Q&A
Balancing financial stability and investment in staff at H+H
1:39:59
ยท
168 sec
Dr. Katz explains H+H's approach to balancing financial stability with investments in staff compensation and resources, emphasizing the importance of political support and equitable distribution of resources.
- H+H operates on a $13.3 billion budget, with about $1 billion coming from the city and the rest from generated revenue
- All funds are fully utilized, with no reserves or excessive spending on consultants or luxuries
- Any increase in spending in one area necessitates a decrease in another
- Dr. Katz stresses the importance of maintaining equity among all workforce groups
- H+H acknowledges its role as a safety net system, typically not matching private hospital salaries
- Political leadership's commitment to adequate funding is crucial for maintaining the quality of the safety net system
Carmen N. De La Rosa
1:39:59
How does h and h balance the need for financial stability with the need to invest in staff, compensation, and resources?
Mitch Katz
1:40:06
No.
1:40:06
It's a great it's a great question, and I'm I appreciate the the city council's participation.
1:40:14
And you tell me if I've, you know, viewed it this wrong.
1:40:17
You know, I've been director in 3 different safety net systems.
1:40:20
Not many people can say that.
1:40:21
San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York, and they're the best safety net systems, not because I was there, but because of the commitment of the political leaders to adequately fund them.
1:40:30
Mhmm.
1:40:31
That's that's what makes them, you know, good.
1:40:35
People say, you know, what's the pot for the settlement?
1:40:38
You know, what what do you what can you put up?
1:40:41
And the way I feel it, and this is how I've always tried, there isn't a separate pot.
1:40:47
Everything are choices.
1:40:49
We health and hospitals has a budget of $13,300,000,000 About a $1,000,000,000 of that comes from the city.
1:40:57
The rest is what we generate in revenue.
1:41:00
We can do anything, but anything more that we do here will be something less there because we spend all the money.
1:41:08
Right?
1:41:08
And that's you you view that in your budget committee.
1:41:10
Right?
1:41:11
There's no there's no reserve.
1:41:12
We don't pay astronomical consultants.
1:41:15
We don't we don't do right?
1:41:17
We don't have the mahogany walls all over.
1:41:20
Right?
1:41:21
Every nickel is spent.
1:41:23
So whatever we do for anyone or anything, it all has to balance out.
1:41:29
And sort of my job as I view it with partnership with the mayor and the city council is try to spend that money in the best way possible to deliver the most good to the people we're trying to serve, whatever that is.
1:41:43
And what I do try to pay attention to is equity among my workforce, because I feel like if if one group feels that they're not getting the same thing another group is, then I'm going to lose.
1:41:56
I need happy doctors, but I also need happy nurses, and happy social workers, and happy administrators.
1:42:02
And and it has to be a collective thing that we all acknowledge, or at least this is how I've always viewed it, that we all acknowledge that we are a safety net system.
1:42:11
Mhmm.
1:42:11
And that's what we are, and we don't typically pay private hospital salaries.
Carmen N. De La Rosa
1:42:21
Okay.
1:42:21
Thank you, doctor Katz.
1:42:22
Thank you.
Mercedes Narcisse
1:42:27
Oh, thank you, Chair.
1:42:29
Doctor.
1:42:30
Cass, I really appreciate your honesty.
1:42:33
I have a couple of more questions, but, I have some of my colleagues that have some questions.
1:42:40
Oh, before I get to my, so let me pass it on to, someone in the medical field as well.
1:42:46
Yes.
1:42:46
Council member Marmoreta.