Weekly Meeting News - 28 January 2013

 Guests at this meeting included Beth Frenette - wife of new member Jeff Frenette, Steve Crino - guest of Clark Rumfelt, Nick Stahl - Executive Director of Development for Westerly Hospital and Foundation, and Guest Speaker Dr. Christopher Lehrach - Chief Transformation Officer at Westerly Hospital.

Nine members were present.

NEW MEMBER INDUCTION

We are very happy to report that a new member was inducted at this dinner meeting -  Jeffrey J. Frenette.   Jeff works at the Technology office of The Washington Trust Bank at the facility near Westerly Airport.   Sponsored by Honorary member Joe Potter, Jeff - and Beth -  have been active participants with the Columbus Day Parade Committee along with Joe.  While President Cal explained what it means to become a Rotarian, Past President Bob presented Jeff with his Rotary pin and badge.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Current ADG Russ Bertrand will visit the Club Monday evening 4 February along with Incoming ADG Rona Mann.

Reminder that Vicki Anderson of the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center AND the January and February Students of the Month (Shu Hua Lin and Kevin Wong) will be visiting the Club on 11 February.

Reminder also that 18 February is President's Day - so - no meeting.

The Scholarship Application has been inserted into website for access - see "Download" section - if you know of an eligible Westerly student, please encourage them to download the application.

SPEAKER  -  CHRISTOPHER M LEHRACH, MD, MBA, CTO - Interim Operations

Dr. Lehrach began his talk by providing the membership with a little background.  He was an ER doctor and was CEO of Outpatient services of the Atlantic Medical Group.  He earned his MBA at Yale.  Currently Dr. Lehrach lives in Charlestown with his family - his children were born at Westerly Hospital. 

He explained that his title (Chief Transformation Officer) refers to the task of transitioning Health Care between L&M Hospital with Westerly Hospital.  Dr. Lehrach said that the hospital is currently operating at "breakeven" and is doing a better job with revenue collection.  They are also working at improving the uses of operations and are closing operations that were losing.  Union contracts, stipend and lease arrangements have been or are in process of re-negotiation.  He said that L&M's operating margin was mandated at 3% and this mandate will also apply to Westerly Hospital.

Speaking lastly of the Maternity department closing in June, Dr. Lehrach stated that a shrinking population, cost of living, lower number of pregnancies all directly relate to this decision.  It just did not make sound fiscal sense to keep and maintain the staffing and building cost necessary with just one or two deliveries a day.  L&M has a big maternity facility with neonatal and fertility care as well and it really isn't unreasonably distant.