Lakewood's 2016 Strategic Objectives- The Mayor's Address

[Gary Rice]

On Wednesday evening, March 25th, 2016, Lakewood's Mayor Michael P. Summers addressed the City at Lakewood Masonic Temple regarding the State of our City, and strategic objectives for the future- with the four primary goals being vibrant neighborhoods, economic development, safety and security, and sound governance. In attendance on this rainy evening were members of City Council, city officials and Judge Carroll, as well as Lakewood School Board members, regional officials, and a nice crowd of interested Lakewoodites.


Topics covered included quality-of-life issues, customer service issues, housing improvements, public infrastructure investment, and health, wellness, safety, and environmental stewardship concerns.


During the question and answer session that followed, there were several questions regarding why the hospital situation happened. The Mayor was engaging, polite, expansive, and forthright in his responses. He called to mind his past business experiences, particularly with respect to anticipating future trends and it was his concern that medical trends were changing as well. He stated that, (as he had done with his past business issues) he had felt the need to proactively get ahead of the medical issue in our city. Among other facts, he noted that 94% of Lakewood Hospital services were already out-patient in any case, and that around 20% of Lakewoodites had been referred to Metro as well. His thinking regarding the hospital revolved around the question of its viability before coming to the conclusion that "doing nothing was not an option". He regretted the loss of many medical jobs, but also stated that many hospital jobs were transferred to other facilities, and that Lakewood was being proactive in attracting a number of new jobs already, medical and otherwise.


The mayor also addressed the issues of rental properties, Detroit Avenue congestion, and new business development. As he concluded his remarks with a video from the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce, he received a very loud and long ovation.


A group of around twenty-five Save Lakewood Hospital people picketed outside of the Temple prior to the presentation.

See my photoblog and commentary here:

http://lakewoodobserver.com/photoblogs/ ... objectives

[Michael Deneen]

Thanks for the report, Gary.
Your coverage was thorough and fair.

Unfortunately it was just another "dog and pony show" from the Spin Team at City Hall.

[Brian Essi]

He stated that, (as he had done with his past business issues) he had felt the need to proactively get ahead of the medical issue in our city. Among other facts, he noted that 94% of Lakewood Hospital services were already out-patient in any case, and that around 20% of Lakewoodites had been referred to Metro as well. His thinking regarding the hospital revolved around the question of its viability before coming to the conclusion that "doing nothing was not an option".

Gary,

Thank You.

There you have it in a nutshell--the misinformation continues.

The hospital was well funded, profitable and well positioned up until Summers announced it was closing.

I can't speak to the mayor's past business experiences, but after spending over 2,000 hours reviewing what was done here I can say with confidence he made many bad business decisions on the hospital and acted with deception. Last night included.

[Lori Allen _]

Did the Mayor happen to mention that the reason why everything at Lakewood Hospital was pretty much out-patient was due to his administration, CCF, and Lakewood Hospital Association decanting the hospital over a period of time and giving our assets to CCF?

[Marguerite Harkness]

Did the Mayor remember to state that the mere 6% of hospital activity, i.e. the inpatient portion, accounted for 46,000 inpatient days in one year? 126 beds full, every day, 365 days.
His 94% of hospital activity, i.e. the outpatient portion, accounted for around 46,000 "incidents" as I recall from Subsidium's verbal report last year. Each blood draw, each urinalysis, each x-ray, each CT-scan, counts as "one." (Maybe a blood draw counts as multiples, if you have 5 different analyses done on that draw. I don't know.)
And from the audited financials, the income from inpatient was approximately HALF of the total income. So 6% of the customers give you 50% of your income.
Wonder how much LHA will lose THIS year, with NO inpatient, very little outpatient, and an Urgent-Care-Billed-As-An-ER.

[Pam Wetula]

Dear Gary Rice

I just don't have time to go into depth right now. BUT.. The Mayor most politely did NOT answer my questions. He did what he, his administration and City Council always do. They avoid the question and insert facts that are irrelevant or erroneous. The Mayor is simply superb at surrounding the "answer" with intelligent and "caring" rhetoric that sounds great unless you are really listening.

Save Lakewood Hospital is doing the right thing by continuing this fight. Mike Summers is a huge disappointment and will deserve what he gets when the whole truth comes out.

pam

[T Peppard]

When Mayor Summers described his thinking with regard to the hospital closing, he said it revolved around the question of its viability before coming to the conclusion that "doing nothing was not an option". Yet, the hospital was VIABLE. Despite the decanting plan and the millions of dollars in exorbitant administrative fees charged by CCF since 2008, it was profitable. This speaks volumes and certainly accounts for the “NON-COMPETE” clause in the new agreement. Only in 2015, with the closing of the heart catheterization lab, was there valid financial loss. What a testament to the strength and imperishability of our hospital!

The mayor also blamed "declining patient volumes" for this decision. Yet, those declines were MANUFACTURED. That argument is impertinent… there were referrals, referrals, and more referrals. CCF carried out their decanting plan without constraint. How does 104 years of great leadership and strong healthcare in Lakewood end like this? Is it the profit motive of the developers? What a tragedy. How many people do you know that were born in our hospital? How many people do you know who had a loved one pass away peacefully within the loving support of the Grace Unit? The impact of this loss is vast. The applause for this decision at last night’s address resonates with me. This was not cause for celebration.

“Jeanne’s Thank you” gently gibes our previous Council leaders with the gratitude CCF undoubtedly holds: https://youtu.be/g8OpMrRPFkE

Ed Graham & Gerald Phillips eloquently illuminate the wrong doings of our government in their powerful presentations to the current City Council. This should open the eyes of every citizen. Here are both videos: https://youtu.be/Ny8PYBsx8Kg and https://youtu.be/vJ2GhJErUkw.

With this deal, there is no regard for the elderly or underserved of our community. Prior to this loss one could give to LHF & the Graber society with gifts providing care to vulnerable and disadvantaged populations in Lakewood. There was over $30M in charitable contributions to Lakewood Hospital for this sole purpose. What happens now? When does the ER close because it is inundated with uninsured patients? There won’t be a foundation with the same profound impact. I have attached the previous LHF advertisement for anyone who hasn't read about this charity.

Only time will tell the consequences of these decisions. The loss of the LHF charity for our underserved, the $1M annual hole in our income tax revenue and the $6M deficit with the BOE…. how long will this rainy day fund last?

[Brian Essi]

"There is no fool like an old fool" Zane Hooper

"And the fools that follow him". Brian J. Essi

They pack the room to applaud the "rock star" for intentional and willfully ripping off a charity that served the needy and most vulnerable among us. And what does the "rock star" promise?

An LHS Class of 1972 acid trip---the Stepford Wives can be heard chanting ""Mike you're the King" give me more of that "revitalization of the downtown business district", give me more of that "Big Dream Mike".

When the acid wears off and they awake they will see another Dollar Store, "We Buy Gold", "Hair and Nails" etc. etc.

But we'll be the healthiest city in America--the envy of the world. They clap louder and louder to muffle the sounds of the sirens involved in the police chases.

[Bill Call]

The mayor also blamed "declining patient volumes" for this decision. Yet, those declines were MANUFACTURED. That argument is impertinent… there were referrals, referrals, and more referrals. CCF carried out their decanting plan without constraint. How does 104 years of great leadership and strong healthcare in Lakewood end like this? Is it the profit motive of the developers? What a tragedy.

MANUFACTURED is the best adjective I've seen to explain the Hospital "crisis".

The Mayor and his cronies are encouraging business and people to move further West in the vain hope that all of that vacant space will provide space for "investment". They create a health care desert and call it the future.

Good old Tacitus said it best:

Auferre, trucidare, rapere, falsis nominibus imperium; atque, ubi solitudinem faciunt, pacem appellant.

" To ravage, to slaughter, to usurp under false titles, they call empire; and where they make a desert, they call it peace. "