[Russ_Boston]

Haven't read the article (since I can't find it) but I would very, very, highly doubt if what you stated isn't exactly what is intended. I would find it hard to believe that either (probably both) Moffit or Morse wouldn't know EXACTLY what the plan was. You don't just announce something this large and then try to figure it out. Not either one's MO.

My 2 Cents.

[dillywho]

Originally Posted by Number 6

Today I read in the Daily Sun that the Developer is looking for the residents to pony up $6.4 million to equip the new Cancer Center. I am stunned by that revelation. The reimbursement from the delivery of patient care is expected to cover the cost of the building and equipment. Now they want to be paid twice! Once by the residents, and again by the insurance carriers, mostly Medicare.

Here is how this works. The developer of the center takes out a loan for the building, equipment and working capital. Once they begin seeing patients, they recover the costs and, in this case, make a pretty decent profit. The radiation therapy side of the business is profitable, the medical oncology side, not so much.

When the initial story came out that the Developer was providing the building and was going to run the center independent of the Hospital, I thought it was a pretty good business move. Of course the original cost of $2 million of equipment was laughable. I think at the time I said that you cannot buy a state of the art accelerator for $2 million.

I just cannot believe that they do not have a complete financial feasibility study for this project. They must know what they are doing, though I now have my doubts.

Perhaps I interpreted what you are saying incorrectly. Maybe the choice of words was not what you really meant.

The quote in the paper by Gary Morse is, "...I committed to finance and construct the building, confident that our residents would come together and raise the money neeeded to buy the equipment....." I don't understand who the "they" are that are expecting to be paid twice for both facility and equipment.

I don't agree with him that our residents need to be alone in raising the equipment monies. As the other poster said, it should have read "area" and not "our".

It sounds like you could lend much to this endeavor with your expertise. It seems that would benefit all, including G. Morse.

[chuckster]

All you supposed "experts" should not sit on the sidelines and put down this opportunity for all local residents. Come on in and donate time and effort at fund raising. Stop the whining and pitch in and help..........It might be you someday who will need cancer treatments. Step up to the plate...........I'm sure we can count on your generous donation.

[bkcunningham1]

I haven't read the article, so I'm not commenting on that part of the discussion. I would like to comment on raising funds for your community.

The area where I'm from in rural Southwest Virginia, in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains and very poor, hosted a golf tournament in June and raised $15,149,183.98 for a charity. That's right over $15 million, with an "M" million.

It is amazing what people can do when they have a vision and work together. The story of the charity they gave the money to is another amazing story.

It is a school/home for disadvantaged children. The private owners have never taken a penny of state or federal funds since it started as an orphanage in 1921.

No one is charged a dime to put their children in the school/home. The children from Mountain Mission School excell. More than 90% of the school’s graduates enroll in colleges.

Sorry to sorta hi-jack the thread. Just wanted to say I'd be willing to help on any fundraisers. The Moffitt Center does actually have a foundation already established for charitable donations. I'm sure you could contact someone there and find out about donations specifically for the new center's needs.

http://www2.tricities.com/news/2010/...d-b-ar-233713/

[Midge538]

"Maybe you should consider volunteering your expertise to this project."

Ouch, Morse employees getting a little testy here!

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by Midge538

"Maybe you should consider volunteering your expertise to this project."

Ouch, Morse employees getting a little testy here!

Midge, way off base here..............not an employee of Morse.
The poster said......I have developed cancer centers before and I know how this works. If you really want to make a donation, establish a Foundiation for the uninsured. Cancer treatment is an expensive propisition.......Please explain why it it wrong to suggest this person get involved in this project?

[Number 6]

Look, I have thought about this. If this is being set up as a non-for-profit corporation, then great, fund raise for equipment. If it is a for profit, like most free standing cancer centers, than my point stands. I guess it is about who ends up owing the center and collecting the patient revenue.

I did not mean to cause all of this, but the salient information on this project needs to be released so that the resdients can understand what they are being asked to pay for.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by Number 6

Look, I have thought about this. If this is being set up as a non-for-profit corporation, then great, fund raise for equipment. If it is a for profit, like most free standing cancer centers, than my point stands. I guess it is about who ends up owing the center and collecting the patient revenue.

I did not mean to cause all of this, but the salient information on this project needs to be released so that the resdients can understand what they are being asked to pay for.

You are very well informed medically. Are you a nurse or MD or radiation person or hospital administrator? You don't have to answer, I am just nosey.

Don't be nosey Gracie.
Shame on you.

[bkcunningham1]

Central Florida Health Alliance is a not-for profit family of hospitals according to their website. The Villages Health System and the Leesburg Regional Medical Center are both part of the Central Florida Health Alliance.

When a hospital is classified a "not-for-profit" by the Internal Revenue Service it means that the hospital’s use of its profit, or any excess of revenues over expenses, must be used for the benefit of the hospital.

For-profit companies may use their profits to distribute monies to their owners or shareholders, and they can also reinvest that profit into the business. Non-profits only have the latter choice, that is, they must invest all profits into the business.

Here's a really good article that explains not-for-profit hospitals.

http://www.physiciansnews.com/busine...steinberg.html

[kipp818]

for general information the Moffet Cancer Center is a non-profit organization and is very well thought of.Also -- www.moffitt.org will furnish add'l info.

[bkcunningham1]

Did you know the Leesburg Regional Medical Center got its start in 1955 when the Leesburg Chamber of Commerce started a fund drive that ultimately raised over $800,000 from the community.

This money helped form the Leesburg Hospital Association which opened the Leesburg General Hospital in 1963. Pretty amazing.

[Becky]

My reaction after reading the article was what a great PR department The Villages has! They are asking the troops to gather, have parties for fund raisers, and it is a win for everyone. Everyone will have fun and feel that they are assisting in the new center. I am sure that the Morses have thought this through, and could finance this themselves, but this is a great move!

But we all know that The Villages has a great PR department!

Becky

[Jane52]

I'm appalled at some of the grumbling. Yes, the developer could afford to equip the new cancer center. But by having Villages residents JOIN TOGETHER (instead of just grumbling) to socialize and raise the money, residents will then have a personal interest in both the oncology facility AND the patients who are BLESSED to have such a place close by, during the worst LIFE STORM they've ever had.

Once people work to achieve something together, they have a common bond that will keep them coming back to volunteer, raise more funds for expansion, or simply to visit the center and take pride in what decent people can do IN HARMONY.

CARING is what it takes to fund and manage a facility like this, and the Morse family has indeed been caring. I can't even count the number of times a major donor has set up a Matching Funds program in which they match or double or triple what community donors give. It is motivating!

I smell class envy, and that is the poison that fractures a community instead of uniting it.

"Bitterness is a poison we swallow, hoping our enemy will die." (Unknown)

[jmitchell]

Originally Posted by lazlyn

I'm appalled at some of the grumbling. Yes, the developer could afford to equip the new cancer center. But by having Villages residents JOIN TOGETHER (instead of just grumbling) to socialize and raise the money, residents will then have a personal interest in both the oncology facility AND the patients who are BLESSED to have such a place close by, during the worst LIFE STORM they've ever had.

Once people work to achieve something together, they have a common bond that will keep them coming back to volunteer, raise more funds for expansion, or simply to visit the center and take pride in what decent people can do IN HARMONY.

CARING is what it takes to fund and manage a facility like this, and the Morse family has indeed been caring. I can't even count the number of times a major donor has set up a Matching Funds program in which they match or double or triple what community donors give. It is motivating!

I smell class envy, and that is the poison that fractures a community instead of uniting it.

"Bitterness is a poison we swallow, hoping our enemy will die." (Unknown)

I am not sure if class envy is what is driving some of these posts, but I absolutely agree with you about about people working together for a "GOOD" cause! and I do think that "good thoughts and actions" promote more "good thoughts and actions" ---- sort of like that old hair color commercial... and so on, and so on....

[dillywho]

Good to see that this thread is becoming more and more positive in nature.

There still needs to be input from the entire area that will be affected by this wonderful addition to the medical community, not just Villages residents. Then, they can also take pride in having been a part of making it a reality.