Commissioners Asking for Answers From St. Mark’s

Fayette County Commissioners Court called for the leaders of St. Mark’s Medical Center to answer questions about the recent changes at the hospital.

Two weeks ago the hospital announced it was cutting many services in order to become a rural emergency hospital (REH) – a new designation under federal law that provides funding to financially- struggling hospitals that are facing closure. St. Mark’s laid off 64 employees – nearly half its staff – as part of the changes.

“This is going to be devastating to La Grange,” said County Judge Dan Mueller at the Commissioners Court meeting last Thursday, Feb. 23. “It’s going to be devastating for Fayette County. I’m talking about from a resident’s perspective, and yes, economically it’s going to be a tremendous drain.”

Pct. 4 Commissioner Drew Brossmann called for St. Mark’s Board Chairman Dudley Piland to appear at a future Commissioners Court meeting. Piland also sits on the board of Community Hospital Corporation (CHC), the organization that operates the hospital.

“Is there any way we could get him to come to one of our Commissioners Court meetings so he can address not only the Commissioners Court but also the County citizens?” Brossmann asked. “They’re putting us in a heck of a bind with their services.”

Pct. 1 Commissioner Jason McBroom, who also sits on the St. Mark’s Board, suggested inviting St. Mark’s CEO Mark Kimball as well.

“The best way to solve anything is to get everyone in the same room, and that hasn’t happened yet,” McBroom said.

The County donated $500,000 in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding to St. Mark’s in October of 2021. At the time, Kimball told Commissioners that the hospital would prioritize projects to “maximize this gift for the benefit of the citizens of Fayette County.” Furthermore, Kimball said at the time that the hospital would report back on how it used the money.

“I would think we have the right to ask some questions,” Brossmann said. “We gave them a pretty good chunk of ARP money that time and I would like to see if they used for what they said they were going to use it for. If not, where is that money at? I think we have the right to ask some questions since we funded them. I know we’re not over them. But I think the citizens deserve an answer about what’s going on.”

Mueller said he would also like the CEO of Community Hospital Corporation to attend the meeting.

“I don’t think Mr. Kimball is going to be prepared to answer our questions,” Mueller said. “I mean, control of this hospital is with CHC, am I correct?”

“No, you’re not,” McBroom said. “Control of the hospital is with the board. CHC is the managing company.”

“So the St. Mark’s Hospital board controls this hospital?” Mueller asked.

“Yes,” McBroom said. “And the CEO is Mark Kimball,” Mueller said.

“Yes,” McBroom replied.

“Then I agree, let’s get him over here, let’s do that at the next meeting,” Mueller said.

McBroom said he would ask Piland and Kimball to come to the next meeting, which should take place on March 9.

During the discussion, County resident Ron Briggs asked whether the leadership at St. Mark’s spoke to the County about their troubles before announcing the changes two weeks ago.

Mueller was about to respond when McBroom interrupted.

“They have, they have talked to you, Judge, don’t say they didn’t,” McBroom said.

McBroom said the hospital informed Mueller about the changes before they announced them. “Well, Mr. Piland came to talk to (La Grange Mayor Jan Dockery) and I individually,” Mueller said. “They requested that we not say anything.”

“It seems bizarre that they would not come and address your questions,” Briggs said.

“I would say this whole St. Mark’s Hospital in the last 10 or 12 years has been bizarre,” Mueller said.

Mueller said the failed vote in 2019 to establish a hospital district and possible property tax was due to the public’s confusion about the hospital.

“In my working life I’ve discovered that customers can handle good news and they can handle bad news,” Briggs said. “What the customer cannot handle is no news at all. It seems like what you guys got is no news, and certainly the citizens of the County got no news.”