The Observation Deck

The Mayors latest campaign flyer contained a quote from Jay Carson, North Coast Health Secretary, "North Coast Health believes that the proposed transformation would, in fact, be a tremendous benefit to the patients we treat". Why would that be?

Lakewood hospital provided over $7 million each year in charity care. As a City owned Hospital it was required to provide full service to those in need. Mr. Carson thinks the destruction of that hospital and elimination of that charity care is a good thing.

How can that be? Well, one of the overlooked aspects of the Mayors plan is to transfer the assets of the Lakewood Hospital Foundation to a new Foundation controlled by the Cleveland Clinic. According to Councilman Sean Juris that new Foundation would offer health services, wellness activities and support of parks and recreation to the people of "Lakewood and surrounding communities".

It's not a great leap to suggest that one unnamed purpose of the Foundation will be to transfer millions of Foundation assets to North Coast Health. This fits in well with the Clinics plan to continue to reduce its charitable care. So, part of the Mayors deal with the Clinic is to transfer $33 million City dollars to fund charity care that was once the responsibility of the Cleveland Clinic.

Since Lakewood Hospital has a beneficial interest in the Foundation and since the City of Lakewood owns Lakewood Hospital the funds of the Foundation to the extent of its beneficial interest are the property of the City of Lakewood. We not only lose a hospital and 1,500 jobs but Lakewood assumes responsibility for the health care of people left behind.

Can anyone from Build Lakewood explain why this is a good thing?

If that question frightens you feel free to call the police.

That's exactly what is planned and that's why Jay Carson is rabidly defending the deal.

Can North Coast Health Ministry replace or perform emergency health services? NO.

The fact is that what NCHM provides is basic services and mostly on a referral basis. They are not a hospital and cannot replace it or provide hospital level care. What they do is this, from their website:

We offer:

Regular Check-ups/Preventive Care
Chronic Disease Management
Primary Health Care - for newborns, children, adults and seniors
Prescription Assistance
Women’s Health Care
Immunizations
Referrals for Tests and Lab Work
Referrals for Specialty Medical Care
Assistance with Coverage Enrollment

If Jay Carson is insinuating that NCHM can "take over" for the hospital, he is grossly misleading people. They offer very basic services, as seen above.

But that's par for the course for the Build Lakewood group.

At the City Council meeting on Tuesday, September 8, 2015, a representative from North Coast Health Ministry (I believe M. Carson) read a statement minimizing the impact of the closing of Lakewood Hospital. I am sure this organization does good work, but it also serves those who are uninsured, the same people that the Cleveland Clinic probably does not want to serve.

Further, I may be wrong, but believe this organization is funded partially by the City of Lakewood through a federal Community Development Block Grant (HUD program), which prohibit political activity, and that the Cleveland Clinic and several Cleveland Clinic-affiliated persons serve as directors on its board. If I were this organization I would be very concerned about running awry of the law.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of the Inspector General has a fraud hotline where people can report “suspected fraud, waste, abuse or gross mismanagement in HUD programs or operations.” With all the nonsense going on in the City of Lakewood, I urge folks to check it out. In case you were wondering … calls to the hotline are confidential (Per HUD, it “will protect the identity of non-Federal government employees who report information and request confidentiality.”)

Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Office of the Inspector General (OIG)

HUD OIG Hotline: 1-800-347-3735

Online form available here: https://www.hudoig.gov/report-fraud

The interests of Summers/CCF/BL/Carson/NCHM line up like the stars.

A few weeks back Carson, expressly representing NCHM, admitted to City Council that NCHM had something to gain from the backroom deal.

On October 5th at City Council he said he was not speaking for BL, had no role with it and claimed nobody at BL stood to gain from the backroom dealings. He also disclaimed any relationship between BL and CCF.

This week his name appeared in a CCF/LHA political ad.

This weekend he lead BL in a forum designed to redefine who BL is.

Carson, like his fellow BLers Patton and Summers, think the public is too stupid to see through their duplicity.

He has proven what I wrote in the "Blood on Your Hands" post--personal responsibility for active deceit of City Council and the public to obtain something of benefit for the BL ilk.

In this discussion, do not lose sight of the FACT that the NCHM provides BASIC services, like checkups and immunizations. They DO NOT and CANNOT provide FULL SERVICES. They REFER you to other providers.

How Jay Carson could believe that NCHM, nay any free clinic, could provide care equivalent to what will be lost when Lakewood Hospital closes is mind boggling. He must have been hoodwinked. I hope he hasn't counted on the promised "windfall."

Just noticed that Carson is also "current President of the Lakewood Civil Service Commission."

http://www.wegmanlaw.com/2011/01/jay-carson/

I guess we can all forget about getting jobs with the City of Lakewood. Lol. Oh what a tangled web has been woven in Lakewood....

I have a couple of friends here in Lakewood who, unfortunately, have fallen on hard times. They both turned to North Coast Health for services. They informed me that once you are in their system, it becomes just like CCF, you wait months and months for follow-up appointments.

If anyone in Lakewood is looking for good primary care, Westshore Primary care is located on Detroit by Planet Fitness across the city line in Rocky River. Nice people, fast check in, good doctors and you don't have to wait months for a follow up appointment. Best part, they are not affiliated in any way with CCF.

Bill Call wrote:The Mayors latest campaign flyer contained a quote from Jay Carson, North Coast Health Secretary, "North Coast Health believes that the proposed transformation would, in fact, be a tremendous benefit to the patients we treat". Why would that be?

Lakewood hospital provided over $7 million each year in charity care. As a City owned Hospital it was required to provide full service to those in need. Mr. Carson thinks the destruction of that hospital and elimination of that charity care is a good thing.

How can that be? Well, one of the overlooked aspects of the Mayors plan is to transfer the assets of the Lakewood Hospital Foundation to a new Foundation controlled by the Cleveland Clinic. According to Councilman Sean Juris that new Foundation would offer health services, wellness activities and support of parks and recreation to the people of "Lakewood and surrounding communities".

It's not a great leap to suggest that one unnamed purpose of the Foundation will be to transfer millions of Foundation assets to North Coast Health. This fits in well with the Clinics plan to continue to reduce its charitable care. So, part of the Mayors deal with the Clinic is to transfer $33 million City dollars to fund charity care that was once the responsibility of the Cleveland Clinic.

Since Lakewood Hospital has a beneficial interest in the Foundation and since the City of Lakewood owns Lakewood Hospital the funds of the Foundation to the extent of its beneficial interest are the property of the City of Lakewood. We not only lose a hospital and 1,500 jobs but Lakewood assumes responsibility for the health care of people left behind.

Can anyone from Build Lakewood explain why this is a good thing?

If that question frightens you feel free to call the police.

Brian Essi wrote:The interests of Summers/CCF/BL/Carson/NCHM line up like the stars.

A few weeks back Carson, expressly representing NCHM, admitted to City Council that NCHM had something to gain from the backroom deal.

On October 5th at City Council he said he was not speaking for BL, had no role with it and claimed nobody at BL stood to gain from the backroom dealings. He also disclaimed any relationship between BL and CCF.

This week his name appeared in a CCF/LHA political ad.

This weekend he lead BL in a forum designed to redefine who BL is.

Carson, like his fellow BLers Patton and Summers, think the public is too stupid to see through their duplicity.

He has proven what I wrote in the "Blood on Your Hands" post--personal responsibility for active deceit of City Council and the public to obtain something of benefit for the BL ilk.

Mr. Call,

This thread never got much attention.

Within a few hours of my reply last October, a new account was created on the buzz and used to suggest I might be "Lakewood's the next mass murderer."

So is there any connection between "crazy" attacks on citizens and journalists for exercising their First Amendment Rights and the LVFP Chairman Jay Carson, NCHM, CCF, Bullock, Summers and Summers' employee Uldricks who was previously convicted in a case involving "Anti-semitic, Strong and Bizarre Sexual Content" in "hateful" emails to his enemies?

Carson's law firm and law partners are currently using Uldricks as their willing pawn in a frivolous "conspiracy theory" lawsuit against the Observer and its publisher to uncover identities of Summers' Bullock's and Carson's political enemies. The right to keep one's identity secrete for purposes of speaking out against the government is protected under the First Amendment.

Last October, Chairman Carson led the charge to try to have me arrested for free speech while he simultaneously claimed the free speech of his freinds in the government were being threatened by a post point out his PAC's lies.

Conspiracy or coincidence?

It would be informative to see what impact the hospital closing has had on North Coast Health since the hospital has been closed for over 6 months.

What is the demand compared to pre- February figures? If there is an increased demand for services, have these needs been met? What steps have they taken to meet new demand and how is it being financed?

Jay Carson insisted the closing of the hospital would be "good" for NCHM. I'd like to see some evidence that it has improved their situation.

No monies will be forthcoming from any "new foundation" for at least 1.5 years, as far as I can see, so how will there be a benefit to NCHM from Lakewood Hospital's closing?

I'm not holding my breath waiting for an answer.

http://northcoasthealth.org/about-us/our-leadership/

Bridget, look at all the well known folks on the Board of Directors. Also, good old Dr. Garven is involved. It apperas to be run by both CCF people and the Summer's mafia, minus the weapons!