Health care debates can feel complicated, but for Broward County families, the issue is simple: Can you get the care you need close to home?
Recently, some commentary, including in this newspaper, has described the pause in legislation supporting the Better Together collaboration between Broward Health and Memorial Healthcare System as a “defeat.” That framing misses what this effort means for families in our community.
Shane Strum is president and CEO of Broward Health and interim CEO of Memorial Healthcare System. (courtesy, Shane Strum, photography by Rick Gilbert)
Imagine an expectant mother in Broward County who is working, juggling bills and trying to do everything right for her baby. Early in her pregnancy, she knows she needs regular prenatal care. But where she lives, the closest clinic that can see her is more than 30 minutes away. Getting there means taking time off work, navigating public transportation, and losing pay she depends on. Faced with those barriers, appointments are delayed or missed.
This is where public hospitals step in when others do not. They exist to care for every patient, regardless of income, insurance or ability to pay. For example, Broward Health opened a maternity clinic in Lauderdale Lakes that was expected to serve 200 women, but more than 1,700 received prenatal care there in its first year. Many of those mothers might otherwise have arrived at the emergency room in labor without ever seeing a doctor.
Now imagine that same mother learning her baby may need a specialist, such as a pediatric cardiologist. Too often, that means being told to travel across the county, adding stress and uncertainty during an already difficult time. Broward County lacks enough specialists, and no single public hospital can meet the need alone. All the while, many private hospitals choose not to offer this level of specialized care.
If public hospitals were allowed to work alongside each other, doctors and specialists could move between hospitals to reach patients who need them most. That means faster treatment, fewer delays and better outcomes for both mothers and babies.
Finally, imagine that same mother preparing to give birth, only to learn the nearest private hospital no longer delivers babies. Because labor and delivery services are often unprofitable, some private hospitals have stopped offering them. That happened in Broward County in 2022, when Holy Cross Health closed its maternity unit. When that happens, families turn to public hospitals, where no one is turned away.
The Better Together effort was created to address these shortages in care, from prenatal visits to emergency services and mental health support. Some critics have claimed that the legislation supporting this effort would merge hospitals. That is simply not true. The hospitals would remain separate, locally governed and publicly accountable. The goal is straightforward: Make sure health care reaches people across Broward who would otherwise have little access or go without it.
This effort was neither rushed nor hidden. Last fall, Memorial Regional Hospital hosted a Broward legislative delegation meeting attended by more than 300 people, including elected officials, local leaders and residents, livestreamed on the Florida Channel. At that meeting, we walked through the proposal and answered questions. We also called the Sun Sentinel Editorial Board to share our mission through an in-depth discussion, while allied partners launched education efforts to explain the legislation and hear from the community.
So why was the legislation paused? Because private, for‑profit hospital systems saw collaboration between Broward’s public hospitals as a threat to their market share. Using their financial resources and political influence, opponents worked to sow confusion, cast doubt on the proposal, and stall the bill.
At its core, this debate is about accountability. Private hospital systems are structured to prioritize financial performance and shareholder return, while public hospitals are structured to prioritize community access and health outcomes. When essential services like maternity, emergency or behavioral health care become unprofitable, private systems may reduce or discontinue them. Public hospitals do not leave. We remain committed to providing care because our obligation is to the residents of Broward County.
We are here for the long haul. We will keep stepping up when others step back, and we will keep fighting for quality care close to home. We ask the community to join us in supporting the Better Together collaboration that puts patients first.
Shane Strum is president and CEO of Broward Health and interim CEO of Memorial Healthcare System.