Dr. Adkisson wants doctors on the board

Retired Brewton physician Dr. Jimmy Adkisson was back before the Escambia County (Ala.) Commission Tuesday afternoon asking that board to appoint some physicians to the Escambia County Healthcare Authority.

The meeting was also attended by hospital administrators, healthcare authority members and the authority's CEO.

"Is there any way we can be elected to the board?" Adkisson asked the commission. "We'd like to have representation. We are not here to accuse anyone. They inherited an off-the-rail train and now we are losing two physicians."

Dr. Adkisson said recruiting physicians is essential and noted that doctors have some experience in recruiting new doctors.

"We can't run a hospital without physicians," Dr. Adkisson said. "We need primary care physicians. We have more than 100 years of experience. We need to get input for physicians on the board."

Dr. Adkisson, Dr. Scott Nelson and Dr. Dan Raulerson attended the commission's Nov. 13 organizational meeting and were invited to Tuesday's workshop.

Dr. Adkisson said Tuesday that rural hospitals are dying, but noted Escambia County is not an ordinary county.

"When I got here we had 12 practicing physicians," Dr. Adkisson said.

He said the administration inherited the 'perfect storm' but said he felt physicians on the healthcare authority board could help with recruiting doctors and with the ambulance service.

"We're coming here with our hearts," Dr. Adkisson said.

Dr. Adkisson said doctors have no access to healthcare authority meetings because it is not covered under the Sunshine Law.

"We're asking the commission to give us access and help the administration," Dr. Adkisson said. "We can't stand here and let our hospitals close."

The healthcare authority has nine members with each of the five commissioners nominating one person from their district and four are elected by the commission at large. Commission Chairman Raymond Wiggins said there are two vacancies on the healthcare authority board now.

"Is there any possibility any of us three physicians can fall into one of those positions?" Dr. Adkisson asked.

County Attorney Dave Jordan said the only control the commission had over the authority or the hospitals was to appoint board members.

Brewton Attorney Kirk Garrett told Dr. Adkisson there is a process to speak to the healthcare authority by filling out a form and requesting to speak.

"We did that but never could get to the end of the process," Dr. Adkisson said. "We were never granted that opportunity."

"I understand you never turned it in," Garrett responded. "You are able to speak to the board. If you will fill out the form we will give you an opportunity to speak to the board."

"Will we be able to stay in the meeting?" Dr. Adkisson asked.

Garrett said there were open portions and closed portions to the healthcare authority meetings but again told Dr. Adkisson he was welcome to come speak to the board.

"What's the process to get access to the closed portions of the meeting?" Dr. Adkisson asked.

"The law allows us to have closed meetings," Garrett responded.

Brewton Attorney Broox Garrett, Jr., who also represents the healthcare authority, asked Dr. Adkisson if he had contacted the governor or the county's legislative delegation about expanding Medicaid.

"We need money," Broox Garrett said. "There are a couple of ways, a 4 mill tax and Medicaid expansion."

The commission did receive a ruling Friday from the Attorney General's Office that said the commission has the authority to put the 4 mill tax for hospitals on the ballot.

"No, I have not talked to the governor," Dr. Adkisson said. "I'm not a politician. We're here to protect healthcare in this county."

Broox Garrett pointed out that the state of Alabama has lost about $4 billion in revenue because the Legislature won't expand Medicaid.

Stephanie Walker, wife of Dr. James Walker who serves as chief of staff at D.W. McMillan Memorial Hospital in Brewton, said her husband spends a portion of his time recruiting physicians and noted all hospitals are suffering.

She also told Dr. Adkisson that her concern was him continuing to bring discomfort to the community.

"I don't want to see another story about you talking about you talking about hospitals closing," Stephanie Walker said. "I'd rather see us work together."

Dr. Adkisson asked who were the physician recruiters for Atmore and Brewton and Walker said everything was a piece of the puzzle with trying to recruit physicians "instead of this animosity".

Dr. Adkisson said he had experience in recruiting doctors and access to those doing their residencies.

'How many did you recruit?" Walker asked Dr. Adkisson.

"I don't have the authority," Dr. Adkisson replied. "I asked Stacey (Stacey Hines is administrator of D.W. McMillan) what we could offer, she wouldn't tell me."

Kirk Garrett said another thing that would help the two hospitals was for people to use them instead of going to Pensacola.

"Support your local hospital," Kirk Garrett said.

Dr. Raulerson said the authority needs a physician on the authority to provide input, noting that at least one physician needs to be on that board.

Dr. Adkisson also asked that if he is allowed to address the authority, how would he get the answers to the questions he asked.

"You may get them, but not like them," Broox Garrett responded.