By Sentinel Staff
Representatives from the City and Borough of Sitka and the SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium began negotiating this past week on the agreement for “developing an integrated health care delivery system for Sitka,” the two organizations said in a joint news release today.
The negotiating session was held Thursday in the Seattle office of a SEARHC attorney.
The news release said both the city and SEARHC “clearly articulated a shared vision for ensuring equal access to care for all Sitkans and increasing the quality and scope of specialty services in Sitka.”
Additionally, they defined and reached a mutual understanding of those provisions in the asset purchase agreement that relate to the city’s goals for the health care system.
“We are pleased with how negotiations are unfolding with SEARHC and are continuing to build trust with one another,” City Administrator Keith Brady said in the news release. “Both parties’ goals of affiliation are closely aligned, and SEARHC is responsive to addressing the city’s and communities’ concerns.”
Additional issues discussed during the meeting included “building accountability into the APA (asset purchase agreement) to ensure commitments proposed by SEARHC are accomplished.”
The negotiating teams also reviewed how best to develop an effective governance structure to enhance the level of community input and engaged in a high-level discussion on the transition of Sitka Community Hospital’s services.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for SEARHC to partner with CBS in building an effective health care system for Sitka and surrounding communities,” said Charles Clement, SEARHC president and chief executive officer. “In working together, we can create a thriving health care system that enhances the economic position, as well as the social and health benefits for our community.”
Thursday’s negotiation meeting came after SEARHC signed a letter of intent with the city on Sept. 27, followed by a due diligence list, a proposed lease for Sitka Community Hospital and a proposed asset purchase agreement.
The city and SEARHC will meet again Dec. 19 with the intent of gaining resolution on key issues.
Subsequent meetings are scheduled Jan. 7 and 18 to finalize the agreement for Sitka’s integrated health care delivery system.
Representing the city at the Thursday meeting were Brady, consultants Sarah Cave and Steve Huebner, and the city’s outside attorney, Sandy Johnson. SEARHC was represented by Clement, SEARHC senior executive vice president Dan Neumeister, SEARHC’s in-house attorney, and an outside attorney for the consortium.
