A discussion on the future of Tallahassee Memorial Hospital isn’t over, but during a meeting on the issue Wednesday, most commissioners agreed they want the hospital to remain locally owned.
“We’re going to make sure this community understands that we’re together in this and we’re going to work to move forward to continue to make healthcare in our community, in our county, in our region be second to none," said Commissioner Curtis Richardson. "I can’t imagine a healthcare system in our community that is not locally run and owned and operated. I can’t imagine it.”
What locally owned means is not completely clear.
Right now, the city of Tallahassee owns the hospital's land and assets. Florida State University has expressed interest in purchasing the property. TMH says it wants a partnership with FSU but feels the hospital must remain under city ownership. However, TMH is asking the city to approve a change to its governance structure. That’s a move the healthcare entity says is important as it expands into North Florida.
Commissioners Jack Porter and Jeremy Matlow both signaled support for keeping TMH ownership under the city. Both also expressed frustration about how the item came before the commission with little warning for commissioners or the leadership team at TMH. But Porter says while she has "serious concerns about how we got here," she's glad to see the city having a conversation about public health.
"I want to see the city play a more proactive role in public health," Porter says. "We have so many great partners who are doing a lot of that work, and I certainly think the city could do more."
Mayor John Dailey says that's the discussion he was trying to foster when he and City Manager Reese Goad decided to put the item on the agenda. Dailey says after TMH asked the commission to review proposed changes to its lease agreement and governance structure, he thought an information item would be helpful since not many people are familiar with the relationship between the city and the hospital. And he says more questions remain to be answered.
"How are we moving forward together? What role does the city play?" Dailey asked. "75 years ago, we began the hospital, and we own the assets. Do you still believe we have a role in this vision or not? Is the expectation to divest the assets locally? Or maintain? These are big questions that impact healthcare in this community."
Dailey says all options could be on the table for discussion at the next commission meeting in April.
Meanwhile. The State University System Board of Governors, which oversees Florida's public colleges and universities, approved a proposal Wednesday from Florida State University to issue more than $413 million in bonds to build a hospital in Panama City Beach. That facility is part of a partnership between TMH and FSU. TMH is expected to run it under the "FSU Health" brand while the university owns it.
