Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

We are taking a strong team approach here at Tuomey to fight this disease with everything we have. Dr. Henry Moses, one of our talented surgeons, summed it up best when he said he hoped to work himself out of a job someday. We hope he gets his wish.

I’d like to put a plug in for the Fall issue of LifeTimes, which is being mailed today. You can also see a digital copy of the magazine on our website and Facebook page on Friday.

In this issue, our LifeTimes staff will look at the different stages of a woman’s life and how we are here to serve you as you enter those different parts of your life. And we dedicate this issue to the women in our community. Strong, vibrant women, like our two new Tuomey board members – Nicole Norris and Kim Harvin. These dedicated women joined our board in July and are sure to work hard for your hospital.

We also take a look at our physician partners and what they are doing to take care of women. Sumter Ob/Gyn, which has been a part of this community for more than 75 years, offers procedures and surgeries using the latest technology. There is no reason to leave this community for your gynecological or obstetric services. You won’t find better care anywhere.

As you read through this issue, we hope you gain some additional insight on how your community hospital is here for you – in each stage of a woman’s life. And we do it all for one reason: Our patients.

Sincerely,

Jay Cox, FACHE
President & CEO

Tuomey CFO retires; replacement named

For more than 25 years, Paul Johnson has served admirably as the Chief Financial Officer for Tuomey Healthcare System. Mr. Johnson retired on April 30, 2011.

We already miss his intelligence, strong leadership and his dedication to our mission. But most importantly, we’ll miss his friendship and wonderful sense of humor.

"On behalf of the entire Tuomey Family, I want to thank Paul Johnson for his leadership over the past 25 years as Tuomey's Chief Financial Officer," President and CEO Jay Cox said. " We wish Paul the best as he enters this new phase of his life."

As one chapter closes, we open another.

Michael H. Winiarski has begun work as our new CFO. Mr. Winiarski, CPA, has more than 30 years of successful experience providing fiscal, strategic and operations leadership. He comes to us from Ohio after serving most recently as the CFO at East Liverpool City Hospital.

He is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives and also a member of the HFMA.

We are extremely proud of Mr. Johnson’s work at Tuomey, and we look forward to the service of Mr. Winiarski.

"We welcome Mike and look forward to working with him," Cox added.

MICHAEL H. WINIARSKI, CFO
TUOMEY HEALTHCARE SYSTEM129 N. Washington St.Sumter, SC 29150
803.774.8616
michael.winiarski@tuomey.com

Update on Federal Court Case

To the friends of Tuomey:

I would like to share some additional news concerning our court case. You are all aware that a new trial has been postponed until the Fourth Circuit has a chance to review the entire case. This is news we are very pleased with. Our legal team filed an additional brief with the court earlier in the month, and we are now waiting on the government to respond. In addition, we are very pleased with a recent filing by the American Hospital Association (AHA) in support of our case. This is a major stand by the AHA, and we are proud of their support. Click the following links for both filings – Tuomey’s and the AHA’s.

Thank you for your continued support.

Jay Cox
President & CEO

McLeod Healthcare is NOT buying Tuomey

To the friends of Tuomey:

We have become aware of a rumor that McLeod Healthcare is, or may be, in negotiations to purchase Tuomey Healthcare. These rumors are simply NOT true. There have been NO discussions, negotiations or any other contact between Tuomey and McLeod concerning the sale of Tuomey or any part of Tuomey.

While we feel that it is difficult to respond to each and every rumor that may arise as the future of healthcare in all communities becomes a part of the national debate, we feel that it is important to respond to this particular issue.

Thank you for your continued support, and we are looking forward to a great 2011.

Sincerely,

Chal Glenn
Chair, Tuomey Healthcare System Board of Trustees

Jay Cox
President & CEO, Tuomey Healthcare System

AHA supports Tuomey in Stark Law appeal

The American Hospital Association (“AHA”) has submitted an amicus curiae brief in support of Tuomey Healthcare System, Inc.

AHA is particularly interested in this case because it presents two matters of first impression in the federal appellate courts concerning the Ethics in Patient Referrals Act, more commonly known as the Stark Law.

The first is whether hospitals are entitled to rely on official commentary published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) in making decisions about how to structure their operations to be compliant with the Stark Law.

The second is what evidentiary showing is required to determine the amount the Government may recover—in equity or otherwise—for hospital services furnished pursuant to “referrals” that purportedly violate the Stark Law.

The AHA's position is that hospitals must be able to rely on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' official guidance for complying with the Stark Law, without worrying that the Department of Justice will later disavow conduct consistent with the guidance, the AHA said in an amicus brief filed yesterday in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit.

To read the entire brief that was filed click here.

* Founded in 1898, AHA is the national advocacy organization for hospitals in the United States. It represents approximately 5,000 hospitals, health care systems, and other health care organizations, as well as 37,000 individual members.

AHA’s mission is to promote high quality health care and health services through leadership and assistance to hospitals in meeting the health care needs of their communities.

Happy New Year from Tuomey!

Happy New Year from Tuomey!

Happy Thanksgiving

As we pause for Thanksgiving this week, we'd like to thank all of our patients and families for choosing Tuomey. Also we'd like to thank all of our physicians, nurses and other employees for their outstanding service.