Mercy Medical may get temporary space on authority campus.
Beil
The Lake Shore Hospital could house patients again this week in an emergency.
During its meeting Monday, the Lake Shore Hospital Authority board unanimously approved opening the facilities on campus if a need arose from other areas in the state for a hospital facility.
“Whatever is needed,” Board Member Lory Chancy said after making the motion to allow Executive Director Dale Williams and LSHA Attorney Fred Koberlein devise a contract with any potential interested parties in needing the emergency housing on the campus as a result of Hurricane Ian.
Williams advised the board that two different entities had touched base about the possibility of utilizing the hospital depending on the path of the storm. One on Florida’s east coast as well as Hope Bridges’ Mike Peacock about another transitional housing project he has elsewhere.
The board’s authorization wasn’t geared toward any specific entity or request. Williams said the would allow the authority to move quickly should someone call with an issue at any point this week.
“We certainly don’t want someone to have no place to go but we are in harm’s way here,” Williams said Monday night during the meeting. The projected path of Ian has since shifted eastward.
LEASING BUILDINGS
While the board did not take action on the long-term fate of the facilities on the hospital campus, it did agree to a temporary, short-term agreement with Mercy Medical to utilize either the Women’s Center or the physical therapy building.
Williams advised the board that Mona Floyd with Mercy Medical reached out last week about the urgent need to find a new home as their current office on U.S. Highway 90 west was sold and a new facility is needed, starting Saturday.
Floyd’s request was a 90-day lease on the Women’s Center.
“Most everybody that comes and looks like the Women’s Center best,” Williams said.
But that request came with a potential problem Williams said.
LHSA staff and advisors have been working with Your ER Solutions on a long-term agreement for that building. Williams said that agreement, if the board approves it when it is presented, could mean renovations begin on the Women’s Center prior to the end of the year.
Williams said the authority could instead offer Mercy Medical the east end of the PT building instead which is already set up as a doctor’s office. He said he had been unable to talk with Floyd about her willingness to take that space.
Stephen Douglas, a board member, asked Williams if 90 days was enough time for Floyd to find another permanent home. Williams said that is what she requested as well as Daniel Crapps, Floyd’s current landlord.
The board unanimously agreed to lease space to Floyd for $2,000 a month plus utilities.
As part of that agreement, the board said it preferred the PT building but if Floyd insisted, it would allow her to use the Women’s Center. However, she could have to vacate that building if an agreement is reached with Your ER Solutions.
Later in the meeting, Williams said the vetting of Your ER Solutions on business models was probably about 75% complete. He said he hoped to have documentation to the board to decide by its October meeting, which the board has moved to Nov. 1.
Williams advised the board that it will likely have two options to consider regarding Your ER Solutions, but also warned that there are financial projections taking place with both.
“It’s not inexpensive,” he said. “It’s not free. It all comes with a price tag on it and we want you to know that that price will be.”
Hope Bridges, which has been pursuing the main hospital facility, has still not turned over all the financial information the LSHA has requested, Williams said. However, he said the board could still offer more time as Meridian Behavioral Healthcare may also want to present to the board once again.
“I am not pleased with the fact they had two weeks to send more information and they didn’t do it,” LSHA Chairman Brandon Beil said, adding Peacock and Hope Bridges will need to provide the requested information “or it will not work.”