With Stormont-Vail’s proposed surgical facility apparently reaching a discussion stage with Emporia city government this fall, City Manager Trey Cocking has asked Newman Regional Health administrators to reopen mediated conversations with their counterparts in Topeka — although, following the hospital’s response, he says an agreement on medical services by mid-September is the big deal regardless of whether mediation is used.
In a letter dated July 19, Cocking said it is the city’s hope both sides can reach an agreement regarding local healthcare needs and a potential expansion by Sept. 13. Should that not happen, Cocking says commissioners will consider Stormont’s request “without the benefit of a joint recommendation.” Cocking also says a joint plan will “help ensure a future of sustainability and growth for both organizations and the community.”
Cocking’s letter to Newman Regional administrators says the city expects an annexation request from Stormont-Vail later this year after Stormont purchased land at the southeast corner of Roads 180 and G, just outside the Emporia city limits. Cocking also says development discussions are likely afterward.
The hospital’s leadership team and board have responded with a letter dated July 26, saying its decision to end mediated conversations July 12 reflected Stormont’s decision not to uphold a “stand down” agreement past June — meaning a likely impasse — as well as mediator comments the process hadn’t gotten as far as hoped towards a resolution. The hospital says conversations continue between Newman Regional CEO Cathy Pimple and Stormont-Vail Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Tracy O’Rourke “outside the confines of formal mediation.”
Newman Regional Health maintains approval of Stormont-Vail’s annexation request without regard for duplicated services would “undermine efforts toward genuine collaboration,” set up unneeded duplication of medical services, reduce access to services and programs, “contradict our shared goals” and increase the Lyon County tax burden. It also says a decision to resume mediation brings up several questions, including expectations, the definition of a multi-party development plan, whether the city would include a third-party expert in rural health care as part of the conversation and whether a second round of mediation is needed so Stormont-Vail won’t have automatic approval of its potential zoning requests.
Newman Regional Health’s Board of Trustees and the Emporia City Commission will have separate meetings over the next week. The hospital board’s next meeting is Wednesday at the hospital. Emporia city commissioners have their next regular meeting slate Aug. 7. The hospital has asked to be included in the next City Commission meeting.
The text of both letters can be found below.
Letter from Emporia City Manager Trey Cocking to Newman Regional Health
Dear Ms Pimple and Esteemed Board Members,
I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to urge Newman Regional Health to reconsider its decision to discontinue mediation efforts with Stormont-Vail regarding the expansion of healthcare facilities and services in Emporia.
The City of Emporia expects to receive an annexation request from Stormont-Vail. Development discussions between the City and Stormont-Vail will likely follow. Newman Regional Health has an opportunity to participate in the planning process for Stormont-Vail’s proposed expansion of medical services and facilities by re-engaging in mediation.
Healthcare experts are the ones best suited to create a plan to meet the healthcare needs of our community. A joint plan between Newman Regional Health and Stormont-Vail will help ensure a future of sustainability and growth for both organizations and the community.
It is our hope that NRH and Stormont-Vail will negotiate an agreed plan for expansion of healthcare services by September 13, 2024, which the City Commission may consider in their decision-making process. If no agreement is reached by that date, the City will proceed to consideration of any request from Stormont-Vail without the benefit of a joint recommendation.
We value the leadership and expertise that Newman brings to this initiative and believe that a collaborative effort will best serve the needs of our community.
In addition, John Toniger is willing to mediate these conversations as he has done previously. The City will continue to cover his costs with the expectation that he will provide regular updates to the City and County.
I appreciate your attention to this matter. Please let me know at your earliest convenience of Newman Regional Health is willing to resume mediated discussions with Stormont-Vail. The City feels that it is of the utmost importance that a development agreement include the input from Newman and Lyon County.
Sincerely,
Trey Cocking, City Manager
Letter from Newman Regional Health administrators to City of Emporia
Dear Members of the Emporia City Commission and Mr. Cocking,
In the present day, Emporia’s healthcare delivery system stands at its peak, offering the best services ever.
When we think about the future of healthcare in the greater Emporia area, we share the same vision. Moving forward involves a collective effort to identify our points of agreement, define our common aspirations, and advance together.
*We concur that our mutual objective should be to strive for the highest standard of health care in our community. This entails ensuring access to top quality services and a diverse range of options available as close to home as possible.
*We are in accord that it is crucial for the city and county government to collaborate with the Hospital to support and improve healthcare services in our community. While we value competition and the freedom to choose, we must also acknowledge the well-documented reality that unnecessary duplication of services in a rural health setting poses a significant risk to healthcare delivery capacity.
*We acknowledge that healthcare delivery in Emporia (i.e., Newman Regional Health, Crosswinds, CareArc, Central Care Cancer Center, Cotton O’Neil Clinic, and other private practices) is collectively attending to record numbers of patients and generating revenues allowing continued investment back into the health and well-being of our Emporia community.
*Providing service on the Hospital campus offers significant benefit to patients. The best possible access to healthcare is a shared goal, and proximity is a vital component of patient access.
*The healthcare industry is constantly changing, and many improvements have been made in the decades-long history of the medical office building. Looking forward, new investment will continue to be necessary to meet the evolving needs of our community.
*Newman Regional Health, as landlord, is committed to providing tenants with sufficient space and a welcoming environment. Key mutual objectives include optimal workflow, integrated technology, comfort and safety for both patients and providers, flexibility to adapt to changing needs, and cost affordability.
*We agree that local control is best, and healthcare experts are most equipped to devise plans that address the health care requirements of our community. We also agree that strategic clinical relationships are essential for the future sustainability and growth of our high-quality local healthcare.
*We concur that the healthcare sector, both in general and particularly our Hospital, has been a key contributor to the economic expansion and prosperity of Emporia. Newman Regional Health currently employs over 600 individuals with an average annual wage surpassing $75,000. Over the past five years, the Hospital has invested millions of dollars in capital enhancements, cutting edge equipment, technology, and staff development. If Emporia values and works with NRH, as we should with all major employers, growth and investment will certainly continue. Newman Regional Health is putting into action ambitious plans to further enhance healthcare services locally well into the future.
*We recognize that within the competitive primary care healthcare sector, Newman Regional Health’s market share has been steadily expanding, leading to Newman Regional Health’s ability to make new investments adding local providers and services, state-of the art equipment, and facilities benefiting outpatient, inpatient, and emergency services. These endeavors have not only added value but also enhance access to care and essential services for all residents in the Emporia area.
With these shared aspirations, how can we take the next best step forward?
Recent months have highlighted areas of deficiencies in trust and shortcomings in communication that require our dedicated efforts to resolve.
We appreciate the City’s desire to bring our local government leadership and both Newman Regional Health and Stormont Vail Health back together to establish a plan which ensures future healthcare sustainability and growth for our community.
It’s important for us to communicate the reasons why Newman Regional Health agreed to end the previous mediated sessions. The decision to end mediation was not a decision to abandon continued discussions and collaboration.
Newman Regional Health agreed to end the mediation process on June 12th due to the stance taken by Stormont Vail Health during the last mediated session. On June 5th, it was communicated that Stormont Vail Health would not uphold the “stand down” agreement beyond the end of June. Realistically this would have only allowed one more meeting. As noted in the recap by the mediator, his “hope had been for us to make more progress than we did at our June 5th session and maybe even develop some momentum going forward.” It was clear we would reach an impasse under Stormont Vail Health’s timeline.
After the decision on June 12th, Tracy O’Rourke and Cathy Pimple had a conversation that evening which resulted in a mutual agreement to continue discussions without a mediator. Both Stormont Vail Health and Newman Regional Health acknowledged that there was no necessity to continue utilizing tax dollars from the City of Emporia for further communication. While the mediator was professional and adept, he also recognized his limited contribution to the process. As stated by the mediator through email correspondence:
*”I have been given the green light to stay involved as mediator to help shepherd this along. I am hesitant to butt in if not needed or if the process might run smoother if I’m not involved. No offense taken either way – just let me know – if you’d like me to stay in the mix or not.” (April 17th)
*”My participation has been limited once I get everyone in the room together.” (April 26th)
*”I’m just going to throw this out to you as I have found our discussions of late are getting into specifics that are outside my skill set. You and Tim are comfortable dissecting these topics, and of course, this is what Cathy and Tracy do every day. Do you want to keep me involved in the process or would you guys feel comfortable meeting on your own? I’m not bailing out on you all, but I’m concerned that I may not be bringing a lot of value to the table. Let me know your thoughts (and Cathy’s as well).” (June 5th)
Given the aforementioned communication, it was decided that the next prudent step would be for Stormont Vail Health and Newman Regional Health to continue their discussions outside of the confines of formal mediation. Following a long-standing tradition of communication, Tracy O’Rourke and Cathy Pimple have remained in touch through phone calls, emails, text messages, and in-person meetings.
Moving forward, we appreciate your continued recognition that healthcare experts are the most qualified individuals to develop a plan that caters to the needs of our community. Building trust and achieving successful plans for alignment and integration is a gradual process that thrives when not rushed by tight deadlines. Genuine collaboration and understanding require time to cultivate and the intricacies of healthcare are vast. Healthcare experts recognize that creating a successful plan often requires 18 to 24 months of careful development.
If the City of Emporia approves Stormont Vail Health’s request for annexation without regard to duplication, it will undermine efforts toward genuine collaboration and pave the way for unnecessary duplication. This outcome would contradict our shared goals and would result in a reduction of access to crucial services and programs. Furthermore, it would place a heavier tax burden on the residents of Lyon County. Lastly, we should consider the wider impact it would have on the greater Emporia and Lyon County community.
The City of Emporia has the authority and opportunity to secure the future sustainability of healthcare in our community. This can be achieved by deciding against annexing Stormont Vail’s property into the city and imposing a moratorium to allow the necessary time required to collaboratively develop a plan and adopt the proposed zoning text amendments.
Our legal counsel has been asked to review and respond to the letter dated July 19 from Mr. Cocking. We anticipate you will be receiving their feedback next week.
The Newman Regional Health Board of Trustees is requesting complete transparency and the opportunity to discuss and examine the documents exchanged during mediation with the City and County Commissioners. We believe that these documents will show a sincere effort to find a way forward that improves healthcare and benefits Emporia.
We would like to make decisions with our key stakeholders in transparent settings. We believe it is of utmost importance that individuals leading Emporia and Lyon County, who hold the responsibility for shaping sound policy, have all the relevant information.
The decision to re-engage in mediation raises several important questions.
*What is the expectation of mediation?
*What is a multi-party development plan?
*Would the City of Emporia be amenable to a third-party expert in rural healthcare participating in the planning development under mediation?
*Can representatives from local government and the community participate in the planning development under mediation?
*Is the reality that if Newman Regional Health does not further mediation, Stormant Vail Health will have all their zoning and use requests approved by the City of Emporia?
Therefore, we respectfully request Newman Regional Health be included in discussion of the topic planning development and mediation at the upcoming City Commission meeting on August 7, 2024, or at an alternative appropriate time.
Sincerely,
Newman Regional Health Governance and Leadership
