Re: The Next Mayor, The Cleveland Clinic and Lakewood Hospit
Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2014 8:46 am
Here are some quotes from an email I received from Mayor Summers in reply to a question on contingency plans for the hospital. I am not quoting the entire email just the pertinent parts:
"The City of Lakewood leases the hospital facility to the Lakewood Hospital Association Trustees. The trustees have a definitive agreement with the Cleveland Clinic that retains the clinic to operate the Hospital. The agreement also specifies which services must be offered. This list is comprehensive. This Agreement expires in December 2026.
Consequently, the trustees are working vigorously with an outside advisor to craft the best near term and long term strategy and investments that will meet the needs of Lakewood citizens. The worst case is to arrive at 2026 with a worn out , obsolete facility.
In the meantime, Lakewood hospital remains uncompetitive in many of the service lines that used to be major financial contributors to its financial performance. The best example is the dramatically different technical approach to vascular blockages. Even today, Fairview Hospital performs so few heart bypass surgeries that it too, will potentially lose accreditation for this procedure. The challenge is to continue to work with the Clinic to craft the best blend of services and investments while we develop a sustainable long term community health care delivery system.
In short, the lease provides protection, but does not necessarily provide long term, post 2026 viability. We have our eye in 2027 and beyond."
"The City of Lakewood leases the hospital facility to the Lakewood Hospital Association Trustees. The trustees have a definitive agreement with the Cleveland Clinic that retains the clinic to operate the Hospital. The agreement also specifies which services must be offered. This list is comprehensive. This Agreement expires in December 2026.
Consequently, the trustees are working vigorously with an outside advisor to craft the best near term and long term strategy and investments that will meet the needs of Lakewood citizens. The worst case is to arrive at 2026 with a worn out , obsolete facility.
In the meantime, Lakewood hospital remains uncompetitive in many of the service lines that used to be major financial contributors to its financial performance. The best example is the dramatically different technical approach to vascular blockages. Even today, Fairview Hospital performs so few heart bypass surgeries that it too, will potentially lose accreditation for this procedure. The challenge is to continue to work with the Clinic to craft the best blend of services and investments while we develop a sustainable long term community health care delivery system.
In short, the lease provides protection, but does not necessarily provide long term, post 2026 viability. We have our eye in 2027 and beyond."