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1st appeared
29 October
1999 Faculty Look Forward to Rebuilding UCSF Medical Center Lee Goldman, acting vice chancellor of medical affairs, called an emergency meeting Thursday after the announcement that Stanford University intends to end the merger of UCSF and Stanford hospitals. Holly Smith, a longtime UCSF professor, was among the first to draw attention to the timing of what will be the beginning of the end of UCSF Stanford Health Care. "I think we have to put this event into context," he said after the meeting. "During the same week that UCSF broke ground for its new campus at Mission Bay we are seeing this regrettable break up of a combined academic medical center. It was an interesting experiment, one that failed for many reasons. But we’ve got to build on the momentum of Mission Bay -- that’s where our future lies and we have to reconstitute the excellence of our medical center. This was a great medical center before the merger and it will continue to be great or even greater." Goldman set the tone for the noontime meeting, saying he plans to look ahead. "Regardless of how you feel about the merger, I’d like to focus this time not to talk about the past but to talk about the future." He said the good news is that the UCSF Medical Center as a public institution will have some protections in terms of bankruptcy, earthquake safety or other major capital improvements. "But in terms of the day-to-day operations, like buying X-ray machines, I think we will be on a very tight leash financially until the hospital's financial position improves." Goldman summed up his feelings by saying, "We were a world-class medical center before the merger and we will be even better now. We’re in charge of our fate."
The timeline for dissolving the merger, he said, remains uncertain. UCSF and Stanford officials are expected to meet on Monday to start the process. Goldman says he’s uncertain what services if any will remain consolidated to retain the benefits of the merger. Some faculty expressed concerns about the uncoupling, especially the potential losses of joint contracting and combined pediatrics. Children’s services is considered one of the highlights of the merger since faculty at UCSF and Stanford shared a vision to improve the health of children statewide. Larry Shapiro, chair of pediatrics, said that while he believes there is some desire at both campuses to continue to integrate children’s services, it will be a difficult proposition. "I think it will be an uphill swim given what’s happening with the rest of the organization," he said. Shapiro remained upbeat, however, telling faculty he has faith in the UCSF faculty and staff. Neal Cohen, vice chair of anesthesia and chair of the School of Medicine Faculty Council, was attending a meeting in Hawaii, where he was reached for comment. "My reaction is one of disappointment," he said. "But it’s time to move forward. We plan to continue toward our financial recovery. We’ve got a plan to improve the finances and to restructure services between the UCSF Medical Center and Mount Zion. Next, we will hire a leadership team." Cohen says it’s too early to tell whether any services, such as central purchasing and information technology, could or should still be combined. "Obviously, we need to evaluate the benefits of any joint ventures for UCSF," he said. Cohen was among those who expressed dismay at the news. "It’s regrettable that a decision has been made for us instead of by us. Now we have to work together for a smooth transition. As chair of the Faculty Council, I want to make sure faculty has input into the process." Jane Hirsch, vice president of nursing at UCSF, said she was surprised upon hearing that Stanford is calling it quits. "I thought given the length of their [UCSF and Stanford faculty] discussions that they were trying to work it out." Hirsch, who has more than 20 years of medical center service, says she will work toward an amicable dissolution. "I have a lot of loyalty to this institution and that has not changed. I look forward to providing some stability and to seeing that we continue to provide high-quality patient care. Our mission has not changed." Hirsch met with senior managers of the hospital at the time Goldman met with the faculty. Ernest Ring, associate dean and assistant chief medical officer at Mount Zion, says he believes the dissolution, however painful the process, is in the best interests of UCSF. "We will have a difficult year or two but eventually we will be stronger out of the merger given the circumstances than we would have been otherwise." Asked how he feels about the fact that the restructuring at Mount Zion will continue as planned with the first surgical services being transferred to the UCSF Medical Center on Parnassus on Monday, Ring said matter-of-factly, "The decision to close Mount Zion inpatient services was exclusively a UCSF decision. It was not a UCSF Stanford decision. It is financially in the best interests of UCSF and it is something we must do even though everybody is saddened to do so. "It will be a very difficult year or two with a lot of pain, but we can now look forward and start building on the talent on this campus, talent that has been locked up dealing with the merger." Source: Lisa Cisneros Stanford Announcement-Press Release Casper Letter to UC President Atkinson UCSF Stanford Health Care Daybreak Archive
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