Firefighters/EMTs endorse FOR issue 64

[Jim Kenny]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 26, 2016

[b]Lakewood Firefighters Association Local 382: Voting FOR Issue 64 is the only path to uninterrupted emergency care[/b]

Lakewood Firefighters Association Local 382 announced today that it is endorsing the FOR Issue 64 position because it is the only way to ensure uninterrupted emergency room service during the transition to a new outpatient medical center and the only way to guarantee emergency services in Lakewood for years to come.

Seth Andregg, President of Lakewood Firefighters Association Local 382, made the following statement in announcing firefighters' endorsement FOR Issue 64:

“Firefighters are on the front lines of health and safety in Lakewood, and we respond to medical emergencies every day. Lakewood’s emergency room is vital to our quick and effective response for patients.”

“We should never risk or endanger emergency medical services in Lakewood, but that’s an unintended consequence of this ballot issue: if people vote ‘against’ and the issue fails, Lakewood emergency services would be subject to legal challenges and delay as part of costly new lawsuits against the healthcare plan. That would be irresponsible and is an unnecessary risk.”

“Voting FOR Issue 64 is the only path to uninterrupted emergency care and affirms the healthcare transformation plan that guarantees emergency services in Lakewood for years to come. That’s why every Lakewood resident should vote FOR Issue 64.”

Issue 64 Campaign Chair Jay Carson thanked Lakewood Firefighters, calling their endorsement “a profound honor.”

“Lakewood firefighters understand emergency care better than anyone and have a hands-on understanding of rapidly evolving medical technology,” said Carson. “We are incredibly grateful for the support of the Local 382 Firefighters union. Let’s follow the recommendation of the experts: the only responsible path forward for healthcare in our city is a vote FOR Issue 64.”

A vote FOR Issue 64 guarantees uninterrupted emergency care around the clock and affirms the healthcare transformation plan that will to build a new, state-of-the-art medical center in Lakewood at no cost to taxpayers.

Issue 64 is on the ballot in Lakewood this November 8th.

# # #

Background on Issue 64:

Last year, city government voted unanimously for an agreement to build and operate a brand new, state-of-the-art medical center in Lakewood at no cost to taxpayers. This agreement ensures that Lakewood will have high-quality healthcare for many years to come.

On November 8th, Lakewood will have the chance to affirm this agreement by voting FOR Issue 64. This agreement is clearly the best option for Lakewood’s future:
The now-closed Lakewood Hospital was losing significant funds – more than $1 million each month, with at least $90 million in maintenance and renovation to make it competitive with today’s hospitals.
Without the agreement, the City would have eventually been responsible for hospital losses, requiring huge tax increases, or the hospital would have simply closed, with no healthcare options in sight.

Voting FOR Issue 64 will protect all of the benefits that Lakewood receives:
The agreement guarantees that the Cleveland Clinic will pay for and build a new, modern medical center with uninterrupted emergency care available 24/7/365. There is no cost to taxpayers.

The healthcare experience for Lakewood patients likely won’t change. Lakewood will still have:
Primary care and specialty outpatient programs, like geriatrics, cardiac care, and diabetes care.

Almost all of the same medical services (94 percent) needed by patients at the old hospital will continue to be available at the same convenient downtown location.
The Clinic will pay Lakewood almost $19.6 million for transition costs and to help Lakewood redevelop the old site, and $32.4 million is being put into a Lakewood foundation to improve the community’s health.

[Brian Essi]

Mr. Kenny,

If nobody was ever asked to bid or operate an ER in Lakewood and we had a binding agreement through 2026 to operate and ER, how is it that the CCF proposal wa the "only way" to insure uninterrupted emergency services?

Please, with no spin and no lies, answer that question directly.

[Meg Ostrowski]

I saw something in Lakewood about a week ago that I had never seen before in my twenty years here, a Bay Village ambulance. I’m not saying that one hasn’t helped us out in the past but it got me thinking.

Many have been concerned about the added transit time to a hospital when picked up by Lakewood EMS. But when our squads are all out of town at Lutheran, Metro, eastside, Parma or Fairview…finishing up paperwork or whatever is required, we are dependent on neighboring communities to cover us for emergencies. That means a wait on the front end to get services to you AND a wait on the back end for hospital care.

This particular Bay Village ambulance didn’t even bother to stop by at the Lakewood ED. It headed straight out of town for a real hospital, lights flashing, sirens blaring.

With all due respect for the service of our safety forces, emergency services have already been disrupted in Lakewood by delay and transit out of town.

[Meg Ostrowski]

I saw something in Lakewood about a week ago that I had never seen before in my twenty years here, a Bay Village ambulance. I’m not saying that one hasn’t helped us out in the past but it got me thinking.

Many have been concerned about the added transit time to a hospital when picked up by Lakewood EMS. But when our squads are all out of town at Lutheran, Metro, eastside, Parma or Fairview…finishing up paperwork or whatever is required, we are dependent on neighboring communities to cover us for emergencies. That means a wait on the front end to get services to you AND a wait on the back end for hospital care.

This particular Bay Village ambulance didn’t even bother to stop by at the Lakewood ED. It headed straight out of town for a real hospital, lights flashing, sirens blaring.

With all due respect for the service of our safety forces, emergency services have already been disrupted in Lakewood by delay and transit out of town.

[scott gilman]

Bay Village FD has responded to Lakewood for mutual aid long before the in patient beds at Lakewood Hospital closed. They have backed LFD up when we were at fires or on multiple medical calls. Lakewood has backed up Bay Village as well. When a mutual aid ambulance is dispatched it is don so through Westcom, they handle the dispatching for Rocky River, Fairview Park, Westlake and Bay Village. They send the medic unit from the city that has a unit available. In terms of treatment our procedures have not changed. Lakewood sends the closest available unit which in some cases is a fire truck with trained personnel and medical equipment. We have been using this procedure since 1999 and have expanded our service delivery since that time.

[Bridget Conant]

So did the rank and file union members vote on the 64 endorsement or not?

[james fitzgibbons]

Mr. Kenny,

If nobody was ever asked to bid or operate an ER in Lakewood and we had a binding agreement through 2026 to operate and ER, how is it that the CCF proposal wa the "only way" to insure uninterrupted emergency services?

Please, with no spin and no lies, answer that question directly.

He cannot answer that question because he knows the answer will prove him wrong. It is a no brainer. Closing the hospital is a major mistake and it was done to enrich CCF and other groups aligned with Mayor Summers,at a major cost to our healthcare and the financial stability of Lakewood, that is my opinion. That is also BAD GOVERNMENT!