Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1497584
26 CEO / STRATEGY The hospital CEOs throwing their weight behind gun safety efforts By Kelly Gooch I n the wake of shootings across the U.S., about 50 leaders of some of the nation's largest health systems and hospitals are pledging efforts to address gun violence. e leaders are members of the newly formed National Health Care CEO Council on Gun Violence Prevention & Safety, which is united to tackle the issue. Council members have signed the following promise: "Guns are now the leading cause of death for kids. is needs to change. As healthcare leaders, we pledge to use the collective power of our voices and resources to curb this epidemic, and make our communities safer for everyone." is pledge includes supporting public education and awareness campaigns, working with local violence intervention groups and pursuing research and other initiatives, according to a Feb. 28 news release. e council members, some of whom attended New Hyde Park, N.Y.- based Northwell Health's fourth annual Gun Violence Prevention Forum on Feb. 28, are: • Jason Little, president and CEO of Baptist Memorial Health Care (Memphis, Tenn.) • Tommy Ibrahim, MD, president and CEO of Bassett Healthcare Network (Cooperstown, N.Y.) • Richard Liekweg, president and CEO of BJC HealthCare (St. Louis) • Alastair Bell, MD, president and interim CEO of the Boston Medical Center Health System • Nancy Howell Agee, president and CEO of Carilion Clinic (Roanoke, Va.) • Marcel Loh, president and CEO of CHA Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center (Los Angeles) • Chris Durovich, president and CEO of Children's Health (Dallas) • Madeline Bell, president and CEO of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia • Kurt Newman, MD, president and CEO of Children's National Hospital (Washington, D.C.) • Peggy Troy, president and CEO of Children's Wisconsin (Milwaukee) • Janice Nevin, MD, president and CEO of ChristianaCare (Newark, Del.) • Steve Davis, MD, president and CEO of Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center • Tom Mihaljevic, MD, CEO and president and Morton L. Mandel CEO chair of Cleveland Clinic • Wright Lassiter III, CEO of CommonSpirit Health (Chicago) • Tina Freese Decker, president and CEO of Corewell Health (Grand Rapids and Southfield, Mich.) • Joanne Conroy, MD, president and CEO of Dartmouth Health (Lebanon, N.H.) • Catherine Jacobson, president and CEO of Froedtert Health (Milwaukee) • Robert Garrett, CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health (Edison, N.J.) • Jeffrey Flaks, president and CEO of Hartford (Conn.) HealthCare • Rob Allen, president and CEO of Intermountain Health (Salt Lake City) CEO issues plea to keep California hospital running By Andrew Cass G ary Herbst, the CEO of cash-strapped Kaweah Health, has turned to county leaders seeking help to keep the Visalia, Calif.-based hospital afloat, the The San Joaquin Valley Sun reported March 5. Mr. Herbst said he is open to various forms of help, according to the report. Ideas include a sales tax measure, a parcel tax and American Rescue Plan Act funding. He also sent a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom seeking an extension to the 2030 deadline for seismic compliance, which is expected to cost the hospital $730 million. Prior to the pandemic, the hospital had 140 days of cash on hand, according to the report. By the end of January, it had 73 days of cash on hand. Mr. Herbst told the Tulare County Board of Supervisors that number will continue to dwindle unless changes are made. Kaweah saw a $136 million operating loss from March 2022 through December 2022, largely due to lacking Medi- Cal and Medicare reimbursement, rising labor expenses, and rising pharmaceutical and medical supply expenses, according to the report. More than 130 employees have been laid off, according to the report. It has also closed a skilled nursing unit, an outpatient neurosurgery clinic and a diabetes education clinic. It also limited elective surgeries for Medi-Cal patients. Mr. Herbst said the layoffs and closures are part of a financial recovery plan, but there is no guarantee Kaweah will stay open without outside help. n