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RESOLUTION NO. 2000- 069 <br />A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY <br />COMMISSIONERS OF INDIAN RIVER COUNTY URGING <br />THE GOVERNOR TO STOP THE CLOSING OF G. PIERCE <br />WOOD MEMORIAL HOSPITAL IN DESOTO COUNTY <br />WHEREAS, G. Pierce Wood Memorial Hospital has been a state facility in DeSoto County <br />since 1947; and <br />WHEREAS, G. Pierce Wood Memorial Hospital serves the mental health care needs of the <br />most severely impaired patients in eighteen counties in South Florida which include Charlotte, Collier, <br />DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lee, Manatee, Martin, <br />Okeechobee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, St. Lucie and Sarasota; and <br />WHEREAS, the Governor and the Department of Children and Families proposed a plan that <br />will close G. Pierce Wood Memorial Hospital; and <br />WHEREAS, the closing of G. Pierce Wood Memorial Hospital would create a monumental <br />mental health crisis in the eighteen counties; and <br />WHEREAS, when Charter Glade Hospital closes in about two weeks, the burden of <br />providing mental care in Southwest Florida will be severely compounded; and <br />WHEREAS, the Department of Children and Families did not request the additional funding <br />which is needed to overcome the cut in the disproportionate share of Medicare by the federal <br />government for mental health care needs. <br />NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY <br />COMMISSIONERS OF INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA that the County unanimously <br />supports the needs of the community and urges the Governor to stop the closing of G. Pierce Wood <br />Memorial Hospital in DeSoto County, investigate the trend across this nation that is moving mental <br />health away from community-based facilities and increase the funding of mental health care to permit <br />G. Pierce Wood Memorial Hospital to serve the needs of eighteen counties in South Florida. <br />