Community Solution for Jackson's Recovery

We, the undersigned, hold that: 

• Healthcare is a basic human right. 


• Healthcare reform, including federal and state support, is needed to address the systemic barriers that contribute to inadequate funding for the uninsured and underinsured; Miami-Dade faces the same challenges as safety net systems throughout the country.


• Jackson Memorial has been the first, last, and often preferred source of healthcare for all Miami-Dade County residents. 


• Jackson plays a crucial and unique role in the community and nationally as a premiere teaching and innovation facility, and as the primary caregiver for our county%u2019s low-income and uninsured populations. 


• Jackson Health System is the most important safety net institution for community health and physical well-being in South Florida, a vital asset and recognized industry leader.  


• Especially in these times of economic crisis, it is a moral obligation and sound economic and social policy for Jackson Health System to survive and continue to provide quality care to the residents of South Florida and beyond. 


• While the state and county experience the highest unemployment rate on record, the reduction of jobs at Jackson will impact other county services and lead to a further overall downward economic spiral. Jobs must be maintained, and we recognize that the quality of care is primarily a reflection of the skill and professionalism of the healthcare workers. While all parties must collaborate toward a solution, the recovery cannot be solely on the backs of healthcare workers. 

To that end we support solutions that include these principles: 

• Cuts to primary and preventive care must be avoided at all costs. We hold firm that any cuts to primary and preventive care will produce immediate and profound impacts on the long term health and economic prosperity of the county. Reduction in primary and preventive care only leads to higher costs and worse outcomes as research has amply shown. 


• Emergency room service must be continued throughout the network, and cooperatively administered by all the health care providers in the region. The impacts will be collectively felt, and so the responsibility should be shared and coordinated effectively. 


• Our county healthcare system is an intricate and interdependent web; no one component can act in isolation. Shared planning and contributions across the network, including other hospitals and the range of healthcare providers, are needed to ensure that residents have affordable access to quality care on a timely basis.  


• Public education, transparency and system navigation support are vital to enable residents to cope with the changing healthcare landscape. Jackson and other healthcare providers and payors should unite to develop a cohesive and clear healthcare delivery model and communicate it to the public through a range of public education and enrollment assistance strategies. 


• Highly skilled, committed and experienced Jackson personnel must be rehired within our healthcare network, wherever possible, if other solutions are insufficient to prevent their displacement from Jackson. Our Jackson healthcare professionals are among the most experienced and stable in the region thanks to good working conditions, public support and a shared commitment to excellence. If we lose these professionals, we lose a vital community asset. 


• County assistance is needed to assure adequate cash flow for the immediate system needs while collaborative cross-system planning occurs, with support of the Mayor and County Commission, to accomplish the downsizing needed to address budget shortfalls, and shifting costs for county responsibilities such as inmate care, wherever possible, to other sources. 


• The Mayor and County Commission should create a county healthcare advisory board to explore challenges and solutions for the larger healthcare system; this board will assure that a broader cross section of consumers and providers can contribute ideas and serve as ambassadors for the healthcare needs of the entire community. 
  

Affirmed on March 17, 2010 by the undersigned: