According to the Birmingham Business Journal, Gov. Robert Bentley boosted the number of physicians on the State Health Coordinating Council and Certificate of Need review board by 13 physicians. Five of these physicians start their service on the nine-member CON board this week. This is the first time that physicians have held a majority on the CON board which must have at least three health care consumers, three health care providers, and three at-large choices at the governor's discretion. An important thing to note is that current hospital administrators and representatives of the Alabama nursing home industry are absent from this board, while it is hospitals and nursing homes that propose most of the projects seeking approval from the CON board.
I realize that it is important to get the perspective of physicians when it comes to planning, building, clinical issues and opportunities, but why not have a variety of background on the boards? According to Steve Preston, vice president of external affairs at Brookwood Medical Center, and former CON and SHCC board member, “the higher number of physicians and lack of hospital administrators will not be a cause for concern for hospitals when they approach the board for CON approval for construction in the future.” The only health care administration experience on the CON board is Dr. Bob Sheppard from Tuscaloosa who is licensed to practice internal medicine and formerly worked as a hospital administrator at Pickens County Medical Center.
I ask you this FHLA members, what are your feelings on the lack of diversity on the CON board and how could it affect future proposals?
I realize that it is important to get the perspective of physicians when it comes to planning, building, clinical issues and opportunities, but why not have a variety of background on the boards? According to Steve Preston, vice president of external affairs at Brookwood Medical Center, and former CON and SHCC board member, “the higher number of physicians and lack of hospital administrators will not be a cause for concern for hospitals when they approach the board for CON approval for construction in the future.” The only health care administration experience on the CON board is Dr. Bob Sheppard from Tuscaloosa who is licensed to practice internal medicine and formerly worked as a hospital administrator at Pickens County Medical Center.
I ask you this FHLA members, what are your feelings on the lack of diversity on the CON board and how could it affect future proposals?