Decorahnews.com special report discussion: "Should Winneshiek County have a role in the operation of Winneshiek Medical Center?"

I have a son who loves to eat turducken.  A turducken, in case you're not familiar with the term, is a dish consisting of a de-boned chicken stuffed into a de-boned duck, which itself is stuffed into a de-boned turkey.  In other words, it's not a turkey—although part of it is—it's not a duck—although part of it is—it's not a chicken—although part of it is.

This makes the turducken the perfect metaphor for health care in Winneshiek County.  It's not Winneshiek Medical Center—although part of it is—it's not Gundersen Clinic—although part of it is—it's not Mayo Clinic Health System—although part of it is—it's not Winneshiek County—although part of it is.

For the next four days we'll raise a question of importance to each of the four parties involved in health care in Winneshiek County.  We'll start today with Winneshiek County, because all the other questions revolve around the most basic question of all: "Should Winneshiek County continue to be involved with Winneshiek Medical Center?"

The county's involvement with health care is twofold.  First there's the county-owned property on which the hospital sits.  The hospital pays only $1 a year rent—a big break when compared to average real estate rents in Decorah.  Secondly there's the $456,000 in county property taxes given to the hospital each year.

So the hospital benefits from the support of county government.  But let's turn the question around and ask what county government gets from the hospital in exchange for its investment.  The answer is that county government really doesn't get much of anything, except the satisfaction of knowing it is helping the hospital to stay in business.

If the public wants Winneshiek County to continue to be involved with the hospital--and that's a policy issue that voters should decide--I have a suggestion for a way county government can get more of a benefit from its $456,000 yearly investment—it should ask the hospital board to appoint one of the county supervisors as a voting member of the WMC Board of Trustees.

There is plenty of precedent for such a move.  The county board sends representatives to the board meetings of Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission, Northeast Iowa Behavioral Health, Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation—in other words, a host of other non-profit organizations serving Winneshiek County.

A county supervisor would bring knowledge of Open Meetings Law requirements to the hospital board.  They would also bring a financial background.  And they would be experienced in meeting with the public and discussing ideas and concerns.  

In short, a county supervisor would be a good addition to the WMC Board of Trustees—not just because county taxpayers deserve having someone on the hospital board who is responsible for the county's payments to the hospital.