Statement from Key West Commissioner Sam Kaufman on Hospital District Board Approval of RFP for New Hospital Operator
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 7, 2026
Key West, FL — Key West Commissioner Sam Kaufman today congratulated the Lower Florida Keys Hospital District Board on its approval of the Request for Proposals (RFP) to begin the formal process of seeking a new hospital operator for Lower Keys Medical Center.
"Today is a very important day for our community and a major step forward for the future of healthcare in the Lower Keys," Kaufman said. "The Board's approval of the RFP begins the formal process of finding a new hospital operator and gives our community the opportunity to work toward a stronger, better future for our hospital."
Kaufman praised the Board for taking this important step after more than two years of public discussion, advocacy, and community engagement surrounding the future of hospital services in Key West and the Lower Keys.
"For the past two and a half years, residents, doctors, medical providers, board members, advocates, and community leaders have shown up, asked hard questions, raised concerns, and pushed for a serious and transparent process," Kaufman said. "This milestone reflects a great deal of work by many people who care deeply about the future of healthcare in our community."
Kaufman thanked the members of the Hospital District Board, the Fact-Finding Committee, the Commissioner Task Force, and the members of Our Hospital Key West for their dedication and involvement throughout the process. He also gave special recognition to Spencer Krenke for his leadership and for documenting the process through video recordings that helped create a public record over the last two years.
Kaufman also thanked the attorneys from Akerman LLP, the consultant involved in the process, and the many stakeholders who provided input and expertise, including local physicians, healthcare providers, and nonprofit leaders.
Kaufman said the RFP process is an important opportunity for the community to focus on what the hospital must deliver in the years ahead: strong services across the board, excellent cardiac care, better coordination of cancer treatment, improved equipment and services, living wages to help recruit and retain hospital staff, and a real long-term plan for the hospital facility itself.
"Most of all, we need a hospital system our community can count on—one that puts patients first, supports the people who work there, and is willing to reinvest in better care for the Lower Keys," Kaufman said. "This is about where our families go in an emergency. It is about whether our parents and grandparents can get the care they need close to home. It is about whether working families, seniors, and longtime residents can have confidence that quality care will be there when they need it most."
Kaufman said the Board's action is a major milestone, but also the beginning of the next phase of work.
"Today is a big step forward, but it is only the beginning," Kaufman said. "It is critical that we get this right, and our community will be paying close attention every step of the way."
