Southwest grants Bloink

Southwest grants Bloink's request

Jan. 12, 2002

By Jim Mimiaga
Journal Staff Writer

A physician’s medical condition has persuaded the management of Southwest Memorial Hospital to ease up on its medical-staff privileging policy, ending years of internal strife.

At his request, Dr. Steven Bloink was granted limited admitting privileges by the Southwest Health System board this month for pediatrics and obstetrics.

Southwest had been hesitant to grant Bloink less-than-full admit privileges because that involves less on-call responsibility, which puts more burden on the rest of the medical staff.

The issue raised a storm of controversy that spilled over into public meetings this winter. Local doctors voiced support for physicians in general wanting to limit their practices for whatever reason.

SHS argued it had a responsibility to make sure the hospital could provide health services around the clock. They feared setting a precedent leading to other physicians demanding less on-call duty.

SHS originally denied the request on those grounds and others, ordering Bloink to take full on-call shifts against his wishes. But after further review, they granted his request for only specific hospital admit privileges, citing a medical condition.

Bloink suffers from recurrent heart arrhythmia, a reason he decided to limit the services he provides in the hospital. His physician recommended in writing that he not take unassigned, on-call patients due to the stress and consequent risk to his heart condition.

"Based on that, the board was concerned what could happen to his health during his on-call shift for unassigned patients so they gave him what he wanted," said CEO Bob Peterson.

The issue highlights a nationwide problem as physicians begin to specialize more, leaving hospitals trying to offer wide-ranging services with scheduling gaps.

The result, as occurs occasionally at Southwest, is that patients, and their revenues, have to be diverted to nearby hospitals for care when on-call shifts are uncovered.

In a letter to the Journal, Bloink expressed gratitude for the decision.

"I am personally grateful for this move," he wrote. "I would like to thank all concerned... community members for their support, which undoubtedly had a part in the resolution."