Hospital Board — Central District, Seat 1: Jody Davenport

Age: 46

Hometown: Valparaiso, Ind.

Occupation: Registered nurse

Previous political offices: None

About: Jody is an accomplished and highly skilled registered nurse. Jody has a reputation for being a respected clinician who cares deeply about the patients in her care. Serving in her role as a committee member of the Doctors Hospital of Sarasota Professional Practice Committee, Jody is a staunch advocate for ensuring therapeutic and effective patient care. Jody believes the chief responsibility of Sarasota Memorial Hospital is to ensure the optimal level of patient care while providing a safe and comfortable environment for all patients and their families. Born in Valparaiso, Ind., Jody has adopted Sarasota as her new home. She has been married for 25 years and is the mother of two. 

Why do you want to serve on the hospital board?

As a nurse, I advocate for patient rights on a daily basis. Serving as an elected board member would allow me the opportunity to represent the community as a whole and be a larger voice for the underserved. 

What qualifies you to oversee the fiscal health of the Sarasota Memorial Health Care System?

Diversity on the board is the best way to serve our community. I am a well educated woman who belongs to the most trusted profession in our country. I believe in using existing resources to the fullest extent possible to maintain a fiscally responsible operation. My expertise in health care qualifies me to be part of a diverse group of elected board members.

What is your position on how the hospital board should use and manage its taxing authority? Do you have a position on whether the current millage rate should be raised or lowered?

To maintain our community hospital, the board should continue with the current millage rate. Thanks to the many generous philanthropists in our community, we have been able maintain our current millage rates. Philanthropy, fiscal responsibility and utilizing existing resources are key in preventing any rate hikes.

If elected, what do you believe should be the top priority of the board during your term?

One of the mission statements of SMH is to make it the best place to be a patient. The current safety rating, according to the Leapfrog survey, is a C. To fulfill our mission statement, we must focus on improving patient safety.

A proposed hospital in Venice is just one of the ways SMH has attempted to grow over the past few years. Do you favor or oppose pursuing a hospital in Venice? Why?

The proposed expansion of SMH in Venice is one example of how to utilize existing resources to serve the needs of our community. The proposed site was chosen to serve the needs of south county residents because of its proximity and the land was already owned by the hospital. 

SMH lost a bid to buy Venice Regional back in 2004 to a "for profit" corporation; we all know how well that worked out for our county. I am in favor of further expansion to serve the healthcare needs of our community in a not-for-profit setting. We must expand our outreach as the county continues to grow. 

What is your position on building a hospital in Sarasota County's largest city, North Port?

As North Port and south county continue its rapid growth, we as leaders must respond to the outcry from the public and provide services to support a healthy community. As a board member, I will advocate for an expansion of the SMH campus to provide essential services needed for the largest city in our county.

What is your position on doing what Venice and other communities have done — selling and privatizing the hospital system and using the proceeds in a community foundation?

Privatization of health care is a terrible thing that puts patients at risk. Choosing profit over people will lead to a decline in our life expectancy and a reduction of essential services that traditionally don't post profits such as pediatrics and mother/baby services. We deserve better, and as taxpayers, we must demand representation for all residents, not just a select few.