Title: CEO Corner: Ruth Ellen Fitch of The Dimock Center

" The comments -- national health care reform is to drive down costs and provide coverage of the nation's 47 million uninsured. Look Alan -- CEO of academic center is here to provide expert perspective on the me. Welcome to -- corner every -- we go one on one with new England's top CEOs to learn the secrets to their success. This week we have Bruce Allen fit you with the CEO of the -- welcome -- thank you I'm it to begin this program by hearing your assessment of the need for health care reform. A couple -- the New York Times did an editorial pointing out that over the past decade 48%. Of adult Americans under 65. Have been without health insurance coverage. At some point. That -- in 2006 and 2007 went up 13%. 5%. Last year. A bottom line they say that this is not affordable anymore we need health care reform we swing the Massachusetts we have a poll on the front page of the Boston Globe today. 44%. Of those polled are fearful they're going to lose their jobs. 40% don't think the economy's going to get significantly better for another three years. Unemployment did nine point 3% 33 year high what are you seeing at -- didn't like what is -- like and is it growing."

" There is a need for health insurance and it is growing. I think. When when I look at. The big picture when I look at our health insurance structured tied to a job it really is it makes for a lot of people. Who can't get health insurance because -- not employed. Don't have the money to. Pay for that kind independent health insurance and so I think the need for health insurance reform is really huge."

" Last week it lo and behold they that back this bill actually made it through the Senate Finance Committee. With the support of Republican Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins say it appears that willing to work. On this bill now the bill looks like the spine of legislation that is going to get through the congress but it's being shot. For instance and an eight. The public plan because they just wouldn't. Have the wherewithal financially to be part of a tax subsidy they just wouldn't work for them. Boston Globe said it's skimpy. It it needs more beef it needs more money. But it does look like this kind of legislation so. Your thoughts there is no public option as part of this that there is universal coverage so called. Do we need public option."

" I think we do I think we do need a public options option and if it's something that doesn't end up in lieu bill that would currently working on. I think we need to come back to a inconsiderate. One of the realities is that on a private basis whether it's tied to employment or whether it's independent of employment in just on a personal basis. I think that health care coverage is going to be really expensive without a public option. We at -- a lot of people who can't afford healthcare even in Massachusetts which has universal health care. In -- lot of reasons for it but the bottom line is we see a lot of people who don't have health. Here arbitrage cutting back on it on their health care services especially elective surgery that's sort of thing. There were there was a piece in The Wall Street Journal on going back maybe six months that that's down 15%. Elective surgery so. Yes that's what happens I think people really look hard and and maybe even confer with their providers and say how long -- I put this off. Hope in the hope that something will happen in the income they will be able to afford it get coverage etc. I think that's a natural. Progression in the kind of -- economy we're in now. We do see people who at Damon who are reluctant to have the surgery that they need. Sometimes they're in position to put it off often not so. We're. You know in a position I think. Playing with people's health in some regards with just not good."

" No -- to step back from moment insurance our viewers a little bit of brief corporate overview on -- accept. It was founded in 1862. It was founded even went to a hospital for women and children actually. It's headquartered in Roxbury and -- fifteen satellite locations focused provider health care behavioral health and family services. Number of employees 400 budget thirty million patient client visits yearly. 46000. A lot of volume has going for the center if you wide would you share of our viewers a little bit of history it."

" It's quite fascinating. The hospital as you said was found in an 1862 by women doctors and administrators as a place where women doctors could admit their patience. It was its aim was a maternity hospital and Children's Hospital. -- into the campus in -- in 1874. That's our oldest building and was of the hospital until 1969. When it became -- to make health center I -- the first Afro American nurse was educated there is that the hospital. -- run by women for women first in new England and second the United States what a distinguished history hit it really is and that the differentiator here basically a national model for an integrated delivery system for health care. And for human services in an urban setting right. A national model yeah yeah we have we're trying to campus -- nine acres with nine buildings. Some of the buildings of rentals. But in five or six of the buildings are services the health center isn't behavioral health programs we have an inpatient detox we have halfway houses. I can't this enough for men who are in recovery. From the detox center we have a homeless shelter. On their houses 28 and is usually about seventy people. So we really do have a very diverse group of services that we offer all in one place including. Head start early it's -- and education. Adult and -- children's health care what it quite a spectrum of serious it is it's it's the us every service -- or an individual could be. Frankly good step back again Cheryl little bit of."

" Personal background on Ruth -- herself it's very distinguished and and really quite interesting. She's a native of Roxbury she was educated at Bernard college in Columbia university and she has a -- degree from Harvard Law School. Experience with the director. Of programming at Brookline public school system. -- should -- black literature. Partner at Palmer and dodge in five years ago she became president and CEO of the civic center. So you were on a high powered corporate lawyer partner at."

" Palmer and dodge and probably why did you decide to make such a career change. -- I. Would get a lot of administrative work when I was at Palmer and -- as well as legal and financial structuring work and I really felt that I had to. One war iteration one -- career left. And so I retired from congress dodge and stepped out looking for leadership position in a not for profit. And disposition. Became available just as I started looking and I go up to box room gimmick and rock's Tracy said literally came home I said should be mine and and I came home."

" Working right -- your neighborhood academy eccentric. I wonder about the finances. Because. Let's face it hospitals across the country half of them are reporting red ink. According to economists a third are doing it now are on a regular basis this recession is -- the recovery is shaky it's such a jobless recovery. And how is that impacting upon. Your. You're a private independent not for profit and you fund raising and I should point out to our viewers you had a major event coming up at your annual fundraising. Events stepping out snow. What's it like -- felt and I mean it it must be tight."

" It is it's it's a tough times in a tough economy. We have a lot of federal state and city contracts that are kind of by the -- about it that's what work. But fundraising also sports network and events as well as. Koreans I'm from foundations and from individuals and the highest and best money that we can get frankly in fund raising is an unrestricted funds. It's. -- getting the funds in this year people individuals corporations are pulling back being more cautious but. That's on the one hand on the other hand we have a lot of strong supporters and I think we've got. An appeal. In with the financial service with the services that we provide. That. It's hard to resist let's talk about seven. I'll -- early November November 7 -- And the governor and his wife are the co chairs and have Brian McKnight coming yes thank -- very very exciting evening it is and it's at the Westin Boston waterfront hotel and in Boston. We usually have a one to 2000 people who attend we've got a number of different. Jazz and Hispanic and Latino music. So. You name it we have it and in exile in small clubs so that people it's very intimate people really strongly aisles and he and find what they wanna hear and that's it -- important to you and also your affiliations I I know that you have one with the Children's Hospital. But also with Beth Israel deaconess home how strategically important northeast and what does -- allow you to provide your patience. Did very important. We do have we have an affiliation agreement Beth Israel and follow our patients are admitted to Beth Israel hospital when they need hospitalization. Beth Israel in children have very much our partner. That Israel has given us paying agent grant program pharmacy that we just opened in our health center. Today financial support us every year and it makes it a very very important. Partnership. And it's not just financial support. Whatever we need the first place begun to look and talk to and asking get ideas from is Beth Israel is children's. So it's a great partnership that has really supported us in the work we do we're gonna take our first break we'll be back with more CEO quarter in just a moment."