Our Hospital Key West Posts Women's Health Input Ahead Of LKMC RFP

Our Hospital Key West (OHKW) published stakeholder submissions and brief updates on Feb. 18, 2026, and said the materials include input on women's health as the Lower Florida Keys Hospital District prepares a Request For Proposal to select the next operator of publicly owned Lower Keys Medical Center (LKMC). OHKW highlighted that the current lease with Community Health Systems (CHS) runs through April 30, 2029 and added that "While April 2029 may seem a long way off, the process to renew the lease with the existing Hospital Operator, or a new one has already begun."

OHKW and Commissioner Sam Kaufman's Task Force are actively soliciting perspectives from clinicians, first responders and residents. The page states, verbatim, "OHkw, as well as Commissioner Sam Kaufman's Task Force is seeking Resident Citizen, Healthcare Practitioner, Community Healthcare Advocacy Groups and Emergency First Responder input to help guide the RFP process." OHKW framed the choice of operator as a core community decision with the line: "Which Hospital Operator is chosen as our sole community hospital is one of the most important decisions facing our community."

To collect local priorities, OHKW posted a Lower Keys Resident Survey and used a direct call to action on the site: "If you're a Lower Florida Keys resident, including from Big Pine to Key West, PLEASE CLICK HERE TO TAKE OUR RESIDENT SURVEY!" The site also pledged that "Your name will remain confidential, and the data will be shared with the community and participants drafting and authorizing the RFP and lease process." OHKW reinforced the need for participation with the exact wording: "We need input, advocacy, and attendance at the District meetings. Please contact us and share your thoughts at info@OHkw.org ."

OHKW listed two upcoming public engagement opportunities at the Doubletree Grand Key Resort that local clinicians and advocates can attend: "Upcoming PUBLIC MEETINGS to discuss Hospital Operator options for Lower Keys Medical Center. Tuesday March 3rd, 2026 - 2:30PM Public Input Encouraged Doubletree Grand Key Resort Tuesday April 7th, 2026 - 2:30PM Public Input Encouraged Doubletree Grand Key Resort." The announcement directs residents to review past meeting recordings in the site's News and Updates section, saying, "To review past Public Meeting videos review our News and Updates section [...]."

OHKW identified the Hospital District Board as the governing body and reported that "The District Board has agreed to issue a Request For Proposal (RFP) which outlines important terms and services which the next Hospital Operator bids on." With CHS named as the current operator, the timeline and the RFP terms will determine whether services emphasized in the recent stakeholder submissions - including those on women's health, emergency care and access across Big Pine to Key West - are written into operating requirements. The OHKW page carries the group's branding, "Citizen & Community Advocates for Best-In-Class Hospital Operator," and closes with the reminder that "The greatest wealth is health." – Virgil, and the site artifact "bottom of page [...] top of page." The District Board's formal RFP text and schedule remain to be published, but OHKW's Feb. 18 posting makes clear local advocates are positioning community-submitted priorities ahead of the procurement.