029.
The present hospital operator, CHS, final yr pledged to make important investments in and enhancements to Decrease Keys Medical Heart, however provided that the board renewed its lease instantly, with out issuing an RFP or contemplating proposals from different entities.
At a gathering in March 2024, native“Why are they solely keen to place cash in when it comes time to resume the lease, when they need to’ve been keen to do it for the previous 4 or so years?” native Dr. Michael Klitenick mentioned at a gathering in March 2024.
The early lease renewal didn’t occur and CHS will now be welcome to submit a proposal in response to the RFP that can be issued early subsequent yr.
Proper now, consultants from Akerman are working with the hospital district board and with the fact-finding committee to start the method of drafting the RFP, which can set forth what companies and know-how the hospital operator should supply.
The ageing constructing on Faculty Street can also be a difficulty. A whole renovation or substitute of the power will doubtless be wanted, and the native hospital board will quickly rent an inspector to finish a structural and architectural survey and inspection of the premises that can be included within the RFP.
So, issues are occurring with the hospital, and potential “suitors” that wish to run Decrease Keys Medical Heart might be responding to an RFP within the subsequent six or so months.
Along with the present operator, CHS, different well being care entities which have expressed preliminary curiosity embody Baptist Well being, Mt. Sinai and Tampa Normal.For updates in regards to the hospital lease course of, go to ohkw.org. Our Hospital Key West is an advocacy group created by resident Spencer Krenke.