Kaufman on the LKRMC

The District II commissioner released prepared comments to the media and consituents over concerns about the contining process.

CONTRIBUTED

Friends:

See prepared comments below for the meeting scheduled today.

Commissioner Sam Kaufman Lower Florida Keys Hospital District Board Meeting – September 9, 2025

Thank you, Ms. Chair and members of the Board.

Early in 2024, in January, I convened a task force of community members to advise me on the hospital transition process. Our focus has been on transparency, accountability, and ensuring that the community’s medical needs remain at the center of every decision.

Today, I want to express several concerns.

First, while the agenda lists “adoption of performance measures” and “discussion of hospital operations and lease expiration,” there are no clear action items tied directly to the preparation of the Request for Proposals (RFP) or the timeline that Akerman outlined in its report. According to that timeline, by now the Board should be moving into consultant selection and beginning RFP drafting. Yet the agenda does not reflect which consultant is to be selected, nor are there backup materials available to the public to understand the decision-making process.

Second, regarding the engagement of a consultant through Akerman, the public and stakeholders deserve to see a written memo that explains the consultant’s role, scope of work, the advantages of hiring them, and whether other consultants were considered. Without that transparency, it is difficult to evaluate whether this path forward is in the best interest of our community.

Third, the Board’s own adopted performance measures require monthly updates from counsel and consultants and regular monitoring of progress toward operator selection. Those updates and measurable benchmarks must be made public and must be tied to specific deadlines.

Finally, there has been no clear effort to solicit input from stakeholders in the RFP drafting process—this includes physicians and other medical providers, community treatment organizations, the task force I convened, and members of the public. Their expertise and perspectives are vital in shaping an RFP that reflects the real needs of patients and providers in our community.

Looking ahead, the next steps should include:

• A written outline from Akerman describing the consultant’s scope and justification.

• A public-facing calendar of milestones for the RFP drafting process between now and January.

• Regular progress reports that are accessible not only to the Board, but to the community as a whole.

• A structured process to include stakeholder input—from physicians, health care providers, community groups, and the public—before the RFP is finalized.

This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to secure the best possible operator for our hospital. To succeed, the process must be transparent, deliberate, and accountable every step of the way, with meaningful community participation.

I urge the Board to strengthen today’s discussion with clear commitments to timelines, written documentation, measurable benchmarks, and stakeholder engagement.

Thank you.

Sam Kaufman

District II City Commissioner, City of Key West