In years past, the annual meeting of the Corporation of Kent Hospital has focused on money – usually that the hospital has weathered tough financial challenges and largely because of uncompensated care Kent is in the red or just a bit in the black.
But while finances were a part of the report to be delivered last night, and Kent finished the fiscal year ending Sept. 31 in the black by $1 million, working together, responding to the community and learning from mistakes were themes to the meeting held at Quidnessett Country Club.
A touch of theatrics was also planned for the hospital’s 59th annual meeting. A seven-minute presentation with voices of patients, those doing their residency at the hospital as well as doctors and administrators, was on the agenda.
“It’s very unique,” hospital President and CEO Sandra Coletta said earlier this week when asked what was planned for the event. She said part of the uniqueness of the meeting is that people will leave with a DVD of the video presentation so that they can share the Kent story with family, friends and neighbors.
Unlike some of her predecessors who honed their speeches for days before the meeting, as of Tuesday afternoon Coletta was still working on what she would say.
But there was no question she would talk about the events of the last week that put the hospital in the headlines. After two weeks of the trial in the suit brought by actor James Woods over the wrongful death of his brother Michael in 2007, Coletta met with Woods and apologized for the mistakes the hospital made. The suit was dropped and in return the hospital is to make an undisclosed payment to Michael’s children and allocate $1.25 million over the next five years to create the Michael J. Woods Institute to redesign the care process. Members of the oversight panel are currently being assembled and include Dr. John Gosbee, a nationally recognized expert in human factors engineering, from the University of Michigan.
James Woods was invited to attend the evening meeting, but because of the Beacon’s deadline last night, it was not known whether he would be in attendance.
Nonetheless, Coletta was planning to talk not only about how she envisions the institute working but also what she described as the “spectrum” from those situations and conditions needing improvement to the stories like that told in the video by Ray Brigidi.
“She was dying. She could have been dead and two days later she was laughing,” Brigidi says in the video of his daughter. “Miracle workers are those of the hospital,” he goes on to say.
“I’m so excited,” Coletta said of the work of the Woods Institute. “We want to focus on what we can do better.”
Yet, she reminded, “Our staff does good and they do their best. This has been difficult to go through. Let’s remember our successes.”
Coletta also planned to touch on issues traditionally raised at the annual meeting. She will note that the hospital was able to avoid a deficit despite what she termed the “significant punch” of a cut in Medicaid reimbursements and changes in the state disproportionate share program (DSH) as well as state license fees paid by the hospital.
Revenues for the year totaled $284 million and expenses $283 million. The hospital provided $10.7 million in uncompensated care during the fiscal year.
Coletta also expects to mention a 281 percent increase in employee satisfaction rating from the survey done two years ago. The new rating puts Kent employee satisfaction levels at the 45 percentile nationally. There have also been increased ratings in physician satisfaction ratings.
Coletta is pleased with the improvement although, she said, “both groups have a long way to go.”
Coletta said much of what traditionally makes up the annual report – physical improvements to the hospital, new programs and other achievements – would be conveyed in a “tableau” or almost theatrical manner. She said lights would be dimmed and spotlights would focus on Dr. Michael Dacey, senior vice president of the medical office and Renee Fischer, senior vice president of the nursing office sitting across from one another. They would be talking about what Coletta might say in her speech and thereby highlight the year’s accomplishments.
An underlying theme to the report, Coletta said, is getting the right team in place and seeing how well they work together.
During the meeting, 23 new incorporators were also to be welcomed while trustees and physicians were recognized for their service and dedication.
Joseph J. McGair, Esq., of Warwick, was to be named as a vice chair to the Board of Trustees.
The election of the following new members of the incorporation were expected to be ratified: From Coventry, Michael Everling and David E. Farnum; from Cranston, Timothy P. Spurrell, MD; from East Greenwich, Thomas F. Ahern, Carl I. Hoyer and Norman A. Kornwitz, MD; from North Kingstown, Michael J. Holland; from North Scituate, Domenic F. Delmonico; from Wakefield: Stephen E. Russell; from Warwick, Christine M. Alibrandi, Victor J. Alibrandi, Edward Almon, Judith S. Earle, Rene E. Fischer, RN, MSN, CNAA-BC, Robert A. Iannotti Jr., Phillip Kydd, Alvin R. Martin, Mark P. McKenney, Esq., Arlene F. McNulty, Judith A. Pratt, DMD, Angela M. Ryding and William L. Ryding; and from West Warwick, Denise M. Arcand, MD.
Trustee service awards were to be presented to James M. Vesey, 5 Years of Service; Kenneth L. MacNaught, 5 Years of Service; Andrea M. Hopkins, 10 Years of Service; Deborah A. Smith, 15 Years of Service; and Edward J. Cooney, 20 Years of Service.
Physician service awards were to be presented to: Philip G. Maddock, MD, 25 Years of Service; Ira H. Asher, MD, 25 Years of Service; Charles C. Calenda, MD, 25 Years of Service; Clyde S. Fish, DPM, 25 Years of Service; Harold M. Horwitz, MD, 30 Years of Service; Kenneth H. Salzsieder, MD, 30 Years of Service; Robert J. Dobrzynski, MD, 35 Years of Service; and Reid Appleby Jr., MD, 40 Years of Service.
Dr. Jonathan Gates of Kingston was to receive the physician of the year award.
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