WMBB News 13 - The Panhandle's News LeaderTrustees Look To Bay Medical's Future

A day after Bay County commissioners approved the lease of Bay Medical Center, hospital trustees and management are taking their first steps toward the future.

There is still a lot of work to do to close the transaction with Sacred Heart and LHP Hospital Group by the April 2 target date, but Bay Med officials are getting back to the business of running the hospital.

The facility's future dominated yet Wednesday's meeting of the hospital's Board of Trustees, but for the first time in months it was opportunities – and not problems – that carried the day.

CEO Steve Johnson outlined his operational priorities.  At the top of his list is improving Bay Medical's emergency room operations.  "That is our front door and we want to make sure that people get not only the excellent service that they always get, but also get it in a very quick and timely and efficient manner," said Johnson.

The chief executive also wants to grow Bay Medical's primary care base and get doctors involved in strategic planning and governance of the hospital.

Trustee chairman Donald Connor will focus on the newly-established Bay Health Foundation.  "A lot of work is going to be done in the beginning, canvassing the community and talking to people about what they think needs to be done," he said.

Connor said the charitable foundation will have $30 million in capital within three years and will use the earnings from the fund to pay for the community's unmet health care needs.  "We are not going to compete with the hospital," said Connor.  "We do not want to get into the acute care business [and] we're not going to build clinics."

Johnson said changes could be transparent to the public.  "We're going to continue to do a great job like we've always done," he said.

Bay Medical will continue to operate its ambulance service at least until December, when the county could take over operations or put it out for bid.