RECENT EVENTS

 

May 15, 2008 Business Roundtable

 

KishHealth System as an Economic Driver

 

Over 100 registrants gathered at Kishwaukee Community Hospital to hear two KishHealth System executives, Kevin Poorten, President and CEO and Joe Dant, VP Business Development, discuss how health care affects the economy as a whole and then take a look at the DeKalb County perspective.

Of particular note was the change in managed care strategy that KishHealth System has embarked on, always bearing in mind that their business is locally owned and community based.

They have worked hard to create opportunities for consumers to use local medical facilities by negotiating agreements with almost all major private insurers; they have pushed to recruit 76 physicians over the last 6 years which allows them to better meet needs and expand capability (system physician total is now 222); and the new hospital was built to better meet the needs of the community, coming in on time and under budget with the help of a very successful local capital campaign (utilizing $15.5 million in local construction company services).

Considerable time was spent discussing comparative compensation rates, the ripple effect of expenditures and the health systems impressive financial contributions to the County. The economic impact numbers for the County are significant and can be viewed on our Member's Only website section.

Executive Director Paul Borek welcomes the audience	Presenters Kevin Poorten and Joe Dant discuss Health Care
Rena Cotsones and Dave Juday discuss the presentation	Joe Dant prepares to give a tour of the hospital