Note: this column by Carty Finkbeiner and Matt Cherry was published in the September 6, 2020 edition of the Toledo Blade.
The University of Toledo Medical Center is a team that has proven, once again, the worth of the hospital and the medical campus it sits upon as a research, teaching and healing institution. Not only has our research team of scientists developed a coronavirus test that yields much faster results than other tests in use today, but our hospital and the Dana Cancer Center just signed an agreement with the Toledo Clinic that will expand oncology services to patients in our region. The Save UTMC Coalition and the citizens of South Toledo and northwest Ohio all know the value of a strong and talented UTMC Health Science Campus.
This is the appropriate time, we believe, to put on paper our vision and plan to support and enhance the medical campus and its hospital:
We remain opposed to any plan to sell, transfer, or co-manage UTMC until all details of such a deal are made public and time is provided for appropriate review and community input.
On July 1, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost halted transfers of physicians and programs from UTMC to ProMedica Toledo Hospital for 90 days. Based upon anti-competitive constrictions written into the 2015 Affiliation Agreement between UT and ProMedica, the ban on transfers should remain in place until all UTMC stakeholders’ concerns are addressed.
As for the affiliation agreement, we support the initiative of state Sen. Teresa Fedor with Mr. Yost and ask UT leadership to invoke arbitration if ongoing, anticompetitive decisions are not ended and past harmful actions are not corrected.
Finally, we request that negotiations between current UTMC management and Toledo Clinic officials be encouraged and supported by UT administration and trustees, and that doctors of both institutions be welcomed to practice at both campuses as respective services are needed. Initial discussions between UTMC and Toledo Clinic centered upon the Dana Cancer Center, but additional opportunities to address physician shortages at UTMC, sue to forced transfer of doctors to ProMedica Toledo Hospital, must also be on the table;
Moreover, we must re-establish Level 2 trauma support status at UTMC as soon as possible, in conjunction with physician support from the Toledo Clinic Association.
As we continue to look at all thoughtful and forward thinking ideas and solutions in creating an even stronger Health Science Campus, we believe we can become a model for the rest of the country, moving forward into the twenty-first century. The Save UTMC Coalition is looking ahead, knowing full well that community partnerships, teamwork, and increased revenue are necessary in moving the medical campus forward.
We are confident that our best hopes and aspirations can be realized if we all work together.
Mr. Finkbeiner is a former mayor of Toledo. Mr. Cherry is president of Toledo City Council. This essay was endorsed by 12 other community leaders as well as U. S. Representative Marcy Kaptur.