The Lower Florida Keys Hospital District Board last week approved a request for proposals (RFP) for the next long-term lease of Lower Keys Medical Center (LKMC), Key West’s only hospital.
The vote to approve the RFP was 7-0. Board members Kathy Ovide and Mary Spottswood were absent from the July 7 meeting.
The issuance of the RFP begins the process of selecting an entity to succeed Community Health Systems (CHS), whose 30-year agreement ends in April 2029. Unlike the 1999 agreement, which functioned as a standard landlord-tenant contract, the new RFP represents a fundamental shift in health care oversight, said local health care advocate Spencer Krenke.
“By prioritizing operator quality, breadth of services, system integration, capital investment and a dedicated commitment to indigent care, the Lower Florida Keys Hospital District board is transitioning its role from a passive landlord to an active guardian of public health. What began in February 2024 with five concerned residents as the sole public participants at a Hospital District meeting — Spencer Krenke, city commissioner Sam Kaufman, Kate Miano, Tangela Torres and Susan Merrill — has evolved significantly.
The newly approved RFP, which evaluates a potential hospital operator based on quality of care and community investment versus mere lease terms, is the product of engagement and collaboration over the past two and a half years among Our Hospital Key West, a nonprofit formed by Krenke; Kaufman; the Hospital District board, under the leadership of Erica Sterling; the district board’s fact-finding committee; consultants and attorneys who specialize in health care; and hundreds of concerned citizens who participated in these efforts.
CHS, Mount Sinai and Baptist Health have expressed initial interest in submitting proposals to operate the local hospital. Additional proposals may be received from other operators, Krenke said.
“This RFP represents a historic opportunity to transform LKMC and ensure the highest level of healthcare in the Lower Keys for generations,” he said.
To view the full RFP, visit the “News & Updates” section at ohkw.org.
