Why Patient Care Should Be the Priority at TMH

Tallahassee Memorial Hospital (TMH) has been in the spotlight lately, but not for the reasons that matter most. Instead of focusing on what truly counts—patient care—the conversation has been hijacked by debates about hospital governance and local control. This shift in focus is a problem. Dr. James Killius recently wrote about TMH's commitment to the community, but he didn't clearly state what that commitment actually is. Instead, he emphasized the importance of hospital governance and local control, claiming they protect TMH from political interference. However, these points are distractions from the real issue: improving patient care. Research shows that communities with Academic Medical Centers (AMCs) see better patient outcomes. This should be the goal for TMH. The hospital's board of directors may have good intentions, but they should not be the main focus. The real priority should be enhancing patient treatment and care. There have been issues with TMH's governance in the past. For example, in 2009, a former CEO expanded his own retirement benefits with the approval of a board he had helped select. This led to negative media attention and damaged TMH's reputation. The current CEO had to take legal action to undo the deal, but the damage was already done. So, how can TMH improve patient care? The answer lies in focusing on better access to care, innovative treatments, improved nurse-patient ratios, and better outcomes. Comparing TMH to other hospitals like Shands, Emory Medical Center, and the Mayo Clinic shows that there is room for improvement. Dr. Killius mentioned the goal of building the best possible academic health ecosystem. This is a worthy goal, but it won't be achieved by focusing on governance and local control. Instead, TMH should look to Florida State University (FSU) and Florida A&M University (FAMU) to help transform it into a regional leader in patient care. The proposed Academic Medical Center could build on TMH's strengths and provide better healthcare for Tallahassee. In the end, the debate about TMH should be about one thing: patient care. Governance and local control are important, but they should not overshadow the real priority. By focusing on what truly matters, TMH can become a leader in healthcare and provide the best possible care for its patients.