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Thursday, October 11, 2012

Health Care St. Vincent/UAMS merger Part II: the secrecy angle

Posted by Max Brantley on Thu, Oct 11, 2012 at 8:38 AM

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY: UAMS Melony Goodhand said some information about the public hospital couldnt be put in writing because of the FOI.

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY: UAMS' Melony Goodhand said some information about the public hospital couldn't be put in writing because of the FOI.

One more tidbit from Joann Coleman's unearthing of documents related to the idea to combine UAMS and St. Vincent into a single health-care system (UAMS' protestations to the contrary, Dr. Dean Kumpuris' characterization of a publicly supported hospital being operated by a Catholic group seems apt)

Here's a document that includes an e-mail (link corrected) from Melony Goodhand, vice chancellor at UAMS and the chief financial officer, to Clifford Stromberg, the Washington merger lawyer advising UAMS (without approval from the UA Board of Trustees). She writes in response to a list of questions he posed:

I will just answer the last two (during my meeting). Due to our freedom of information act we have no emails and little in writing about our plans. It is not wise for me to put them here to you.

And in a blended "nonprofit" merged hospital operated in part or in whole by Catholic Health Services, how much luck do you think Joann Coleman would have getting information?

Tags: St. Vincent Infirmary, UAMS

        
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Thursday, October 11, 2012

Health Care St. Vincent/UAMS merger Part II: the secrecy angle

Posted by Max Brantley on Thu, Oct 11, 2012 at 8:38 AM

Speaking of St. Vincent Infirmary, UAMS

Works to hang at the Psychiatric Research Unit. /more/

A friend notes a news article in the Arkansas Catholic and the coincidence of timing with discussions about a merger of clinical operations of the public University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and St. Vincent Infirmary. /more/

The morning again begins slowly. But among others: * MONITORING DOCTORS' PRESCRIPTION PRACTICES: Pro Publica has published with the Washington Post a deep look at doctors' prescription practices under Medicare. /more/

How is it possible that major and small bowel procedures at National Park Medical Center in Hot Springs cost $333,470, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, but only $19,740 at St. Bernard’s Medical Center in Jonesboro? /more/

Melony Goodhand, who left as chief financial officer and vice chancellor after nine years at UAMS, is apparently no longer chief operating officer at Bristol (Tenn.) Regional Medical Center, a job she took in early March. /more/

The unearthing of background discussions between UAMS and St. Vincent Health on combination of their operations in Little Rock continues through Freedom of Information Act requests. /more/

Merger negotiations between St. Vincent and UAMS, non-partisan elections, the race for the Republican nominee for governor and more — all covered on this week's show. /more/

When it was first rumored last year that the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences might turn its hospital over to the Catholic-run St. Vincent Health Services, UAMS said no, no, no, that wasn't in the plan. /more/

: Chancellor Dan Rahn has told staff that he's hired Bill Bowes, a Connecticut college CFO, to be the UAMS CFO. /more/

Devil's in the details, bishop says. /more/

Comments (14)

More by Max Brantley

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