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How Sweet It Is!
James
R. Teeter
President and CEO
Arkansas Hospital Association
As Jackie Gleason
undoubtedly would have said, How SWEET it is!
I speak of the November 7 general election when 65% of Arkansans
who went to the polls voted for Initiated Act 1, the blueprint
for spending our state’s share of the national tobacco settlement.
The plan, drawn up by the AHA and other members of the Coalition
for a Healthier Arkansas Today (CHART), ensures that 100% of Arkansas’
settlement ¾ about $62 million a year for at least 25 years ¾
will be spent on health-related projects rather than roads, bridges,
university retirement villages, and other needs and whims.
With Arkansas long rated at the bottom of most national health
rankings, the tobacco windfall could not be more wisely invested
than in health improvement. And we’re ecstatic that 502,348 Arkansas
voters recognized this fact. That’s more than voted for George
W. Bush (469,601), or Al Gore (417,914), or even Amendment 2 to
lower property taxes (499,712).
While some observers were surprised that more people voted for
a health improvement initiative than to reduce their property
taxes, we weren’t. After all, Arkansans have been voting in growing
numbers for increased sales taxes to help keep their financially-strapped
hospitals viable. Who said our priorities aren’t right?
For those needing a refresher course, the November 7 vote means
$100 million from the tobacco settlement will soon be placed in
a trust. Within 25 years, the trust’s earnings should self-sustain
the programs advocated by CHART. Those programs include $18 million
a year to be spent on tobacco prevention and cessation programs
at the local level where 30 kids began smoking for the first time
today. And where another 30 will start tomorrow. And another 30
the day after, and every day until CHART prevention programs take
hold.
Yes, tobacco prevention and cessation programs are badly needed
here in The Natural State where more than 5,200 of us die every
year from tobacco use. Where more than $500 million are spent
every year on tobacco-related medical expenses, much of which
is absorbed by hospitals providing care to patients unable to
pay. Tobacco prevention and cessation programs have succeeded
in Florida and other places, and they will succeed here.
Another essential component of the CHART plan is Medicaid expansion.
Using an average of $17 million a year in settlement funds, an
expansion of the state’s Medicaid program with eligibility guidelines,
limited benefits, co-pays, and deductibles will provide insurance
for thousands of the state’s currently working but uninsured poor.
Yet another $13 million a year will establish and operate the
Arkansas Biosciences Institute. It will foster research on tobacco-related
illnesses and identify new applications for agricultural- medical
development. Who knows what advances and cures for global ailments
may one day sprout at the Arkansas Biosciences Institute.
Indeed, we are proud ¾ and
so should you be ¾ that when CHART opinion polls showed 55%
of voters against or undecided about Initiated Act 1, you worked
through the perilous night before dawn’s early light to get the
measure across the goal line. Your leadership and all of your
"information" campaigns led to the casting of many thousands
of "FOR" votes by hospital employees, auxilians, trustees,
and medical staff members.
Until November 7, 2000, Arkansas’ 47,000-hospital employee "voting
block" had been viewed as a lethargic giant, often overlooked
— particularly by candidates for public office. It’s exhilarating
to witness the awakening of this giant, for it can become (nay,
must! become) a pivotal player in the politics that govern
us all.
Luther J. Lewis 2000-2001 AHA
Chairman
Luther J. Lewis, FACHE,
CEO of the Medical Center of South Arkansas (MCSA) in El Dorado,
was installed as the 69th chairman of the Arkansas Hospital Association
(AHA) board of directors during the AHA’s Annual Meeting and Trade
Show in Hot Springs. He succeeds Ross Hooper, president and
CEO of Crittenden Memorial Hospital in West Memphis.
Chief executive officer of the El Dorado facility since 1991, Lewis
has been in the healthcare field for 25 years. Prior to his arrival
in Arkansas, he was vice president of operations at Lake Charles
(Louisiana) Memorial Hospital, administrator of DeQuincy (Louisiana)
Memorial Hospital, administrator of Edinburg (Texas) General Hospital
and Waller County Hospital, Hempstead, Texas. He served an administrative
residency at Sharpstown Hospital in Houston.
During his nine years at MCSA, Lewis has overseen $25.8 million
in expansions, new development, and renovations including inpatient
rehabilitation, medical imaging, recuperative care relocation, cardiac
catheterization laboratory upgrade, one-day surgery, physical medicine
and rehabilitation, operating suites, intermediate care unit, and
exterior refurbishment. The hospital also added a Physician Hospital
Organization and a Management Services Organization.
Lewis has served on the AHA board for four years as representative
from the Southwest Hospital District before being elected chairman-elect
in 1999. He has participated on the Auxiliary Committee, the Council
on Government Relations, the Home Health Care Task Force, and the
AHA Worker’s Compensation Self-Insured Trust Board.
Lewis and his wife Dana are parents of Meredith, a nursing student
at UAMS, and Justin, a student at Pulaski Technical College in North
Little Rock.
When asked his philosophy of hospital administration, Lewis said,
"Hospital administration involves stewardship of personnel,
resources and facilities to assure that quality medical services
will remain locally accessible long-term. Open communication is
required among area residents, state and federal legislative representatives,
state and federal agencies, and all healthcare providers.
"The Arkansas Hospital Association is a great vehicle for networking
within the healthcare industry. It functions in a liaison capacity
between national and state associations and organizations, federal
and state legislative branches, and state agencies. The AHA is committed
to maintaining locally accessible healthcare and assuring that local
hospitals are in the best position possible to deliver services
in the most cost-effective manner."
Arkansas Newsmakers and Newcomers
Harry Stevens, retired
administrator of Bradley County Medical Center in Warren, has agreed
to serve as interim administrator while the hospital searches for
a successor for Ed Nilles, who resigned recently.
David Dennis has been named president of Carroll Regional
Medical Center in Berryville. He succeeded Rudy Darling who
resigned in May. Before moving to Berryville, Dennis was associate
administrator for Muhlenberg Community Hospital in Greenville, Kentucky.
Joe Riley has succeeded Richard Boone as CEO of Crawford
Memorial Hospital in Van Buren. Riley is a former chief operating
officer at the Medical Center of Southeastern Oklahoma in Durant,
and vice president for clinical services at Rio Grande Regional
Hospital in McAllen, Texas and Southwest Medical Center in Oklahoma
City.
Jason Spring has been named administrator of St. Vincent
Rehabilitation Hospital in Sherwood, succeeding Ronnie Sairls.
Spring has been regional director of development and managed care
for HEALTHSOUTH, and vice president for network development at Saline
Memorial Hospital in Benton.
Gareth Weeks has been named interim CEO of the new SemperCare
Hospital of Little Rock, a 37-bed long-term acute care facility
now under construction and scheduled to open by the end of 2000.
The hospital-within-a-hospital is housed on the campus of Baptist
Health Medical Center Little Rock.
Ed Hogan has been named administrator of DeWitt City Hospital.
He succeeds Joe Smith. Hogan was administrator of Beverly
Healthcare in Hot Springs for the past seven years.
Tammy Gavin, assistant administrator of White River Medical
Center in Batesville, was named C. E. Melville Young Administrator
of the Year during the AHA’s annual awards dinner October 11 in
Hot Springs.
Gary Bebow, administrator/CEO of White River Health System
in Batesville, was named Administrator of the Year for hospitals
over 100 beds by the Arkansas Hospital Auxiliary Association during
the AHAA annual meeting October 11. Jimmy Leopard, CEO of
Medical Park Hospital in Hope, was named Administrator of the Year
for hospitals under 100 beds.
AHA Elects New Board Members
At its October 10 annual
business meeting, the Arkansas Hospital Association House of Delegates
elected Robert R. Bash, administrator of Booneville Community Hospital,
to serve as the board’s chairman-elect for the coming year.
In addition, the membership ratified district representatives Bill
Sparks, chief operating officer of Saint Mary’s Regional Medical
Center in Russellville – Arkansas Valley District; Tim Hill, CEO
of North Arkansas Regional Medical Center in Harrison – Northwest
District; and Bob Atkinson, president and CEO of Pine Bluff’s Jefferson
Regional Medical Center – Southeast District.
Diana Ladmirault of Booneville succeeds Theda Aud as president of
the Arkansas Hospital Auxiliary Association, therefore becoming
its representative to the AHA board.
In Memoriam
Carl Yopp, retired
administrator of the Arkansas State Hospital in Little Rock, died
September 23. He was recipient of the Arkansas Hospital Association’s
1977 Distinguished Service Award. Funeral services were held September
26 in Bolivar, Tennessee.
Rex C. Ramsay, Jr., M.D., director of the Arkansas Department
of Health from 1974–1979, died at his Hot Springs home August 21.
He was 72. Among his many professional achievement awards was the
AHA’s Distinguished Service Award received in 1978. Funeral services
were held August 23.
Arkansas General Assembly to
Convene
The 83rd session
of the Arkansas General Assembly, which convenes January 6, marks
the first legislative session affected by term limits in both the
Senate and the House of Representatives. Of
the 35-member Senate, 15 members are new, 10 of which are former
House members. Of the 100-member House, which was hit by term limits
two years ago, 30 are new, with only one a former Senator. The most
experienced member in the House will have served only two two-year
terms.
The Arkansas Hospital Association looks forward to working with
the members of the 83rd Arkansas General Assembly.
Calendar
January 5, Little Rock
New CEO Orientation
January 5, Little Rock
CPT 2001 Coding Update
January 8, Little Rock
Arkansas General Assembly Convenes
January 19, Jonesboro
Arkansas Association for Hospital Engineering
February 1-2, Little Rock
American Hospital Association Regional Policy Board
February 15-16, Hot Springs
Healthcare Financial Management Association
March 2, Little Rock
Arkansas Patient Safety Initiative Conference
March 7, Little Rock
Compliance Forum
March 15, Little Rock
HIPAA: Implementation of Electronic Transaction Standards
April 19-20, Hot Springs
Healthcare Financial Management Association
April 27-May 1, Washington, D.C.
American Hospital Association Annual Meeting
Flu
Virus Detected in Arkansas
Dr. Sandra Snow, Medical Director for Communicable Diseases/Immunizations
for the Arkansas Department of Health notified the Arkansas Hospital
Association in late October that five counties in the state had
already reported positive antigen tests for influenza A. Dr. Snow
said this is the earliest date in many years that flu has been detected.
With the flu vaccine having been in short supply and arriving very
late, this could lead to an earlier than usual outbreak.
In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta
reported culturing two H1N1 flu viruses before the usual time for
flu outbreaks. While this year’s vaccine contains H1N1, the H1N1
strain hasn’t appeared in the U.S. in years, so no one is immune.
The prevalent flu virus last year was the H3N2 strain. Dr. Snow
advised that hospitals be prepared for a very severe flu season
this winter.
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