Summers wages "WAR ON THE POOR" with Propaganda Machine

[Matthew Lee]

Look at what you wrote - you claim we have too many beds in our region but CC is adding inpatient beds in Avon! If we already have too many, why are we "moving" beds instead of getting rid of beds?

In Jim's defense, using classic debate rationale, it is quite possible to have too many beds in the region AND still have the CC adding more. One does not prevent the other from happening.

Not saying it is good, bad or indifferent, but there very well may be too many beds in the region but CC, for whatever reason, is still adding more in other areas. This does not make Jim's logic incorrect.

I'm all for open dialogue and debate but want to make sure we keep ourselves open to other possibilities than what we believe to be true.

[Bridget Conant]

Not saying it is good, bad or indifferent, but there very well may be too many beds in the region but CC, for whatever reason, is still adding more in other areas.

For CC purposes, that IS our region. They fully expect Lakewoodites to use Avon services, in fact, they NEED us to use Avon. You could make that argument if the new facility was in say, Columbus, but don't tell me a new Hospital 11 miles away is in a different region!

And if you're adding beds, "for whatever reason," then don't tell we are "overbedded" or use that as an excuse for why WE don't need a full service hospital.

[Brian Essi]

I have faith that a well-equipped ER can stabilize them and transfer them by Life Flight to the appropriate level of care. Our health care system is designed to do that.

What concerns me is the losing the opportunity to have a top-shelf ER to a vain attempt to save an obsolete, capital starved hospital. If we lose both, Lakewood's ER service will be at Fairview and time is critical in trauma.

Jim,

I am sorry, I beleive your faith and understanding are misplaced and you apparently did not understand my question. The stabilization and transfer delay issue is the problem--the delay kills---well-equipped won't save us because it won't have the equipment or personnel.

As for the capital argument. The hospital is virtually debt free and interest rates have never been lower. Huron indicated that nearly all hospitals engage in significant borrowing to finance capital improvements.

When you and I met you agreed that things have gone terribly wrong and CCF and LHA trustees and Summers were to blame.

If $100 million of damage or whatever other amount you pick was done by the bad guys, why would we release them and give them what's left over at the expense of the poor and the rest of us?

We could get 4 systems to build an FHC by snapping our fingers. Its' a joke. Nobody was asked to build what they are now negotiating to build without bids.

Its a foolish sellout of the least able to defend and help themselves.

[Brian Essi]

Look at what you wrote - you claim we have too many beds in our region but CC is adding inpatient beds in Avon! If we already have too many, why are we "moving" beds instead of getting rid of beds?

In Jim's defense, using classic debate rationale, it is quite possible to have too many beds in the region AND still have the CC adding more. One does not prevent the other from happening.

Not saying it is good, bad or indifferent, but there very well may be too many beds in the region but CC, for whatever reason, is still adding more in other areas. This does not make Jim's logic incorrect.

I'm all for open dialogue and debate but want to make sure we keep ourselves open to other possibilities than what we believe to be true.

Matthew,

FYI, It doesn't work that way---the number of bed licenses is regulated.

[Marguerite Harkness]

It is entirely possible to have more than enough food in the world, yet have whole populations starving to death - because the problem is DISTRIBUTION, not PRODUCT.

Same with hospital beds (licenses). Can have what looks like an excess, overall, in the region - and be starving in Lakewood.

We have 52000 residents within 2 miles of Lakewood Hospital. We should first have our beds (2.6 per 1,000 residents = 135 beds, more or less). Then they can fill in around the region with whatever they need in the less densely populated suburbs (particularly Avon and its countryside).

Our service area (4 surrounding zip codes) is perhaps another 50,000.

And the Subsidium report said only half (52%) of Lakewood residents who were inpatient, were in Lakewood Hospital. (The other half, were in other hospitals - like FAIRVIEW.) This means, that we can perhaps DOUBLE the number of inpatient days in LH.

(Subsidium looked at this as a WEAKNESS. I would say it is a STRENGTH. Is the glass half empty - or half full? All depends whose side you're on.)

Plenty of room for growth here - despite what the "experts" try to make you believe.