May 17th, 2010 - D-Day For Lakewood Hospital!!!!

[Bill Call]

At 1 PM tomorrow the Clinic will be announcing major changes. Stay tuned.

And who is the Romanian Mystery Guest who has been a non paying resident for over one year? Why won't metro health take him in? $2,000 per day, 365 days and counting...

[Jim O'Bryan]

Bill

Have been on the phone with the Clinic.

If you have any news they would be interested.


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[Bill Call]

Bill

Have been on the phone with the Clinic.

If you have any news they would be interested.

We were out Saturday night with a women who is a nurse at the hospital. She told us that there was an important meeting on Monday. People on vacation or who were scheduled to be off were told to be at the meeting. She didn't know what it was about. She mentioned the concern of doctors at the hospital who accused the Clinic of trying to turn the hospital into a nursing home. She mentioned the loss of truama unit, the loss of pediatrics, the loss of heart surgery, the loss of other surgeries, the slow but accelerating transfer of services to Lutheran and Fairview.

From someone else:

"From what I’ve heard the execs at the hospital have been pressuring the staff to go along with the plan without complaint. I don’t know if that’s true or not; just a rumor."

[Jim O'Bryan]

Bill

Have been on the phone with the Clinic.

If you have any news they would be interested.

We were out Saturday night with a women who is a nurse at the hospital. She told us that there was an important meeting on Monday. People on vacation or who were scheduled to be off were told to be at the meeting. She didn't know what it was about. She mentioned the concern of doctors at the hospital who accused the Clinic of trying to turn the hospital into a nursing home. She mentioned the loss of truama unit, the loss of pediatrics, the loss of heart surgery, the loss of other surgeries, the slow but accelerating transfer of services to Lutheran and Fairview.

From someone else:

"From what I’ve heard the execs at the hospital have been pressuring the staff to go along with the plan without complaint. I don’t know if that’s true or not; just a rumor."

Bill

You act like this is some civic group in Lakewood not the Clinic. Why would the only real
job with potential for growth ask anyone anything?

What I am hearing from the Clinic and I am sure I have nowhere near the contacts that
you do is. "Are you going to get the story in about the money we just spent on air conditioning? Not to let a scoop out of the bag.


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[Brad Hutchison]

For what it's worth, a medical professional at another hospital thought the loss of pediatrics was a pretty bad sign and predicted LH would be "strictly a rehab hospital within 5 years."

[Bill Trentel]

5 years is about the life that is left for Lakewood Hospital at this point it is only an annex to Fairview anyway. The CCFs lease is up in about 5 years by that time any services but the rehab (nursing home) will have been transferred out of Lakewood. As I've stated in previous posts if you want to experience what the future of Lakewood Hospital looks like just visit the former St. Johns Hospital about 2-1/2 miles east on Detroit. Pretty bleak.
If our city leaders have any smarts they should be negotiating to extend the lease and build in some sound guarantees of services before they agree to the CCFs latest request for service reductions, that are below the levels prescribed in the current lease. But the reality is our leaders don't have much bargaining power. The CCF has the market locked up and there aren't any other health care chains looking to take on old urban hospitals to compete with the CCF.
It seems that some are impressed with the resent "improvements" made at the hospital but what is the realistic service life for the equipment they slid off of a couple trucks? Maybe 5 years? If the temporary mechanicals they are installing are suppose to express their level of commitment, it isn't saying much.

Bill

[Bill Call]

The meeting was for all Clinic facilities.

The statement was made by a Clinic official that there would be no new jobs created and that some jobs were going to be lost. The jobs affected in Lakewood were case management and social work type positions and other patient support. The statement was made that with fewer patients we don't need as many people in those positions.

Employees were told that they had to re-apply for their current job even if it was not eliminated. If the job was eliminated they were told they could apply for jobs at other Clinic facilities.

The person who passed on this information has been at Lakewood Hospital for many years and is a few years from retirement. Jobs similar to hers will be available at Fariview, Beachwood and the Clinics new facility in Avon.

The Clinic does not create jobs and is not the economic engine that moves the local economy. The Clinic business model is to absorb competing hospitals and doctor practices. The absorbed businesses are housed in new Clinic buildings that do not pay taxes.

One result of that practice is to empty out existing taxpaying office buildings.

Nashville, TN has a true and dynamic medical economy. Here in Northern Ohio we just have a monopoly power that confuses stealing the other guys business with creating new business.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Bill

I would offset that with the news that the Clinic has just spent another $3.1 million to
upgrade the generators, and air conditioning here in Lakewood. In new issue.

I would also mention that some jobs will be going to Fairview, as they will get some
of the services currently offered here, so that the hospital can enlarge many of the
services available here and the new ones being brought in.

Finally, it is my understanding that the Hospital will be renting most of Lakewood Center
North while the new construction is underway. Seeing how most of the offices there are
moving elsewhere including UTU out of the city, that would seem like a good deal for us.
As an accountant would you tell your Non-profit client to own, or to rent? In this economy?

Yes The Clinic is my largest advertiser, and Lakewood Hospital saved my life.


FWIW


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[Jim O'Bryan]

Bill

It should be noted that the event I thought you were talking about went fairly well I believe.

City Council and Council President Butler had requested members of The Lakewood Hospital
and Cleveland Clinic address council on exactly what the changes are, and how they will
affect Lakewoodites now and in the next 5 years.

Currently the Cleveland Clinic is in negotiations with the city of Lakewood for renewal of their
contract, and the city has become proactive.

To the Clinic's credit, they could have held back any announcement until after the new contract
was finished and signed. But that has never been their way in my dealing with them. They
seem to be very open and very transparent and very interested in delivering good service.

I have dealt with many large corporations, and have dealt with some of the largest in the
city at the time they were here. BP for one. The others seems to relish the 800lb Gorilla
syndrome and were somewhat like spoiled brats. Though they often did good things for
the community. I have never seen that at the Clinic or even felt it.

Disclaimer
largest advertiser and saved my life.



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[Bill Call]

The changes planned for the Hospital are driven in part by three years in operating losses. Losses totaled nearly $9 million in 2008.

The bond rating for the hospital has been downgraded from A1 to A2 by Moody’s. Standard and Poor’s has kept the Hospitals rating at A+. The losses have been driven by the increase in uncompensated care and the decline in admissions.

http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/ ... 49963/1022

The Hospital hopes that The Vision for Tomorrow will help return the hospital to profitability by:

 Focusing on four Centers of Excellence: Orthopaedics, Geriatrics, Neurological and Diabetes/Endocrine Cervices
 Enhancing rehabilitation services, including an Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit expansion
 Expanding outpatient care
 Converting the hospital to all private rooms
 Partnering with community organizations to maximize wellness offerings
 Strengthening the management of chronic diseases, such as diabetes
 Aligning Cleveland Clinic services and community physicians with Lakewood Hospital

The plan will mean a 50% reduction in hospital beds, the elimination of pediatric care, and transfer of the trauma unit to Fairview and more. The Clinic is spending over $75 million to expand the emergency and pediatric units at Fairview. How much will they spend in Lakewood?

In theory the plan for Lakewood Hospital makes sense. Wether or not it makes sense in practice depends on the answer to this question:

Will Fairview stop doing orthopaedics, geriatrics, neurological and diabetes/Endocrine services so Lakewood Hospital can be the go to place for those services for entire Westside?

[Bryan Schwegler]

Article from the PD:
Service changes to Lakewood Hospital receive tentative support from City Council

Lots of info, but here's some recent data on loss numbers from last year which seem far less severe than the $8 million number you stated.

Most city officials recognized the need for change due to the financial state of the hospital, which lost more than $600,000 in operations last year, but made $9.2 million in investments, according to Dennis Roche, chair of the finance committee.

Related to your question of further investment:

Lakewood Hospital President Jan Murphy stated that $3.4 million was allocated to renovate an acute rehabilitation unit that will provide physical and occupational therapy to get patients back to their daily activities after injury or illness. Board President Ken Haber added that there is a $40 million to $50 million commitment over the next few years.

Overall doesn't seem too terrible. Obviously details are needed.

[Rhonda loje]

Did anyone see this:

Lakewood Hospital Gift
Harold C. Schott Foundation supports expansion of brain health services

Lakewood Hospital, a Cleveland Clinic hospital, has received a $1 million donation from The Harold C. Schott Foundation to expand and improve neurological and geriatric services focused on brain health.

The gift establishes The Harold C. Schott Pavilion for Geriatric Neurological Health.

Jan Murphy, president of Lakewood Hospital, lauds the foundation’s “unwavering commitment to the health and wellness in our community.” Thanks to the gift, “we will now have additional opportunities to enhance the high quality care already provided in a state of the art environment through our neurological and geriatric services,” she says.

Philanthropist Harold C. Schott established the foundation in 1959 for the purpose of funding grants toward the support of healthcare, spiritual and educational institutions for the betterment of mankind.

The Lakewood Hospital expansion is part of the hospital’s Vision for Tomorrow plan to meet the evolving needs of the community and to improve the patient experience. The plan places a particular focus on enhancing and integrating the hospital’s SeniorCare Services and Cleveland Clinic Neurological Institute at Lakewood Hospital.

The gift will allow the hospital to increase its capacity to serve seniors in the community and to provide specialized education and resources about brain health for patients and their families. Ultimately, it will allow Lakewood Hospital to expand services focused on the health and well-being of caregivers, who often bear a tremendous emotional and psychological burden.

In an effort to address this dramatic and increasing need, the Cleveland Clinic Neurological Institute at Lakewood Hospital offers patients and families care for the full range of neurological problems with a specialized focus on diseases related to aging such as dementia and Parkinson’s disease.

To make a gift supporting Lakewood Hospital or any area of Cleveland Clinic, visit iSupport, our secure online giving site, or call Institutional Relations and Development at 216.444.1245 or toll-free at 800.223.2273, ext. 41245.

[Bill Call]

Another blast from the past!

Can we believe the promises of the Cleveland Clinic?

[Bill Grulich]

Cleveland Clinic Grows its Wealth Off the Backs of Lakewood Citizens.

Everything old is new again!

Thank you Michelle M. Mahon for sharing this article. http://www.modernhealthcare.com/article/20150529/NEWS/150529873?dlvrit=1327366

[Bill Call]

Related to your question of further investment:

Lakewood Hospital President Jan Murphy stated that $3.4 million was allocated to renovate an acute rehabilitation unit that will provide physical and occupational therapy to get patients back to their daily activities after injury or illness. Board President Ken Haber added that there is a $40 million to $50 million commitment over the next few years.

Overall doesn't seem too terrible. Obviously details are needed.

How did we get from a $50 million commitment for investment in Lakewood Hospital to "Let's tear it down for a recreation center" in only 4 years?