GUEST COLUMN: Partnership with University of Colorado Hospital a win for region

Whatever it Takes! These are bold words, but they are more than simply a slogan from the TriWest Healthcare Alliance. TriWest and the University of Colorado Hospital have created a close relationship with the military TRICARE system. As a co-owner of TriWest, the University of Colorado Hospital has more than a 10-year track record in military and dependent care in Colorado. After my wife Jill and I both read through all of the Memorial Hospital proposals including the University of Colorado Hospital proposal, it is our firm belief that the proposed University of Colorado Health System plan will assure the very best care available for those who wear the cloth of our Nation and their families. This new partnership between Memorial Hospital, the University of Colorado Hospital system and Poudre Valley with their individual records of excellent care for our military personnel, including the retired, would create the largest TRICARE provider in the state.

In scoring the different proposals of the competing health care systems, a dedicated task force graded each proposer on many issues. Some of the most important were a ?pledge to maintain the historic charitable purposes of the Memorial Health System? and a ?commitment to maintain and pursue partnerships with local charitable, philanthropic, public health, military, and social services organizations in a manner that leverages the capabilities and resources of the El Paso County community as a whole.? The University of Colorado Hospital overwhelmingly recorded higher marks than their competition in these and many other areas.

Caring for our less well-off neighbors is a source of pride for Colorado Springs and one of our core values. This compassion was evident in the University of Colorado Hospital?s proposal. Discussing indigent care in a recent print news interview, Rulon Stacey, president and CEO of Poudre Valley Health System, said it best when he stated, ?the best we can offer is our history?. The facts have it, and the same print story reinforced it, the University of Colorado and Poudre Valley Hospital?s care for the military and the uninsured compare favorably to what our own Memorial Hospital has provided for decades. In the past year, the University of Colorado Hospital and Poudre Valley combined have provided more than $400 million in uncompensated care. If their respective bottom lines remain strong, they are on target to do the same this year.

?The University of Colorado Hospital and its partners including TriWest offer a long term commitment and investment in our community and region with local control and Colorado ownership. The University of Colorado Hospital promises a partnership with our own Memorial Hospital, not a takeover. A local board made up of El Paso County residents will be responsible for day-to-day operations at Memorial. The new Memorial Hospital board will have the same powers within the system as the University of Colorado Hospital and Poudre Valley local boards. I am a strong supporter of Colorado ownership and the accountability that results from local governance. A community partnership between Colorado Springs Memorial Hospital and the University of Colorado Health system could only be described as a win for our region.

The chance for a School of Medicine branch campus at the University of Colorado ? Colorado Springs is also exciting. This brings research opportunities, the chance for our own, homegrown doctors, expanded nursing programs and an economic benefit for our city.

Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak Region are known for many wonderful things: natural beauty, great recreation and a fantastic quality of life. Along with all of this, we are often, and proudly, identified as a ?military community?. It is a community that welcomes and honors its military men and women. I know that Jill and I will welcome the partnership with the University of Colorado Hospital and TriWest. This is definitely a win for the military, for UCCS, for our community and for Colorado.

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General Gene Renuart? retired from the Air Force in May 2010 having served as Commander, NORAD - US Northern Command at Peterson AFB. Since his retirement, he served as Senior Military Advisor to the CEO, BAE Systems, Inc and currently is President of The Renuart Group, LLC, a Colorado Springs based consulting firm.

Source: http://www.gazette.com/opinion/colorado-131340-hospital-university.html

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