Hot finance topics

Barnes-Jewish Hospital is getting a new leader next month at a time when health care facilities are feeling the pinch of the troubled economy and facing the uncertainties of health care reform.

But Richard Liekweg, who will become president of Barnes-Jewish and Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital on Sept. 14, believes BJC HealthCare is on solid footing and doesn’t anticipate major cutbacks.

However, Liekweg, who is leaving his position as chief executive and associate vice chancellor of the University of California, San Diego Medical Center, is concerned that health care reform may result in lower reimbursements, including those for research and medical education.

Barnes-Jewish Hospital is St. Louis’ largest employer with more than 9,300 employees and a 1,832-member medical staff. It is also the largest hospital in Missouri.

Liekweg will report to Steven Lipstein, president and chief executive of BJC HealthCare, the parent company of Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Liekweg spoke to the Post-Dispatch from San Diego.

The economy has forced many U.S. hospitals to reduce capital expenditures and their work force. Do you foresee any major cutbacks at Barnes?

I’ve been very impressed that BJC is on very sound financial footing. There is significant discipline in the way it’s allocated limited resources. I don’t anticipate a cutback. I think it will be steady as we go as we look toward the future.

What’s occurred in other markets and in other hospitals around the country, in good times they expanded more than they have taken in. That’s not what BJC has done, and that is serving them very well.

Are you expecting growth in certain areas?

The success Barnes-Jewish has had in cancer care will continue to be an opportunity for future growth and development.

Likewise there will probably be opportunities to grow our cardiovascular program as well.

What concerns do you have about health care reform?

We want to make sure that whatever reform looks like in the end that there is access to affordable coverage for all citizens of the country. At the same time, coverage needs to reimburse hospitals fairly for the investments we make in providing access and delivery of first-class care.

I’m confident in the end … that we will find a way to a system that does ensure that access at a reasonable cost and fair reimbursement.

Are there other provisions you would like in a reform package?

Within health care reform, there needs to be funding to support our academic mission. As an academic medical center, we incur extra costs to train the health care providers of tomorrow.

In addition, from a research point of view, we also have responsibility to make sure we provide our faculty with an environment that is innovative and supports clinical trials. … It would be unfortunate if those two pools of dollars were reduced to fund whatever health care reform model takes hold.

Why would you want to leave San Diego for the humidity of St. Louis?

We’re not moving because of the weather, I’ll put that right out on the table. We really are moving because of the opportunity to join a world-class organization, that’s Barnes, BJC and the partnership with Washington University and its School of Medicine.

I really do believe Barnes-Jewish Hospital has the ability to become the top academic medical center in the country.

Source