Let's just say that until I see Howard Regional President Jim Allender say on the front page of the Tribune that the hospital will not be sold, merge or be managed by Clarion, I will believe Citizen Kane. In this town, rumors like this have a funny way of coming true, when it is too late.

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Originally posted by Roy DeMeo:
That is unbeleivable what Porter County did. Very creative. Coupled with the enviroment here in Howard County in regards to economic developement and loss of jobs, with that kind of money that Porter County came into, that could really allow Howard County/Kokomo to plan ahead and have financial resources to diversify and reinvest in recreating this area.

Surely a chosen few would not allow such an opportunity to pass to only line their own pockets.

My question is, if this supposed merger goes through, who are the players that benefit financially if the merger would go through?

I, too, would like to know who would benefit from a merger the most?

And who would have to approve a sale or merger?

A merger would benefit top management the most. Higher pay and more benefits, not to mention potential golden parachutes.

Who owns Howard Regional? I always thought it was a county-owned hospital and, as such, the county commissioners would have to play a decision-making part in any sale/merger. So what is being suggested is that they would help top management at Howard line their pockets? Somehow I don't think so.

The issue of who owns the hospital is a little murky. Back in the 1950s the Indiana Legislature gave each county the ability to start a county hospital. In Howard County, a group of community minded individuals, with the county's blessing, raised about $600,000 to start the process. A bond issue was then issued through the county for the hospital corporation for an additional $2 million to build the first hospital. Since that time, to my understanding, the county has never had to inject money. The county has helped issue bonds and has taken property through imminent domain on behalf of the hospital.

Indiana law is very clear, however, on the subject of who gets the money from a hospital sale. The funds are to be deposited in the county coffers. The county can then choose how to spend or not spend the funds.

On a very practical basis, since county government officials are not hospital experts, there could be the potential for government officials to bend to the will or sales job of hospital administrators. That is why the business of selling or merging a county hospital should be done on a transparent basis and competitively bid. It is the only fair and equitable manner of conducting this serious business.

Howard sux, place is nasty, especially their ICU. Pick things up off the floor and want to use them to suction the mouth of a paitent that is in a drug induced coma. Then they say, "Well The Floor Is Clean". That paitent died from Sepsis, cause they contracted a Staph Infection. I would like to know how many paients die a year at Howard from Sepsis ?

Question for Citizen Kane who seems to know the history pretty well (although, Kane, you changed your tune about who would benefit, going from top management and golden parachutes to county coffers). Isn't the Board of the hospital appointed by the County commissioners? The Board members should know what's going on. One of them is even a doctor. Are you saying they are not knowledgable? And also, doesn't it speak well about hospital management that the County hasn't had to support it financially? Bonds and imminent domain aren't illegal, unethical or immoral.

An estimated 90000 people die each year in the United States from infections contracted in the hospital.

www.consumersunion.org/pub/cor...lth_care/001321.html

New Study Says Television Remote Control is Leading Carrier of Bacteria in Patient's Hospital Room.

www.infectioncontroltoday.com/...ah1816314865058.html

Please do not misinterpret the purpose of my original post or try and read between the lines. I think Howard Regional has been managed effectively. It is for that reason that it could command a very high purchase price. I just want to make sure that our county is the one that benefits the most from any transaction. Stella, if you served on enough community boards you would know that information is king and that information can be spoon fed as administration wants. Volunteer boards generally default responsibility to administrations. The only way to guarantee that the ultimate decision regarding Howard Regional is handled effectively and to the best benefit of Howard County is to insure transparency of the process and to not present a fait d'accomplit. No more, no less.

Thank you for clarifying, Kane, and I agree that decisions affecting our community should be handled above board. And you're right, I don't sit on community boards, so maybe I just don't get it. But, why do you think selling Howard Regional is happening under the radar? You seem so sure but you haven't said where you're getting your information.

I was told that a county official pooh poohed the potential amount from a sale of the hospital. Let's do a little math:

Value of all lands, buildings and equipment owned by the hospital. Conservative estimate $65,000,000.

Value of cash working capital. Estimated at $30,000,000.

Average operating profit per year over last 10 years: Estimated at $5,000,000 per year. At current cap rates this would give a value of approximately $50,000,000.

These numbers would total $145,000,000 less any outstanding debt.

So County government has had an offer for the hospital? And the offer was less than your $145,000,000? So the County turned the offer down? Or do you mean that some numbers were being bandied around in some desperate times/desperate measures political chat and this "official" pooh-poohed the number? In either case, that doesn't sound like the hospital administration is involved in closed door negotiations which is what I thought your point was. Sounds like the County is. I'm really confused now.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: StellaKinison,

There is no offer on the table as far as I know. My point is that there is significant value to the hospital and if it changes hands, the community should get the money.