Stevens, Swedish talks are extended
Published 10:38 pm Monday, March 2, 2009
EDMONDS — The Stevens Hospital board has decided to take more time — up to six months — to consider a business partnership with Seattle’s Swedish Medical Center.
The board also asked that someone outside the hospital administration be appointed to represent Stevens in its negotiations with the Seattle hospital.
Talks between the two organizations began in October. Last week, about 20 physicians urged the five-member, publicly elected hospital board to take action quickly on a potential new business partnership with Swedish.
At the time, hospital officials said that a decision could be made in 60 to 90 days.
However, during a meeting Friday evening, the hospital board decided to allow more time to come to a decision.
Some board members said they felt that discussions on the business relationship had changed direction from what was talked about in October.
“I think we took a major bend in the road,” said board member Bob Meador. A management agreement is being now considered without a promise of financial backing.
“There’s no dollars being shared at this point,” he said. “It’s strictly having Swedish come in and say they’re affiliated with us, more than they are right now.”
The proposed management services “might be a chief operating officer and maybe a head of nursing,” he added.
Meador said he felt some agreement between the two organizations will likely be worked out, but he did not want to feel pressured to decide quickly.
Board member Kimberly Cole said she wants the public to know about the proposed changes in the hospital that board members are considering. “The public has to see what we’re contemplating,” she said.
Someone who is not a member of the current administration will be appointed to represent the hospital in its ongoing discussions with Swedish, Cole said.
Mike Carter, the hospital’s chief executive, and Jack Kirkman, a vice president, have been representing the hospital in its talks with Swedish so far.
Collaboration between the two health-care organizations dates back to the 1990s. Swedish now has 13 employees working at Stevens’ cancer center and 25 employees at its heart center.
Board member Fred Langer said he’s optimistic that an agreement can be worked out with Swedish, calling it “what I genuinely believe is one of the best health-care providers in the Northwest.”
Stevens Hospital is a public, taxpayer-supported hospital that opened its doors in 1964.
The taxing district includes property owners in Edmonds, Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, Brier, Bothell and parts of unincorporated south Snohomish County.
An informal community meeting to discuss the future of Stevens Hospital is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday at the Lynnwood Blueridge Fire Station, 18800 68th Ave. W. Participants include Stevens Hospital board members Cole and Meador, County Councilman Mike Cooper, and Edmonds City Council President D.J. Wilson.
Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486, salyer@heraldnet.com.
