Johnson Promises to Release Health System Funds

Chief Visits Hospital and Pledges Spirit of Solidarity, but Employees Are Still Leery

Shandra Johnson listens during County Executive Jack B. Johnson's address to hospital workers. (By Kevin Clark -- The Washington Post)

Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson yesterday pledged to release county funds he has withheld from the county's hospital system and declared a new spirit of cooperation in looking for a solution to the troubled system's problems.

In a visit to Prince George's Hospital Center in Cheverly, Johnson (D) said he would release the funds in the next two weeks. Accompanied by William Williams, board chairman of the company that runs the hospital system, Johnson promised dozens of doctors, nurses and other workers that politicians and the board will come up with a consensus on the hospital's future. He said employees should not fear the closure of the hospital or the four other health facilities operated by Dimensions Healthcare System.

"We want to say to you that you can be assured that all you're going to hear from us is that we're going to work together," Johnson told the employees.

For months, Johnson had been feuding with the board of Dimensions, the nonprofit company that manages the county-owned system, blaming it for mismanagement and for causing the system's financial problems.

Last month, the board ousted longtime chairman Calvin Brown, who had tussled with Johnson for years, and replaced him with Williams, a retired federal worker. Now, Johnson said, "we have a capable board under capable leadership."

Leaders of the union that represents nurses and other hospital employees reacted cautiously. They noted Johnson could simply have wired funds to the hospital rather than announcing plans to do so soon. He also did not specify how much he would release. The council has appropriated $14 million to help keep the hospital system open through June.

"There have been promises made before and not lived up to," said Sam Epps, political director for the union. "We hope our hopes aren't dashed."

Three members of the County Council met with Johnson's chief of staff and several delegates and senators this week to jump-start talks about the hospital system's future.

In the spring, Johnson, legislators and Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) backed a plan to create a hospital authority to replace Dimensions. Under that plan, the county would have turned over the hospital land and buildings to the new authority. The county also would have made a yearly contribution to the system, as would the state.

The deal fell through on the last day of the legislative session, when County Council Chairman Camille Exum (D-Seat Pleasant) said she wasn't ready to sign it.

Yesterday, Johnson blamed the collapse of that deal and previous attempts to mold a long-term future for the system on an annual failure to start the legislative session with a single plan backed by all local leaders. He pledged this year would be different. He said Exum could not be present at yesterday's hospital visit but is onboard with the effort.

Council spokeswoman Karen D. Campbell said Exum had no comment, indicating that because yesterday's event was Johnson's, questions should be directed to him. Campbell added that the council is committed to "access to quality health care" for county residents and said "collaborative dialogue" is now underway about the hospital system's future.

"The most important thing now is everyone is back at the table," she said.

After the address to workers, Williams took Johnson on a tour of an operating room to see a new high-tech laparoscopic device used in minimally invasive surgeries, one of 10 new machines delivered this week as the result of a state grant. Johnson said that he realizes the hospital needs major capital improvements to draw more patients with the insurance to cover the costs of their care and that he will work to secure the funding.

Johnson also told workers he is negotiating with health insurance companies that offer coverage to county employees to persuade them to send patients to Dimensions' facilities. Hospital leaders have long griped that the county's health plan did not include their system.

Debbie Wilkes, a neonatology nurse who has worked at the hospital for three decades, called the statement "a major thing." "I know I've had that conversation personally for so long, at so many levels," said Wilkes, who also works with the union.

But she added that numerous nurses have left Dimensions' hospitals for more stable employment since the collapse of the deal with state officials in April. She said nurses will need to see the new collegial attitudes produce results to stem losses.

"Until that verbal commitment is seen in action, I think people will still be very leery," she said.