Laserfiche WebLink
13.A.1. CHAIRMAN FRAN B. ADAMS - RESOLUTION TO THE <br />GOVERNOR IN SUPPORT OF G. PIERCE WOOD <br />MEMORIAL HOSPITAL REMAINING OPEN <br />The Board reviewed a letter of June 2, 2000: <br />DISTRIBUTION LIS <br />Commissioners <br />Adminsstrator �. �':"•+cam <br />Attorney <br />Pasonael ' M - �: <br />Public Works- <br />,0 <br />orks <br />Cemmumty Dar <br />mtntres FLORIDA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES <br />Finance <br />OMB <br />Emery. Sers. LINDSAY M. HARRINGTON <br />Risk Trail, State 1110 raMgt. REPRESENTATIVE. Du= 72 <br />etni <br />Othr��• m Gagda, Florida 33950 1302 The Capitol <br />Tallahassee. Florida 31399-1300 <br />941-575-5820 <br />June 2. 2000 850-488-9175 <br />The Honorable Fran Adams <br />Chairman, Indian River County Commission <br />1840 25th Street <br />Vero Beach, FL 32960 <br />Dear Chairman Adams: <br />As you are no doubt aware, due to the disproportionate share loss in federal funding, G. Pierce Wood <br />Memorial Hospital ("GPW") in DeSoto County is closing. During the past few months, I have tried to <br />persuade the Governor, the Department of Children and Families, and the Florida House leadership to fully <br />fund this loss to keep GPW open and providing mental health care for the 18 counties it serves in Southwest <br />Florida I am concerned that the closure has proceeded without legal public hearings in each of the 18 counties <br />and without knowledge of the process used to determine the closure. <br />Despite my efforts, the 2000 budget passed by the Legislature and approved by Governor Jeb Bush, <br />includes language directing the Department of Children and Families to begin the process of closing GPW. <br />The plan is to move the most severely impaired patients to other mental health hospitals in Florida and out <br />place the others in community based mental health care facilities in neighborhood homes in your communities <br />which could impact your hospitals, policelfirelems, and indigent services. <br />Today, I became aware of an additional problem with this plan. Charter Glade Hospital, a mental <br />health care provider, will close their Fort Myers facility in about two weeks. There are approximately 50 <br />patients at that facility. The Ruth Cooper Center, also located in Fort Myers, is full to capacity. If and when <br />GPW closes, the burden of providing mental health care in Southwest Florida will be severely compounded. <br />JUNE 139 2000 <br />-61- D00K ? PA'UE b , <br />