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Bill Call wrote:If the Mayor is re-elected the lawsuit is over, the Hospital closes and the discover process comes to an end.
I don't agree with this statement and I think it sells Judge O'Donnell, City Council and the lawsuit short.
It even sells Mayor Summers short---he will need to deal with the new City Council if he manages to win his first election challenge since 1972. He might have an epiphany come January 6, 2016.
Regardless, if the current lawsuit fails, I'm afraid that there will be more lawsuits.
So contrary to the narrow scope of Huron's opinion concerning "least risky" behavoir---when considering the broader issues at stake, closing the hospital is the riskiest course the city can take.
You are selectively quoting the Huron findings out of context. Here is the paragraph you cite to in its entirety, with my emphasis added: "Remain status quo: This may be a viable option if LHA and the City prefer to delay a decision on the Hospital, during which time the City would continue to receive payments under the lease. A potential drawback is that the investment portfolio would likely be depleted over the next few years unless the performance of the Hospital improves significantly. Also, LHA would need to utilize the additional time productively to develop a strategy to address facility issues, develop a supportive physician network, and pursue negotiations with potential partners. If this strategy is unsuccessful, the cost to the community in terms of financial losses and lost services could be significant. "
In other words, you can maintain the status quo and operate at a loss as long as the money holds out, and assuming the Clinic doesn't simply decide to walk away.
If there are others out there who can operate the Hospital as a full-service inpatient facility, where are they?
Stop saying the Clinic can walk away. The Clinic cannot just "walk away." They have a lease until 2026. They would need to honor it or pay damages.
Perhaps if the city actually looked for other providers to operate the hospital, they would find them. They would need a Release from the current lease holder. They haven't done that, therefore, any knowledgable entity wouldn't dare make s proposal for fear of CCF litigation
Really, it's getting tiresome you all parroting the same old lines like "no one else is coming in." Of course not, not when you've made it virtually IMPOSSIBLE for any other health care provider to offer a proposal.
Tonight at Council On The Whole, the representative from Huron, answers questions from Councilman David Anderson that the study is flawed. After going back and forth over Premier Physicians, the representative from Huron admitted they did not talk to them, and many of the answers and statements in their report came directly from the Mayor's office.
STOP THE BULLSHIT
More as the reports come in.
,
Jim O'Bryan
Lakewood Resident
"The very act of observing disturbs the system." Werner Heisenberg
"If anything I've said seems useful to you, I'm glad.
If not, don't worry. Just forget about it." His Holiness The Dalai Lama
No worries. I’m not sure what you claim that I wrote was out of context? If it was my statement the “hospital is viable”---that is a fact and it is not from the Huron Report
BTW, since Huron was not engaged to find out how the hospital got where it is today, their entire report is out of context.
But I’ll try to address your apparent misunderstandings.
Firstly, you put in BOLD two sentences of an 89 page report—these 2 sentences contain the words “would likely”, “unless” “if” and “could be”, so I’m confused about your reliance on these sentences. To me these words are “opinion” words that lead to speculation wrapped around conjecture, e.g. if we had 5.7 acres in downtown Lakewood to develop, life would be better than a hospital we have never put a dime of tax dollars into for decades, but we get $2 million of revenue and $7 million of charity from each year. I would like to “DREAM BIG” with the Mayor, but I’m concerned about the undeserved getting the ROYAL TREATMENT if you know what I mean. I am also concerned about the lost city revenue from the hospital that can NEVER be replaced by the BIG DREAM plans.
"Remain status quo: This may be a viable option if LHA and the City prefer to delay a decision on the Hospital, during which time the City would continue to receive payments under the lease. These “payments” Huron refers to are about $22 million in income taxes and rent and $33 to $55 million in capital improvements to our property and $77 million in charity over the next 11 years---based upon actual history. A potential drawback is that the investment portfolio would likely be depleted over the next few years unless the performance of the Hospital improves significantly. Under the LOI and per my April 8, 2015 chat with Mayor Summers, about $26 million of the approximately $50 million portfolio is consumed in the wind down and demolition of the hospital i.e. it’s gone baby and right away! The approximate $24.4 million that CCF will “let us keep” plus the $4.3 million CCF will add to it (Huron’s number at page 56 of their report—the discounted valued of the $500K per year for 16 years) means you are worrying about $28 million as compared to over $100 million I referred to as benefits. In addition, we still own all the property through 2026--no matter what we get for it, its better than the LOI. Also, LHA would need to utilize the additional time productively to develop a strategy to address facility issues, develop a supportive physician network, and pursue negotiations with potential partners. We have 11 years so again, no worries—the community is ready to support the City in support of the hospital. Joins us! If this strategy is unsuccessful, the cost to the community in terms of financial losses and lost services could be significant. " Huron also said we lose inpatient and acute care right away. I’ll take “If…unsuccessful…could be…” and opposed to an immediate cost to the community on day one of the LOI—Somewhere between $90 and $144 million in asset value is lost right away, PLUS lost revenue and charity benefits over time—all a certainty with the LOI. In other words, you can maintain the status quo and operate at a loss as long as the money holds out, and assuming the Clinic doesn't simply decide to walk away. Again, per above the City and its underserved get about $10 million per year along the way so I don’t see your worries as real. As for the Clinic “walking away”—good luck on that one—They want our market share and they won’t likely surrender it without a fight---but if they do, others will eagerly move in. Do you like being dominated by a monopoly or do you like choices? If there are others out there who can operate the Hospital as a full-service inpatient facility, where are they? The other operators are right where they have been all this time--waiting to hear from professional representative who has the legal authority and ability to deliver the facility free from CCF threats. Since our Mayor and his impaired Step 2 Committee (with 2 CCF trustees who signed agreements declaring their sole loyalty to CCF) and the $400 per hour non broker-dealer consultant never got the “release from the Cleveland Clinic regarding tortious interference claims…It is not known if the lack of such a release impacted interest among potential buyers” Huron at page 43. So Jay, do you think that sophisticated buyers would seriously talk with the merry band of Subsidium, Summers and Step 2 if this crew could not deliver the hospital free of CCF’s control?
For more analysis, check out this thread:http://lakewoodobserver.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=13772
No big BOLD headlines in Crains or PD/Cleveland.com announcing that the HURON REPORT supports the demolishment of Lakewood Hospital. (the way there were after the Preliminary Phase 1 report came out).
Could it be that the HURON REPORT's highlighting of the financial strengths of Lakewood hospital coupled with Dr. Kilroy's questions and comments on how hospitals acquire debt to complete deferred maintenance and capital improvements shed light on how Lakewood Hospital will survive?
Could it be that a member of Premier Physicians Board's assertion that his large group of physicians is TOTALLY committed to Lakewood & Lakewood Hospital and ready to provide the physician referrals necessary to keep Lakewood Hospital beds in use? They have even purchased a building on Detroit in Lakewood for their Physicians to work from.
Hmm...mm.. could it be that the gloom and doom spread by Mayor Summers, Ms. Madigan, Ms. Pae, some Council Members etc... with regards to the future of Lakewood Hospital is an error or a misstatement?
Read the HURON REPORT & listen to the Council of the Whole session of 8/17/2015 (when it becomes available) if you were unable to attend the council meeting. Lakewood Hospital can be a viable Community Hospital and the City of Lakewood IS large enough to support an inpatient hospital.
No big BOLD headlines in Crains or PD/Cleveland.com announcing that the HURON REPORT supports the demolishment of Lakewood Hospital. (the way there were after the Preliminary Phase 1 report came out).
Could it be that the HURON REPORT's highlighting of the financial strengths of Lakewood hospital coupled with Dr. Kilroy's questions and comments on how hospitals acquire debt to complete deferred maintenance and capital improvements shed light on how Lakewood Hospital will survive?
Could it be that a member of Premier Physicians Board's assertion that his large group of physicians is TOTALLY committed to Lakewood & Lakewood Hospital and ready to provide the physician referrals necessary to keep Lakewood Hospital beds in use? They have even purchased a building on Detroit in Lakewood for their Physicians to work from.
Hmm...mm.. could it be that the gloom and doom spread by Mayor Summers, Ms. Madigan, Ms. Pae, some Council Members etc... with regards to the future of Lakewood Hospital is an error or a misstatement?
Read the HURON REPORT & listen to the Council of the Whole session of 8/17/2015 (when it becomes available) if you were unable to attend the council meeting. Lakewood Hospital can be a viable Community Hospital and the City of Lakewood IS large enough to support an inpatient hospital.
That's exactly what I was thinking. The Huron Report seems to be an "exploding cigar" that went off in Team Summers' face.
Yet again City Hall has apparently stepped on a rake.
