[Vision2020] Selling Latah Health Services

Jerry Weitz gweitz at moscow.com
Tue Jan 9 22:53:17 PST 2007 

About two weeks ago, I contacted two nursing homes in the Spokane 
area.  Both of which were/are care givers to family members.  Both made 
inquiries to the commissioners.  I  asked both to contact Gritman and B J 
Swanson.  I was the dental consultant (unpaid)for Latah Health for years 
and thus would like to see skilled nursing/ long term care remain in the 
area. Having to send folks out of town and maybe out of reach of family and 
friends is not in the area's best interest.

Both of the long term care facilities are private.  The nursing home 
industry is highly regulated.  Some, in the industry, say it is more 
regulated than the nuclear power industry.   Thus, LHS, due to its 
structure and its limited ability to use its property as collateral, 
was  at a distinct disadvantage.

One of the Spokane privates delivers a substantial amount of indigent 
care.  This home has 84 skilled nursing beds, 120 regular beds, and a 
physical therapy unit. Its facilities are on par with Good Sam.  The other 
has about 34 skilled nursing, a substantial assisted living capacity 
and  very high end.  Both were interested in committing to our area under 
the right conditions. My impression,after one of the CEO's talked with BJ, 
was that Gritman wanted to retain control and the nursing home would be 
secondary players.  Frankly, I do not know if this would work.   We, as a 
community, may want to explore our future needs recognizing Gritman as a 
great asset,  but not a long term care provider.

I think that we are being rushed into a corner without exploring other 
possibilities and agree with Murf on just voting on the reversionary 
clause. I certainly do not want to have Gritman lose interest, have the 
facility change into a housing development, or confuse the public.

Jerry (Just returned from 10 days in  sunny Arizona)


At 10:12 AM 1/5/07, lfalen wrote:
>Donovan has some good points here. What is the hurry in putting it to the 
>voters? The only thing left is the pool and Gritman is running it. Why 
>spend $20,00 on a vote that has only the option of Gritman or the status 
>quo? Would not it have been better to publicly solicit interest from 
>prospective bidders. There are two unsolicited bidders offering in excess 
>of $200,000, both of which would keep the pool open. Why would it have not 
>been wise to see who else was interested, before a costly vote is taken 
>and might result in putting us back were we are now. Gritman may very well 
>be the best bet, but we do not know that. Apparently a group in Spokane 
>was interested in it as assisted living facility. All options should 
>be  on the table before a costly vote  is taken.
>
>Roger
>-----Original message-----
>From: Donovan Arnold donovanjarnold2005 at yahoo.com
>Date: Fri, 05 Jan 2007 00:41:41 -0800
>To: Debbie Gray graylex at yahoo.com,  vision2020 vision2020 at moscow.com
>Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Selling Latah Health Services
>
> > Debbie,
> >
> >   My first fear is that the building will no longer be used to provide 
> a place of care for the indigent elderly and disabled members of the 
> Palouse community. I think that in the near future a building will be 
> needed for this purpose.
> >
> >   My second fear is that the county will be duped, in that the building 
> will not be used for the purposes that Gritman wishes due to high costs 
> of renovation and maintenance. I think that the building will simply be 
> used as office space leased out by Gritman. What else can they possibly 
> afford to use the building for? The renovation costs to convert that 
> building for what they want will cost more than just building a new building.
> >
> >   My third major fear is that millions of dollars that the taxpayers 
> have invested over the last 50 years into the building will be tossed, or 
> given away. We will be losing a multimillion dollar investment because we 
> don't want or cannot spend the money to maintain and repair the building 
> at this moment in time.
> >
> >   The generation that fought in WWII and understands sacrifice, 
> sacrificed to have that building build so that they, their children and 
> grandchildren would have a decent place to live in the event that they 
> lose their independence.
> >
> >   I would be willing to sell the building to Gritman provided that:
> >
> >   1) The therapy pool was kept open and maintained for members of the 
> community
> >   2) In the event that Gritman could not start the modifications as 
> promised within five years, the building ownership reverts back to Latah.
> >   3) That the building be used for Non-Profit community needs ONLY.
> >   4) That any offers to maintain and operate the facility as an 
> assisted living of skilled nursing facility take precedence over any 
> other proposals for use of the space.
> >
> >   Best,
> >
> >   Donovan J Arnold
> >
> >   PS, I would not be overly objective to using a portion of the 
> building as an alternative High School.
> >
> >   PSS, Why does Gritman want to own the portion of property where the 
> child care center is located?
> >
> > Debbie Gray <graylex at yahoo.com> wrote:
> >   So what are the main complaints against this proposal?
> > That Gritman might change their mind and not provide
> > the services they are intending? That Latah County is
> > somehow going to lose out by letting this happen
> > because....?
> >
> > Too tired to devil's advocate myself,
> >
> > Debbie Gray
> >
> > --- "B. J. Swanson" wrote:
> >
> > > Visionaries,
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Gritman Medical Center's Proposal to Purchase and
> > > Letter of Intent regarding
> > > Latah Health Services can be found by visiting
> > > Gritman's website (the front
> > > page) at www.gritman.org ,
> > > and clicking on the
> > > "Proposal to Purchase and Letter to Latah County
> > > Regarding Latah Health
> > > Services" link in the bottom right hand corner.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Gritman will continue to update the website with
> > > more information and plans
> > > as they become available.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Thank you.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > B. J. Swanson
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > >
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