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Chapter 40
The board of directors for General Hospital meet as a whole four times a year. There were several sub committees within the larger body that met more often. Like the finance committee which met once a month to make sure the hospital stayed on budget or the audit and the physicians committee that met twice a year to review staff contracts.
The five voting board members were all busy, outside of the work that happened in this room, so they tried to maximize their time when they got together. The meeting generally lasted no more than ninety minutes and stuck to the schedule. Because he planned on bringing something special before the board Jason had sent out emails earlier in the week alerting everyone that this meeting would be longer, and that they would have non-board members speaking.
When Jason walked in everyone was already waiting. Carly Jacks, Tracey Quartermaine, Amanda Barrington, Nikolas Cassadine (whose family no longer owned the hospital having sold it to the Quartermaines) and Jason made up the voting block. Monica Quartermaine and Russell Ford were the final two board members. They represented the staff and patients, but had no voting powers.
They got right down to business. Reviewing the minutes of the last meeting before launching into new items. Health inspections by the state had just been completed and needed to be covered. Items that needed to be replaced or repaired were discussed. Even new scrub patterns that the staff wanted to wear were handled. When all the usual items were finished Jason rose to begin his presentation. As the head of the board new projects were generally launched on his say so.
"General Hospital is considered one of the foremost leading teaching hospitals in the country. In order to keep that reputation, we need to make sure we are one of the leading practicing hospitals in the country." Jason saw the board members nodding. "We have on staff the top two neurosurgeons in the country and we are wasting them. I know that Patrick gets at least one offer a month to move to hospitals that have newer and more advanced facilities than we do. It is only a matter of time before he accepts one of those offers if we don't make some changes."
"What are you proposing?" Amanda asked. She headed the audit and compliance committee. While Jason was right, they did needed to step it up in some areas the money just wasn't there. Not without staff cuts.
"A Neurological Institute here at General Hospital." Jason told the board.
"While that sounds great, it will cost money that we don't have." Amanda knew Jason was aware of the money situation and found it odd that he of all people was bringing this up.
"Actually we do." Jason said walking across the room and opening the door. AJ, and Johnny both walked into the room. AJ began handing out folders while Johnny fussed with the A/V equipment. Ned's face popped up on the screen and he smiled at the board.
"Hello, I'm AJ Quartermaine, this is John O'Brien, and on the screen behind me is Ned Ashton. If you open the collated report in front of you, I'll begin to explain how the three of us along with my brother Jason, and Francis Corelli are going to underwrite this new endeavor." AJ waited until everyone had opened the reports.
"Jason came to us earlier in the year and outlined his vision for the center. He also mentioned that the hospital was not in a financial situation to make this happen. As someone who has benefited from cutting edge neurological work I was excited that we could bring that to my home town." AJ had spent some time in wheelchair, and without access to the best doctors would still be there.
"So." Johnny took over. "When we were approached about funding, we were happy to lend assistance."
"We being who exactly?" Tracy wanted to know. She was the COO of ELQ, so if the funding was coming from that source she should have been informed.
"Quartermaine Media is giving the biggest chuck of money." AJ said proudly.
"O'Brien Enterprises, is giving as well." Johnny added.
"Morgan Corelli Inc. is also giving funding." Jason added grinning.
"And ELQ is donating to the project." Ned spoke up.
"ELQ?" Tracy looked at her son. "Why wasn't I informed?"
"The money is coming from the philanthropic trust that was set up in Lila's name. The person who oversees that is Edward. Since this isn't business you didn't need to be consulted." It was no secret that Ned and his mother didn't always get along, and rarely saw eye to eye on business matters. However that relationship kept the company running smoothly since she didn't let him make decisions without having a reason why. Still he liked getting one over on his mother.
"Why would you give us all this money?" Nikolas said looking at the numbers. The four companies were covering the entire cost of the project.
"I want naming rights." AJ said honestly. "That's why I gave the most money."
"Tax write off." Johnny said shrugging.
"It's a good cause." Ned added.
Jason just smiled. "The hospital needs it." Which was true, but he had no intention of telling them why he was really doing this.
"We can trust your money?" Nik asked bluntly looking at Jason and Johnny.
Johnny just smiled. Jason however answered. "As much as you can trust Ned's." ELQ had recently gotten in trouble over something Tracy had done years ago. The company had weathered the storm, but it had undergone major federal scrutiny. Neither Jason nor Johnny would use dirty money in the hospital.
"Good enough." Nikolas nodded. The Cassadine money wasn't squeaky clean either.
"So who is overseeing the project?" Carly asked looking at the men in the front of the room. While this looked like something great for the hospital, she smelled a rat. AJ and Jason were coming off a bit too smug. "This is a major undertaking and will require a lot of time and energy."
"Actually we are in a really great position there. We have a board member who has been directly involved in not one but two projects of this nature here at the hospital." Jason told the assembled group.
Monica just glared at her sons. She was going to find a way to make sure they both paid for this stunt. From the minute they started talking she knew this was where they were headed. She narrowed her eyes as she glared at the smirks on both their faces. They were assuming they had found a way to curb her time with Howie, but for every move there was a counter move and she would find it.
"Who?" Amanda was the newest board member, just six months, so she had missed previous expansions.
"My son is talking about me." Monica spoke up. "I over saw the installation of the Steve Hardy Trauma center, as well as the Lila Quartermaine pediatrics wing. While I didn't work directly on the projects I was also on hand for the Stone Cates AIDS wing development and construction as well as the new research facilities."
AJ just smiled. "As Chief of Staff I'm sure you can attest to how those additions benefitted the hospital as a whole. I'm sure you will also not have a problem giving your time to this newest endeavor." They had her. She was in a position where she couldn't say no.
"What about Monica's patients?" Russell Ford asked. While Monica represented the hospital staff on the board, Russell represented the patients. "She has a thriving practice that needs her attention."
"We recognize that." Ned spoke up. "But we also recognize the need for the hospital to stay abreast of the changes in medicine."
Jason and AJ only felt a bit guilty that Ned had no clue why they hatched this plan. But his help was proving invaluable. "The last thing any of us wants is for General Hospital to become obsolete."
Carly was already trying to see a way out of the corner the brothers had boxed their mother into. The problem was that both AJ and Jason were master planners. They would have looked at this from every angle to find cracks. "When were you thinking of breaking ground?" Carly needed to know how much time they had to plan their next move.
"May first." Jason said playing their ace.
"That's just over four months!" Monica said stunned.
"With all the money guaranteed you don't need to fundraise." AJ pointed out. "That is what generally holds up the start time on a project of this scale. Once you find a contractor you can break ground while you assemble the other parts. Four months is plenty of time to find someone to construct the building." Or it would be if Monica didn't have patients taking up her time as well.
With a thriving business of his own Howie already had his calendar full. And it was about to burst to overflowing because AJ had pulled a few strings and Dawson Air was about to get a new client. One that would double the older man's business. Major League Baseball was looking for a new charter company and Howie was going to get the call. It was not a contract that would be turned down.
With them both busy at the moment that should curtail the time they had for one another. They didn't want to end their mother's relationship just stop it from moving at Mach One.
"That's true." Nikolas had to agree. "If you start at that time, the entire exterior can be constructed during the warm months negating weather issues."
"If you find a contractor quickly, we might be able to start in April." Ned brought up.
"So how does the board vote?" Jason wanted to get this issue settled.
"I agree." Nikolas had no reason to object.
"Its sound." Amanda had been looking over the numbers. All contingencies has been covered, including an emergency fund in case the project ran over budget. "So I say yes." In the end this would increase the profit margin of the hospital significantly.
"I want more time to think about it." Tracy said to be difficult. She had already lost and she knew it. "So no."
"I also say no." Carly wasn't going to give any reason, but Jason and AJ knew why she was objecting. She could see it in their eyes.
"Jason?" AJ looked at his brother smiling. A majority was needed, and they had it.
"Since I'm backing the project my position is clear but for the record yes. Monica?" In board meetings she wasn't his mother. "When can you get started?"
"I will review my schedule and let you know by the end of the day." She was tired just thinking about the hours of work this meant.
"What are you going to name the center?" Nikolas asked out of curiosity.
AJ smiled again. "The Alan Quartermaine Sr. Center for Neurological Study."
Monica really couldn't argue now. She was as proud of her sons as she was angry.
"Okay, meeting adjourned." Jason grinned. Game, set and match.
Monica, Carly, and Tracy immediately left the conference room. They ended up in the Chief of Staff's office. "There has to be a way around this." Carly stated pacing the office.
"I don't see how. This is a major benefit to the hospital. As Chief of Staff I am expected to be involved." She knew when she accepted the position that it meant her practice came in second. So she was going to have to turn her patients over to other doctors. Even after the ground breaking there was a lot of work to be done.
"We are not giving up. Call Elizabeth and get her up here." Carly was already calling Keesha.
"Keesha Quartermaine." She answered in a chipper voice.
"Tracy call Em." Carly instructed before turning her attention back to Keesha. "We know what the meetings this week were for." She brought the other woman up to speed, ending just as Emily walked in.
"What's up? I have surgery in thirty minutes." The young doctor told the group.
"What did you need?" Elizabeth asked walking into the office. She was surprised at the assembled group.
"Keesha is on the phone." Carly said holding up the device.
"What did they do?" Elizabeth wanted to know. Based on those in attendance, the other shoe had finally dropped.
"We are getting a Neurological Institute." Monica began explaining for Em and Liz's benefit. "I'm overseeing the project."
"What about your patients?" Emily asked. The Stone Cates wing had been completed while she was in medical school. She remembered how much time it took out of her father's schedule.
"They will have to be divided up among the cardiology staff." Monica told her daughter.
Emily frowned at that. As a fellow doctor, and surgeon, she knew how long it took to cultivate trust with your patients. No one would be happy with this move. "Is there a way you don't have to be directly involved in the project?"
"You mean appoint a project manager?" Tracy had been thinking along those lines as well. "It would mean increasing the budget of the project, because they would have to be paid for their time."
"The emergency fund?" Carly asked thinking back to what AJ had handed out.
"That wouldn't be an emergency." Keesha's voice floated across the line. "If you have someone on staff who has the time the board will not approve the hiring." She knew about endeavors like this. The Mary Mae Ward Foundation had recently expanded to include a new headquarters. If she had more time then she'd offer to help.
"On staff." Elizabeth said and everyone looked at her. She was standing there with a grin spreading across her face. "I may have a solution."
"I know that grin." Emily said shaking her head. "Lizzie is about to come out and play."
"Lord help us." Carly laughed. "What do you have muffin?"
"I've been told that starting tomorrow I need to go part time." Elizabeth started.
"Is something wrong with the baby?" Emily asked instantly concerned.
"No." Elizabeth told everyone. "Everything is fine. Given my history Kelly is being cautious. But the point is she wants me off my feet and in a less stressful environment. I think all that free time is going to stress me out." Elizabeth didn't take to being still well. With Jake enjoying his playdates with Meg and Joss he didn't need her hovering. "How about if I take over the project?"
"You?" Monica gave her daughter a good looking over. Her stomach was big for twelve weeks, and she had been wondering about the possibility of twins. "Can you handle this?"
"Not without some help." Elizabeth admitted. "But I think if you sat down with me and outlined my goals I can do it. I'll need to consult with you regularly, and Patrick or Matt will need to step in when it comes time to getting equipment but I can field bids for contractors. We know I can handle design, layout, and the interior decorating."
"I can consult with you." Carly offered wanting to do her part.
"So can I." Tracy wanted to stick it to Ned. "ELQ just expanded, I'll have our contractor call you."
"Actually." Emily said bringing the attention to her. "None of us needs to consult with Liz. We need grandfather to do it. He was instrumental in building the pediatric wing. His fingerprints are all over that. I just bet he would be happy to spend time with his favorite granddaughter." Emily laughed. Jason was going to be fit to be tied.
"That's perfect." Monica grinned.
"We need to check with Kelly first." Elizabeth told them. "If she says no, then we can't do it."
"I'll call her right now." Monica said lifting her phone. Ten minutes later she hung up. "Kelly wants you sitting at a desk regularly, and Piph will take your blood pressure once a week, but she says as long as you are doing okay she will approve this. And with a less physically active job you don't have to go to part time. We beat them at their own game!" Monica said fist pumping into the air.
"This probably isn't over." Keesha warned. "Not only will they try something else, but they have probably put something in play for Howie too. So he needs to be warned."
"That's fine. Howie doesn't do the day to day running of the company anymore. Not since January when he hired someone to replace the person who left. It's not something that is public knowledge, so AJ and Jason couldn't have planned for that, but I'll have Howie warn his COO." Monica told the group. She was thinking that whatever her boys did might have Howie busy in the short term, he would want to help out. But in the long run they would still be moving in together before spring.
"So can I be there when you tell Jason?" Emily wanted to know.
"No." Elizabeth said laughing. "I don't want to be there when I tell him." Her husband was not going to like this. "Girls really do run the world."
"Damn right we do." Carly was grinning from ear to ear. The boys had no shot at stopping them.
"Let me go home and tell daddy he's coming out of retirement." Tracy couldn't wait until her son learned about this.
"I'll let you know how AJ takes the news." Keesha said before ringing off.
Monica looked at Carly, Emily, and Liz. She had the best daughters in the world. And they kicked ass!
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