Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Citizens group questions Carilion
The group is an offshoot of the physicians group Coalition for Responsible Healthcare.
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A group of physicians critical of Carilion Clinic is shifting its agenda by forming a new group that represents a broader citizenry.
Members of the physicians group Coalition for Responsible Healthcare have spearheaded an effort to start a sister organization, the Citizen Coalition for Responsible Healthcare.
"We're stepping back to allow other people get involved," said Dr. Geoff Harter, president of the original coalition. "We want to portray this not as being a one-man campaign and really morph our efforts into the Citizen Coalition for Responsible Healthcare."
The citizens group, which as of Monday had not been incorporated, is holding a 7 p.m. meeting today at the Ramada Inn at 1927 Franklin Road to unveil its leadership and plans for examining the effect Carilion has on regional health care.
A meeting among the organizers, including members of the physicians coalition, was scheduled for late Monday night to vote on the new board members and the articles of incorporation, said Ken King, a Roanoke lawyer who is expected to lead the new citizens coalition.
King said he had been asked by those with the physicians coalition to preside over the board of the newly formed citizens coalition.
"Those doctors, I think, realized it would appear in their efforts that they are simply self-serving to question what's going on. ... It was suggested to them that they ought to encourage development of a truly independent voice," King said.
The new citizens coalition has already taken control of the original coalition's Web site, www.responsiblehealth care.org, and has advertised the meeting with the help of its sister coalition.
According to the site, the coalition is demanding accountability from Carilion administrators for the health provider's "exclusionary" and anti-competitive practices.
King said it is prudent that the local community investigate the rising cost of health care and Carilion's role.
"I don't have any answers, all I have is a lot of questions," King said. "I hope I have a measured, reasonable, appropriate approach to it."
In promoting the meeting, the coalition has emphasized that "local and regional politicians should be in attendance."
However, out of 10 local and state politicians contacted Monday, none said they would definitely be in attendance.
Several in the group, which included all city council members except Mayor David Bowers, said they had existing conflicts. Bowers did not return three messages seeking comment.
Vice Mayor Sherman Lea said he's "intrigued" by the meeting but will probably miss it because he's got a state Department of Corrections meeting in Richmond earlier today.
Councilman David Trinkle, who works for Carilion, said his policy is to avoid votes or discussions dealing with the group during council meetings. He said his absence at the meeting will be a continuation of that policy.
"I'm a Carilion employee, I'm a city councilman, so anything to do with Carilion I just stay away from," Trinkle said.
Staff writer Mason Adams contributed to this report.
