Consultant begins guiding county through Cooper Green transition

Consultant begins guiding county through Cooper Green transition

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By Alan Collins - bio | email
Otis Story will work with Jefferson County to transition Cooper Green to a primary care facility. Source: WBRC video Otis Story will work with Jefferson County to transition Cooper Green to a primary care facility. Source: WBRC video
JEFFERSON COUNTY, AL (WBRC) -

The man hired to help transition Cooper Green Mercy Hospital from an inpatient facility to an outpatient primary care operation answered some critical questions Monday.

Many of the supporters say the poor will suffer. But consultant Otis Story, a native of Anniston, says his main message to supporters is that no one will fall through the cracks. As to supporters accusations that people will be "dying in the streets," Story had this to say.

 

"Of course not. Once again we are talking about one of the greatest healthcare system in the country around Birmingham. You got Brookwood. You got UAB as the crown jewel as far as I'm concerned," he said.

 

The county has set aside $40 million dollars to provide the indigent with medical care and many supporters want to know if those dollars will follow indigents to other hospitals.

"There are going to be contracts with other acute care facilities and diagnostic centers, could be the same to patient services to those designated at indigent, uninsured or under insured," Story said.

If a cancer or heart patient needs care, there will be full guidance on where they can get the best medical attention.

"The intent is to have a system in place so you can support patients through primary care needs. To answer your question to have in place a platform to insure care to patients and their family out there," Story said.

Story says it will be his goal also to provide a plan for those Cooper Green Hospital employees who are losing their jobs to be trained or provided assistance to find other jobs. Up to 250 workers could lose their jobs once the transition is complete.

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