Opinion: Tampa General's rehabilitation

After losing tens of millions of dollars since going private in 1997 under the scorched-earth leadership of then-president Bruce Siegel, Tampa General has begun to make a profit, rehabilitate its image and repair important political bridges.

President Ron Hytoff understands what Siegel never did; plenty of people in town were born at Tampa General. The community takes a paternal interest in its success. They want the hospital downtown, accessible to the poor and focused on providing medical care, not fanning political intrigue.

Since taking over last year, Hytoff has put in place a solid management team, improved employee morale, upgraded accounting systems and reached out to political leaders who play a role in keeping the hospital viable. He has responded to the needs of physicians who practice there. Hytoff's able management has helped Tampa General avoid negative press, given confidence to the medical staff and allowed the institution to focus its energy on medical excellence.

Tampa General's governing board waited too long to replace Siegel, and the fight it waged over secrecy did nothing to advance the hospital's interests. It will take years for Tampa General to recover. But Hytoff's tone and candor are a remarkable change from the bungling and arrogance of recent years. The hospital should continue taking this approach. For the first time, people are not rehashing privatization; they're trying to make it work.

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