Lee Memorial Health System Meeting-Messy-But Effective

Patrick Comer

Clement Richard Attlee, British Prime Minister from 1945-1951 once said “Democracy means government by discussion, but it is only effective if you can stop people talking.” His words came to life in a public meeting today where there was plenty of talking. But, unfortunately it is a public meeting virtually no public ever attends. Quick now, can you name one elected official to the board responsible for public health care at hospitals in Lee County?

The Lee Memorial Health System’s Governance Committee of the Whole Committee, (say that fast three times) met this afternoon at 1:00pm. In a marathon meeting the ten elected members talked mostly about when to meet and how often to meet. It was democracy at it’s messy best.

Motion after motion was made and tabled on whether to meet at 1:00pm or 3:00 pm., or 4:00 pm. When a motion was presented to meet at 3:00pm long-time member Frank T. La Rosa threw up his hands. “I’m disgusted with the bunch of you. I’m mad. We’re like a bunch of babies here.”

Sour grapes? Keep reading. The truth is, La Rosa is a court volunteer who supervises and mentors children who have been abused. He has to be in Lehigh Acres at 5:00 pm to help these kids. Many of the hospital board meetings easily go two hours or more. He would have to make a choice if all the meetings were moved to 3:00 pm. The board or the childen. Which would you choose? La Rosa made it clear he would choose the kids and be forced to resign from the hospital board if every meeting was moved to 3:00 pm.

On the other end of the meeting time discussion is long-time board member Linda Brown, an Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner. While La Rosa is retired, Ms. Brown is still a practicing Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner. “I have patients in my office right now waiting,” she said after the meeting had gone on more than two hours. “These meetings never used to go on this long. Can’t we meet at 4:00 pm?”

Enter Governance Committee Chairwoman Lois Barrett who has also served on the board for many years. “If we meet at 4:00 pm it will be dark by the time we leave. I can’t drive at night. I will have to resign.”

Someone suggested meeting at night so more of the public could attend. The public is not going to attend if we move it to nights another noted. Someone else commented on the cost of overtime for some LMHS employees.

“I’ve been all over this country,” said La Rosa. “I’ve never seen a board like this.” The board meets nearly every week now, either in committee or as a full board. Board member Marilyn Stout agreed. “We put in a huge amount of time.”

The solution came in a compromise. Full board meetings will continue to be held at 1:00pm, and Planning Committee and Governance Committee meetings will alternate their meeting and meet at 3:00 pm.

Noted British statesman and philosopher Edmund Burke (1729-1797) said, “All government…indeed, every human benefit and enjoyment, every virtue and every prudent act…is founded on compromise and barter.” Most would agree, democracy may not always be pretty, but it beats moving to Cuba.

Other Matters

The Board agreed to issue a proclamation on behalf of Horace Smith. Smith was the first-ever county-wide elected African-American politician in Lee County. Smith passed away last week. He served on the LMHS Board of Directors from 1980-1988. “He loved public service,” said LMHS President and CEO Jim Nathan. “Horace was truly here to represent the people. He focused on decorum in meetings.”

“He paved the way for other African-Americans in Lee County,” said James Green, a current board member. “Horace was a mover and a shaker.”

In other business, Charles Swain, Chief Compliance and Internal Audit Officer presented a detailed report on the Surge in Regulatory Enforcement, and LMHS’s effort to comply during the 4^th quarter. Dr. Linda Brown was pleased with the progress. “We are making changes,” she said. She called Swain’s efforts a form of surge protection against the explosion of regulatory enforcement now going on across the country.

The board also discussed improving evaluation forms for hospital staff, including President and CEO Jim Nathan, and developing greater clarity on board member duties.