Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #228FY0102
Operational Efficiency Adjustments for Expansion of Educational and Clinical Services of the Emergency Department/Trauma Center
Requester:		Otis Story			Organization:		Shands Jacksonville
Project Title:		Operational Efficiency Adjustments for Expansion of Educational and Clinical Services of the Emergency Department/Trauma Center			Date Submitted:		1/11/2002 6:11:02 PM
Sponsors:		Aaron Bean, Don Davis, Terry Fields, Mike Hogan, Stan Jordan, Dick Kravitz, E. Denise Lee
Statewide Interest:
The project benefits the healthcare needs of the citizens of NE Florida that require access to the emergency areas at Shands Jacksonville by increasing their access to emergency care and treatment
Recipient:		Shands Jacksonville			Contact:		Penny Thompson
		655 W. 6th Street			Contact Phone:		(904) 244-3007
		Jacksonville 32209
Counties:		Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau, St. Johns
Gov't Entity:			Private Organization (Profit/Not for Profit):					Yes
Project Description:
Shands Jacksonville's role as a critical, safety-net hospital is in serious jeopardy. Shand's Jacksonville has inadequate cash reserves, long-term debt beyond debt capacity and accounts payable well beyond normal credit limits. Operating gains alone cannot produce sufficient revenue to overcome the years of under-capitalization prior to Shands ownership in 1999. The years of systematic under-funding of programs and capital that resulted from years of operating losses must be addressed for the long-term survival of the hospital. Shands Jacksonville must identify and secure necessary capital over the next five years to stabilize existing operations, reduce exposure to debt and fund regular investments in the physical plant, new technology and clinical programs. As the second largest provider of care to the uninsured in Florida, the solution requires the participation of partners including the City of Jacksonville, Shands Healthcare, the University of Florida College of Medicine and the State of Florida. The Emergency Department/Trauma Center at Shands Jacksonville has well over 100,000 patient visits annually, has the largest emergency medicine training program in the southeast, and is the only Level 1 Trauma Center for adults and children north of Orlando. As a trauma center, Shands Jacksonville helicopters serve as first response to 15 Florida counties and second response to 5 additional Florida counties. As part of the national network, Shands Jacksonville is also on the front line in homeland defense. Yet, the current facility is over 30 years old. Having outgrown the physical facility, patients often receive treatment in hallways and curtained cubicles. Long waits and overcrowded conditions compromise access to emergency and trauma care. Many patients leave before receiving treatment. The five components of the department- Trauma Center, Intensive Care Unit, Urgent Care, Pediatrics, and Fast Track provide the only access to health care for many citizens of Northeast Florida. The trauma/emergency department serves as a true safety-net provder by treating the vast majority of uninsured, underinsured, poor and self-pay citizens in Duval County and Northeast Florida. Over 40% of the patients are self-pay, are poor, and have no insurance or other means to cover their medical care. Therefore, Shands Jacksonville requests $5 million per year for the next 5 years from the State of Florida to enable the hospital to improve access to the federally-mandated care it must provide. By being an active partner in this recapitalization plan, the state will ensure that Shands Jacksonville can continue to be the statutory teaching hospital and safety-net provider that the people of North Florida so desperately need.
Measurable Outcome Anticipated:
Improved access to emergency treatment and care and faster, more cost efficient care of the patients served in the emergency areas. Reduce the number of complaints filed with the Agency for Health Care Administration.
Amount requested from the State for this project this year:						$5,000,000
Identify items(s) in the FY 2002-03 Appropriations Bill to be reduced:
Specific Appropriation #:
Specific Appropriation Title:			Tobacco Trust Fund
Amount to be reduced:			$
Total cost of the project:			$25,000,000
Request has been made to fund:				Operations
What type of match exists for this project?					Private
	Cash Amount:		$25,000,000
Was this project previously funded by the State?							Yes
	Fiscal Year:		2001		Amount:		$3,000,000
Is future-year funding likely to be requested?							Yes
	Amount:		$5,000,000
	Purpose for future year funding:					Recurring Operations
	Will this be an annual request?						Yes
Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request?							No
Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget?							No
Is there a documented need for this project?							Yes
	Documentation:		See Attachment
Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)?							Yes
	Hearing Body:		Duval Legislative Delegation Meeting
	Meeting Date:		9/25/2001