Nashville Clergy Issue United, Community-wide Call to Action to Obtain Federal Aid for Metro Nashville General Hospital

Services to Community, Education for Physicians, and Jobs in Local Economy Are Threatened by Reductions in Local & State Funding

Nashville clergy have issued a united, city-wide call to action to secure federal aid for Metro Nashville General Hospital. Clergy members announced their effort on behalf of the hospital at a news conference on March 31. Among the people participating in the news conference were (left to right) Reverend Jerry Maynard II; Reverend Henry Blaze, Progressive Baptist Church; Reverend Judi Hoffman, Edgehill United Methodist Church; and Reverend Jay Voorhees, Antioch United Methodist Church. More than 70 Nashville clergy have already signed a declaration of support to secure federal funding for Metro Nashville General Hospital

Nashville, TN – Nashville clergy have announced a united, city-wide call to action to secure federal aid for Metro Nashville General Hospital as the hospital faces reductions in local and state funding that threaten the hospital’s unique role as a provider of medical care to thousands of Nashvillians and as an education partner with Meharry Medical College. During a news conference on March 31, Reverend Henry Blaze, Progressive Baptist Church, and Reverend Judi Hoffman, Edgehill United Methodist Church, said that more than 70 Nashville clergy have already signed a united declaration of support to seek and secure federal funding for Metro Nashville General Hospital. They urged Nashville citizens and community, business, civic, and health care leaders to join them in this effort.

Bishop Jerry Maynard, Cathedral of Praise, said, “Health care is a matter of justice and morality. We talk about Nashville being a great city. However, our city’s greatness must include access to healthcare for all of our people. If our city fails to provide this, Nashville falls short of greatness no matter how many businesses move here or how many tourists visit.”

“Metro Nashville General Hospital faces a financial crisis that threatens the city’s healthcare infrastructure. Because of the economy, Nashville has an increasing number of uninsured residents who need to know that their city has not forgotten them and their need for access to a hospital. Metro Nashville General Hospital is our city’s safety-net for acute care medical services,” said Rev. Blaze.

Metro Nashville General Hospital serves more than 30% of the uninsured patients in the city. The hospital incurred $70 million in expenses for uncompensated care in 2008, while receiving $34 million from Metropolitan Government as a subsidy for the indigent care services.

Rev. Judi Hoffman explained, “We know that the State of Tennessee and Metro Government of Nashville Davidson County face tough economic times. However, we believe that our city has a moral obligation to operate a fully accredited public safety net hospital to serve the health care needs of Nashvillians.”

Need for a Fully Accredited In-patient Facility
The clergy stressed that it is crucial that Metro Nashville General Hospital continue to operate as a fully accredited, in-patient facility.

“We can be proud of the network of primary care clinics that operate in our city. However, people who have acute illnesses need to receive care in a hospital. Without Metro General Nashville Hospital, there would be nowhere for them to go,” said Rev. Hoffman.

Rev. Hoffman also noted that without this accredited in-patient facility, the education of hundreds of Meharry medical and dental students is threatened because of the unique partnership between Metro Nashville General Hospital and Meharry Medical College.

The clergy stressed that the hospital’s funding crisis could have a long-term impact on the health of the nation because the training for thousands of future physicians could be curtailed. They noted that the Metro General – Meharry Medical College partnership is a unique national health care resource that is deserving of federal financial support.

United Methodist Minister Fred Cloud, seen here with Pastor Maurice Harris of the Hosea Community Church, is one of the United Methodist ministers speaking up for Metro General Hospital.

Meharry Medical College is the largest private, comprehensive historically black institution for educating health professionals and scientists in the United States. Metro Nashville General Hospital serves as Meharry’s principal teaching facility. The Meharry-General Hospital partnership is part of the nation’s health education infrastructure.

Hospital’s Economic Impact
Freda Player, Change that Works Tennessee, spoke at a public rally following the March 31 news conference. Addressing more the 100 people who attended the rally, she pointed out that the hospital has an annual budget of $95 million and a payroll of over 700 employees.

“The hospital is a major employer in Nashville. In the current economic situation, where would 700 people find jobs in our city? Federal funding for Metro Nashville General Hospital is important for many economic reasons.”

Seay-Hubbard United Methodist Church pastor Kennard Murray, conversing here with the Rev. Jay Voorhees, also is supporting financial aid for Metro General Hospital.

Reverend Jay Voorhees, Antioch United Methodist Church, summarized the clergy’s reasons for undertaking this effort. He said, “We have faith that many people will join us in this effort because we know this city and its people. We believe that:

. Nashville is a caring, compassionate community that wants to provide quality care to people in need in an accredited facility;
. Nashvillians want to help their neighbors when they lose their jobs and provide the assurance that you can receive acute care health services if needed;
. Nashville is doing a good job in providing primary care services in health clinics, but needs to continue to operate an acute care hospital to serve clinic patients; and
. The people of Nashville and its leaders will join us in working to secure federal funds for the continued operation of Metro Nashville General Hospital because it is the moral and right thing to do.”

For information about the Nashville clergy’s Declaration of Support, visit http://www.faithleadersforall/of us.com or call 481-9246.