Approved:       March 23, 2007          

Date

MINUTES OF THE HOUSE GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY AND TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE

The meeting was called to order by Chairman Jim Morrison at 3:30 P.M. on March 13, 2007, in Room 526-S of the Capitol.

All members were present except Representatives Tafanelli and Kelley, both of whom were excused.

Committee staff present:

Mary Galligan, Kansas Legislative Research

Tatiana Lin, Kansas Legislative Research

Renae Jefferies, Office of Revisor of Statutes

Gary Deeter, Committee Assistant

Conferees appearing before the committee:

Dr. William Reed, Clinical Professor and Chairman, Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, University of Kansas Hospital Authority

Dr. Gregory Ator, Associate Professor and Chief Medical Information Officer, University of Kansas Hospital Authority

Dr. Louis Wetzel, Professor of Radiology, University of Kansas Hospital Authority

Dr. William Barkman, Associate Professor, Internal Medicine, University of Kansas Hospital Authority

Others attending:

See attached list.

The Chairman welcomed Dr. William Reed, Clinical Professor and Chairman, Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, University of Kansas Hospital Authority (KUH), who introduced the remaining conferees.

Dr. William Barkman, Associate Professor and Chief of Staff, Internal Medicine, University of Kansas Hospital Authority, referenced a letter the KU Hospital physicians wrote to Senator Barnett (Attachment 1) and then reviewed the concerns of the physicians regarding the imminent affiliation of the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC) with St. Luke’s Hospital in Missouri (Attachment 2). He stated that the KUH’s ranking among the nation’s 130 academic hospitals has improved from 30th to 11^th in quality of care, and the Hospital recently achieved the 99^th percentile on the Press-Ganey Patient Satisfaction survey. Noting that the Hospital last year provided $130 million in uncompensated care, 18% of which patients were Missouri residents, he said a survey of KUH physicians showed overwhelming opposition to an affiliation with St. Luke’s Hospital.

Dr. Louis Wetzel, Professor of Radiology, University of Kansas Hospital Authority, continued the presentation by reviewing the level of excellence the KUH has achieved in recent years, calling it a “dramatic turnaround” reflected by the enthusiasm of the staff for quality care, research projects, and clinical excellence, achievements which make the Hospital a significant competitor in the Kansas City area. Addressing the importance of titles, he explained that St. Luke’s Hospital wants stronger academic credentials and is willing to pay $105,000 per resident to gain access to KU students, in the process giving St. Luke’s faculty access to unmodified academic titles, which may or may not reflect merit or commitment. Answering a question, Dr. Wetzel agreed that KUMC seemed to be selling its integrity and neutralizing the KUH brand identity. He added that the KUH physicians have been bypassed in the decision-making process.

Dr. Gregory Ator, Associate Professor and Chief Medical Information Officer, University of Kansas Hospital Authority, continued the presentation, commenting that KUH should be the lead hospital in achieving the National Cancer Institute (NCI) designation and that affiliation with St. Luke’s creates a conflict of interest.

The conferees responded to Committee members’ questions:

•          It doesn’t make sense to jeopardize the success of the KUH by aligning with a competitor; we don’t have enough residents now, so why send them to another hospital.

•          We see the deadline of March 31 as an unreasonable and arbitrary date. Even though we could obtain higher-paying positions at St. Luke’s, we want to build excellence at KUH.

•          Because all faculty appointments and funding must go through the Dean at KUMC, increasing the faculty and programs at KUH is restricted.

•          Even if the affiliation is completed with St. Luke’s, 85% of support for the KUMC will come through KUH; to consider all the factors of a ten-year future with a March 31 deadline seems irrational.

A motion was made, seconded, and passed to approve the minutes for March 7 and March 8. (Motion, Representative Sharp; second, Representative Mah)

Representative McLeland expressed concern that medical education and growth through the Wichita hospitals was being ignored. Representative Sharp distributed a letter from Dr. Michael Kennedy, Assistant Professor in Family Medicine, KUMC; the letter emphasizes increased involvement with Wichita and support for affiliation with St. Luke’s (Attachment 3). She stated that it seems incomprehensible that KUMC would intentionally jeopardize the future of KUH and referenced a letter from KUMC faculty endorsing the affiliation (Attachment 4). Another member suggested perhaps the KUH physicians might develop more flexibility or be more proactive in offering a proposal to resolve the impasse. Another member commented that the presentation seemed to presume that the affiliation was not viable. Further member comments expressed hope that the Kansas entities involved could work together to arrive at a solution, that KUH would have more input into the process, and that the issues could be resolved without legislative action.

The meeting was adjourned at 5:08 p.m.