The Observation Deck

Many here believe that Lakewood Hospital is a viable operation.

However, the Clinic is not interested in operating the facility (many here believe due to deliberate sabotage).
The other hospital systems are not stepping forward to take over the operation.

Therefore, if the city wants to keep the hospital, it will need to take over the operation.
Some protesters (such as the folks giving out fliers at the Jan 28 meeting) have already called for this.

Some of you want to sue the Clinic, which would be a lengthy, expensive process.
Others might recommend kicking the can down the road to 2026...but that merely delays the issue.

Should the hospital return to the municipal model?
If not, why not?

I wouldn't let the City of Lakewood run a band-aid clinic. There would be a new committee, six levels of management and supervision over the one person applying the bandage, if you can find parking to use it.

Seems there is a conflict of interest with the City of Lakewood's Mayor representing the interests of the citizens of Lakewood and representing the interest of Lakewood Hospital Association Board at the same time. Cleveland Clinic is suppose to be a NOT FOR PROFIT, however, in reality that are FOR PROFIT corporation that enjoys the tax credits in fairy land of tax credits. Regardless of Lakewood s yin and yang mayor pretending to represent the interest for the healthcare of the citizens of Lakewood, in the back ground the decision has been made and this is just a circus performances by the puppets are playing for the masses. "Frees up 4 acres of land" and lose 1200 jobs plus nearby businesses and professionals. Only a fool or a politician with vested interest would make that statement.

Incidentally, this closing is not just about loosing money, it's about moving to a market area where there is a higher percentage of patients that have private insurance than those who have Medicaid or Medicare. Incidentally, Level II trauma centers do not have prompt response of surgical teams, either the patient has to wait or transfer to another hospital. Time is the fine line between a patient living or dying either it be in transport or waiting for a surgical team.

I went to Lakewood Hospital once, my 7 year old son broke his wrist on ice, the emergency staff plucked the number 76 and told us to wait when they where just calling out number 37. Where was Cleveland Clinic's priority to priorities to the critical and children over runny noses? I took him to a real hospital not a Cleveland Clinic and he was immediately seen and treated. Cleveland Clinic in nothing more than self serving corporation where profits have a higher level of priority then providing health care the health care needs of all the economic classes in the area they operate.

Richard Baker wrote:I wouldn't let the City of Lakewood run a band-aid clinic.

I'm not talking about a clinic.
I'm talking about the city operating a full-blown 200 bed hospital, just as it did for decades before the Cleveland Clinic deal.

What's the story behind Premier Physicians? I heard they expressed an interest in the hospital. It's a growing group with a lot of Lakewood, or formerly Lakewood docs and practices.

Michael Deneen wrote:However, the Clinic is not interested in operating the facility (many here believe due to deliberate sabotage).... Therefore, if the city wants to keep the hospital, it will need to take over the operation.

Michael,

It is my understanding that this statement is not necessarily true. The Hospital Board started the process to close the hospital not the Clinic. The Clinic did move services AFTER THE CITY LET THEM. The Clinic would have still been doing the status quo if the Board didn't hire a consultant to recommend the changes.

I have not seen the offers from other hospital systems but were they even offered a full Hospital? I don't think contractually they could have been since the Clinic had a contract for 10 more years. Right? They were just asked to bid on a the new mini clinic idea.

To me this is about the hospital board and some key city folks wanting to make a change to access land to develop. I do not understand the anger at the Clinic when they are just doing what they were allowed to do by our leaders and now they are just doing the only option the board has given them.

The timing does work out well for the Clinic and I truly don't believe the Clinic planned it that way, but I believe the board did. They realized there would be an automatic time crunch otherwise 1000 employees would be fired which would make everyone look bad...

Ryan Salo wrote:It is my understanding that this statement is not necessarily true. The Hospital Board started the process to close the hospital not the Clinic. The Clinic did move services AFTER THE CITY LET THEM. The Clinic would have still been doing the status quo if the Board didn't hire a consultant to recommend the changes.

If the Clinic were committed to Lakewood, none of this would be happening.
I do not buy the "City is trying to push the hospital out" line.
There is other land for development (Spitzer, anyone?) that can much more easily gotten.

The Clinic is far more powerful than City Hall. They got lots of cash, goodwill, lawyers, etc.
The Clinic has powerful allies everywhere from Cleveland City Hall to Riyadh.
The Clinic isn't going to be pushed into anything that the Clinic doesn't want.

Let's remember...this is the Mayor that was bullied into closing a basketball court by ONE RESIDENT.
Do you honestly believe that he is going to take on the Cleveland Clinic, which one of the largest, wealthiest, and beloved institutions in the state of Ohio?

Michael Deneen wrote:If the Clinic were committed to Lakewood, none of this would be happening.
I do not buy the "City is trying to push the hospital out" line.
There is other land for development (Spitzer, anyone?) that can much more easily gotten.

Mike

Well the Clinic said that, with City Hall on the stage.

It was in the city release, and came out of Mike's mouth.

So you just keep on believing in your fantasy, but the fact is.

"The City did it's soul searching without an urging on our behalf." Toby Cosgrove, in the
release handed out by City Hall at the meeting.

If the Clinic was so desperate to leave, why are they giving the city more time to look at
options? Why wouldn't they just tell us oooops too late, sorry.

Michael Deneen wrote:Let's remember...this is the Mayor that was bullied into closing a basketball court by ONE RESIDENT.
Do you honestly believe that he is going to take on the Cleveland Clinic, which one of the largest, wealthiest, and beloved institutions in the state of Ohio?

Mike, do you believe that was mishandled and screwed up? So what makes you think
they didn't screw up a bigger more complex deal. It is not the Clinic's responsibility to
make sure our elected leaders are up to the meeting, that is on us the voters.

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Jim O'Bryan wrote:"The City did it's soul searching without an urging on our behalf." Toby Cosgrove, in the
release handed out by City Hall at the meeting.

How exactly do you define "urging"? Cosgrove is very savvy and has a large team of lawyers....the Clinic may not have specifically said "We urge you to look at other options"...but their actions clearly illustrate that they want out. They've been moving services to Fairview for years.
Cosgrove is media savvy enough to not say "we want out" and let the Clinic take the PR hit.
This spin reminds me of Art Modell's "I had no choice" quote in Baltimore.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:If the Clinic was so desperate to leave, why are they giving the city more time to look at
options? Why wouldn't they just tell us oooops too late, sorry.

The Clinic isn't "giving" the city any "extra time"...they still have a contract until 2026.

Feel free to answer the original question:
Should the city take back operation of the Hospital?

Michael Deneen wrote:How exactly do you define "urging"? Cosgrove is very savvy and has a large team of lawyers....the Clinic may not have specifically said "We urge you to look at other options"...but their actions clearly illustrate that they want out. They've been moving services to Fairview for years. Cosgrove is media savvy enough to not say "we want out" and let the Clinic take the PR hit. This spin reminds me of Art Modell's "I had no choice" quote in Baltimore.

Mike, spin it any way you want I have been on this thing for years. What was meant was
they did not bring up getting out of their contract. At the same time City Hall would be
negligent waiting until 2026 to figure something out. Still, somewhere along the line we
lost the hospital, the City played their cards and had no takers.

No one has moved any services without consent of both parties. CCF and LHBA.

Michael Deneen wrote:The Clinic isn't "giving" the city any "extra time"...they still have a contract until 2026.
Feel free to answer the original question:

Michael Deneen wrote:The Clinic isn't "giving" the city any "extra time"...they still have a contract until 2026.

Mike, have you read the contract? I could be wrong, but with everyone I have had looking
at the contract, they can get out for $13 million. They could sit on the hospital and kick
out $1 million a year, and fulfill their contract. There is a huge difference between $13 mill
and $82 million, I have said I think they got a damn good deal.

We need to see how they arrived at it, and it is not squandered on a Rec Center.

Michael Deneen wrote:Feel free to answer the original question:
Should the city take back operation of the Hospital?

I have spoken with a lot of professionals in every area of healthcare. I have spoken with a
ton of lawyers about this. If Lakewood Hospital cannot get Tier 1 status, no one can run
the hospital effectively, even the city. IF they can get Tier 1 or Tier 2 status, then a case
could be made for something as simple as the Premier Physician package,

With our connection to the Clinic, Lakewood Hospital manages about $2 - $5 million after
the Medicaid payments. If the Board met more often, and the Foundation stayed true to
raising money to offset debt by Lakewood Hospital it might be possible.

However, I just heard last week that the original building will need about $60 million to get
updated. That it would be best to raise it, and build a new section in the front. So then you
have to find $60 million for that.

The Foundation that normal pays for things like that has roughly $35 mill in the bank so
we would have to float a levy to pay for it.

You tell me, do you think we can?

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premier physicians???? i read this in that packet that was released. does that mean that the group Premier Physicians were once thinking about Buying the hsopital? where would 70 Dr come up with that kind of money?


funny thing Jim o bryan if you talk to those guys, the same ones i work with especially a few big players on the board that are cardiologist (executive board of DR) i know exactly who your sources are. To be honest some of the most true well intentioned individuals you can come across....whats horrible is i thought they were crazy for years talking of closing and making it a parking lot....he (they) were spot on....No names however i will give you a riddle----- what is your name? JIm right? the riddle is..... his name is my name too? but your saying the riddle not me------if that doesnt make sense it got lost in translation........... like i said before, i respect what you say, you have been correct every single time....you know who you look like, is the coffea guy from the second floor inside the hospital...been there since 2006 never ever stoped up there weird....what happens to him?

christopher dan wrote:premier physicians???? i read this in that packet that was released. does that mean that the group Premier Physicians were once thinking about Buying the hsopital? where would 70 Dr come up with that kind of money?

funny thing Jim o bryan if you talk to those guys, the same ones i work with especially a few big players on the board that are cardiologist (executive board of DR) i know exactly who your sources are. To be honest some of the most true well intentioned individuals you can come across....whats horrible is i thought they were crazy for years talking of closing and making it a parking lot....he (they) were spot on....No names however i will give you a riddle----- what is your name? JIm right?

I cannot speak about the people you spoke with, or are speaking about. I can promise you
they are not sources on this story.

I spoke to the first person connected with the Clinic last week, and that was about
something unrelated to Lakewood Hospital closing. I did not get my information from the
Lakewood Hospital Board, nor the Lakewood Hospital Foundation. I have friends on all
of them, and none of them contributed to my original story.

I will agree that many people with great intentions do really screwed up things. That is
what worries me here. The money is headed to a couple of the most misguided individuals
I have ever met. They have made a career out of spending other people's money like
their own, if they had really had any, and then patting each other on the back and giving
each other awards for nothing.

City Hall is having a terrible time even trying to be honest with the residents. I do not think
you could trust this group of sneaks and liars to run a hospital, or a deli.

I would also based on how poorly all of this was handled, NO ONE ON ANY OF THE BOARDS
OR COMMITTEES SHOULD SIT ON ANY BOARD WITH ACCESS TO THE MONEY FROM THIS
DEAL. How can you reward people that cause us to lose 1,100 jobs over $1 billion in
financial impacts to the city, so they could get a rec center and FREE SOCCER FIELDS.

PSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSST - $120 million fields are not FREE SOCCER FIELDS. It is a
transfer of wealth from the great residents of Lakewood, tou City Hall's friends and partners.

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Richard Baker wrote:Seems there is a conflict of interest with the City of Lakewood's Mayor representing the interests of the citizens of Lakewood and representing the interest of Lakewood Hospital Association Board at the same time. Cleveland Clinic is suppose to be a NOT FOR PROFIT, however, in reality that are FOR PROFIT corporation that enjoys the tax credits in fairy land of tax credits.

I had always assumed that the administration and the Hospital Board and the Hospital Foundation were working to preserve and protect the hospital. Wrong.

In some sense they get a bad rap. They knew that the Cleveland Clinic intended to slowly degrade Lakewood Hospital until in 2026. At that point the Clinic would walk away leaving behind an outdated and empty building without any customers. In 2026 the City and Board would have been in a pretty desperate position.

The solution they came up with is to accelerate the time and line and destroy the hospital in 2016 instead of 2026.

To meet the needs of the people of Lakewood they then proposed to build a minute clinic on Detroit. The side deal was to give tens of millions to a secretive group for some mysterious and unnamed "development".

The "Tangible" vision specific by Subsidium include:



Wellness/fitness center
School based counseling programs
behavioral health services such as peer counseling programs
personal health navigators
health advocates/health coaches
physician subsidy programs
parks, waling trails , dog parks
health care pricing transparency tools
Promotion of mobile/urgent care services
health care pricing transparency tools
subsidies for in home monitoring series
sophisticated data analytics

Have the flu, break a bone, need to see a specialist? Go to Avon.

This whole experience is like an episode of the Twilight Zone.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:City Hall is having a terrible time even trying to be honest with the residents. I do not think you could trust this group of sneaks and liars to run a hospital, or a deli.

I would also based on how poorly all of this was handled, NO ONE ON ANY OF THE BOARDS
OR COMMITTEES SHOULD SIT ON ANY BOARD WITH ACCESS TO THE MONEY FROM THIS
DEAL. How can you reward people that cause us to lose 1,100 jobs over $1 billion in
financial impacts to the city, so they could get a rec center and FREE SOCCER FIELDS.

PSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSST - $120 million fields are not FREE SOCCER FIELDS. It is a
transfer of wealth from the great residents of Lakewood, tou City Hall's friends and partners.

Again, Jim is correct.

The "tangible" suggestions appear to merely be ways to spend a pile of money from the liquidation of an tremendous asset.

Michael Deneen wrote:Many here believe that Lakewood Hospital is a viable operation.

However, the Clinic is not interested in operating the facility (many here believe due to deliberate sabotage).

The Sumsidium report states:

"With the assumed loss of volume due to Avon, operating cash flow turns negative....results in depletion of the investments by the end of the 2nd year of Avon's operations."

The Clinic played a very clever game. They slowly transferred doctors and specialists and whole departments to Avon and other areas. If the Hospital Board let the Clinic continue the operation of the Hospital at the end of the lease term there would be nothing left. NOTHING.

The Board should have acted ten years ago. Even five years ago something might have been salvaged. The sad fact is that Lakewood Hospital received its death sentence the day the Clinic decided to build in Avon. If the Board acted proactively something might have been salvaged. Instead they waited until the last moment to act and left themselves and the City with nothing but bad options.

The best we can hope for is a first class family health center. Unfortunately, what is proposed is a third class facility designed to fail.

The loss of the Hospital and the unwillingness of the City to control labor costs will lead to an income tax increase sooner rather than later.

Should we accept that increase at a later date merely to fund current operations or should we increase the tax now to fund a first class medical facility?