#75 - Harrison Kiser, CEO of Ascension St. Thomas West
In this episode, Tim sits down with Harrison Kiser from Ascension St. Thomas West, along with Nikki and returning guest Kimmy, to break down the other side of the Fairview ER conversation—and clear up even more confusion surrounding the competing hospital proposals.
After the community heard two different ER announcements within days, this conversation focuses on what Ascension is actually planning: a full healthcare campus in Fairview, not just a standalone ER. The proposed project would include a freestanding emergency room alongside a Dickson Medical Associates facility, creating both emergency care and preventative care in one location.
Harrison explains how St. Thomas operates as a non-profit, mission-driven healthcare system, emphasizing community investment, accessibility, and holistic patient care—including support beyond just the immediate medical issue. The discussion also highlights how their ER would function, what types of emergencies it can handle, when patients would be transferred, and how critical time-sensitive situations (like heart attacks or strokes) would be managed.
The episode also dives into the Certificate of Need (CON) process, how community support can impact the outcome, and what residents can do if they want to support the St. Thomas proposal.
At the end of the day, this episode gives Fairview residents a clearer understanding of both sides of the ER situation, what’s at stake, and why this decision matters for the future of healthcare in the community.
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