Democrats hear from SMH CEO Gwen MacKenzie

A brief but informative presentation by Gwen MacKenzie, president and CEO of Sarasota Memorial Health Care System, was the focus of the Longboat Key Democratic Club meeting Feb. 9, at the Chart House. One topic she addressed was the coast of malpractice insurance for doctors in Florida.

“The insurance fee is $72,000 for $1 million coverage,” MacKenzie said. “Doctors in Florida can go bare with no insurance, but they can lose their license if they can’t come up with $250,000.”

Touching briefly on health-care reform, MacKenzie said Medicare could run out in 2017.

“Fifty-five percent of Sarasota Memorial patients have Medicare and 7.5% have Medicaid,” MacKenzie said. “Our emergency room has had more recession patients than ever before (this year). According to the law, no one can be refused treatment.”

MacKenzie also commented on the quality of the hospital staff and the new equipment being added.
Future plans call for a new tower of 198 rooms to replace the existing facility built in the ’60s.

In other business, the club elected new officers and new board members. Officers are President Murray Blueglass; Vice President Mary Lou Winnick; Treasurer Jane Albaum; and Secretary Pat Rounds.

Board members are Martin Albaum, Alan Bandler, John Clay, Edna Hausman, Carroll Johnson, Penelope Kingman, Harriet Marks, Andy Maass, Rosemarie Myerson, Marvin Morse, Arlene Skversky, Ira Singer and Alan Sprintz.