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The mutual opposition is blocking one hospital's move and another's open-heart surgery center.
By JEFFREY S. SOLOCHEK, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published May 9, 2002
BROOKSVILLE -- Hernando HealthCare is trying one last time to pressure competitor HCA-Oak Hill Hospital to drop a challenge to its proposed relocation of Brooksville Regional Hospital.
The company, a division of Naples-based Health Management Associates, has launched an ad campaign that paints Oak Hill as the stumbling block to Hernando County receiving modern medical facilities.
It offers to drop its opposition to Oak Hill's open-heart surgery center if Oak Hill will stop its appeal of the new Brooksville Regional. The state Division of Administrative Hearings is to open a hearing on the relocation issue on June 3 in Tallahassee.
"I think a lot of people thought we were moving forward," said Tom Barb, Hernando HealthCare chief executive. "They didn't realize we were being stalled by HCA and Oak Hill. We decided it was time to correct the record."
Jaime Wesolowski, Oak Hill chief executive, rejected the accusation that his company has denied the county medical services.
"The companies were not able to reach any sort of mutual agreement or compromise" during several months of discussions, Wesolowski said. "That includes his company. It's not just HCA that is holding up progress."
He noted that HCA-The Healthcare Co. has not wavered in its position that the proposed site for Brooksville Regional, at State Road 50 and Wiscon Road, is not in the community's best health care interest.
"We are still contesting and still appealing the hospital relocation for all the reasons we have stated," he said.
The battle has not stopped Oak Hill from planning for its open heart center, Wesolowski added, so if the courts support its permit to open the center, time will not be lost.
Barb argued that it's pointless to keep wasting money on legal fees to fight over programs the state already has approved.
"We're now doing a disservice to Hernando County," Barb said. "HMA has agreed, we have gone on record (to say) just stop fighting us and we will stop fighting you. . . . We are trying to work together. Now it's time for HCA to respond."
The County Commission has adopted several resolutions urging the sides to drop their appeals, most recently on April 9. But the individual companies ultimately must decide what to do, Chairwoman Nancy Robinson acknowledged.
Wesolowski said he tried to convince his bosses to compromise, but in the end neither side could reach a deal. An ad campaign will not make the difference, he added.
Even so, Barb said, more ads will come, and his company will continue to prepare for the legal actions.
-- Jeffrey S. Solochek covers Hernando County government and can be reached at 754-6115. Send e-mail to solochek@sptimes.com.