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The leaders of Oak Hill and Brooksville Regional meet and agree to work out a compromise.
By JEFFREY S. SOLOCHEK, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published February 5, 2002
SPRING HILL -- Hernando County's top two hospital executives have heard the call for compromise, and took steps Monday to make it happen.
Oak Hill Hospital chief executive Jaime Wesolowski and his Brooksville Regional Hospital counterpart, Tom Barb, met for about 30 minutes to seek a middle ground that might allow Oak Hill's open heart surgery center and Brooksville Regional's relocation to move ahead unchallenged.
Both projects have won state approval, but the speed at which they can progress hinges on what could become lengthy appeals by their competitors.
"We've got some ideas we're going to bounce off our companies," Barb said. "It won't be just our individual decisions. We hope to influence it in a positive way."
The possibility for a "win-win" situation exists, Wesolowski said, if the higher-ups at HCA-The Healthcare Co. and Health Management Associates accept the proposals. He acknowledged that attempts to deal failed last year because of skipped meetings, rejected offers and general rancor.
"We're trying to do better than that," Wesolowski said. "Tom and I agreed to get back together at the end of the week, on Friday, to see what we can do."
Neither would describe the possibilities they discussed, saying they preferred to brief their corporate bosses first. And neither would guarantee a positive outcome. Still, both deemed the meeting "encouraging."
"At least we got up from the table, shook hands and agreed to try to compromise," Wesolowski said.
Last week, county commissioners urged Barb and Wesolowski to stop the appeals and let each project move ahead. Each company has said that, unhindered by outside influences, it could begin construction before summer.
"Deep in your hearts, you both know that these projects will be built sooner or later," Chairwoman Nancy Robinson wrote in a letter to the two. "The goodwill from Hernando County and our residents that you will reap from such an action far outweighs any minor victories you may score in the skirmish over these certificates."
Commissioner Betty Whitehouse called the news of Monday's meeting "wonderful."
"I really am in hopes their corporate offices will realize how important it is for them to be responsive to the needs of the community," Whitehouse said.
Barb said he recognized the weight of such feelings from throughout the county. The reasons for appealing the certificates of need are real from the business perspective, he said, "but at the same time, I think the county has gone through enough on our issues."
"We live here," Barb said. "We want to do what's in the best interest of the county."
-- Jeffrey S. Solochek covers Hernando County government and can be reached at 754-6115. Send e-mail to solochek@sptimes.com.