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Cleveland Clinic Moves MRI Machine Out of Lakewood ?
Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2016 3:07 am
by Bill Call
?
Please keep in mind that the agreement we will vote on in November does not require the Clinic to maintain an Emergency Room in Lakewood. They can close it at any time.
But not before the election.
Re: Cleveland Clinic Moves MRI Machine Out of Lakewood ?
Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2016 3:52 am
by cameron karslake
Was this machine supposed to stay in town?
I wonder if the MRI is Lakewood Hospital porperty at this point or if it was another part of this huge give-away orchestrated by our mayor. I am pretty sure that, before last December's vote, the MRI belonged to the hosptial, hence the city of Lakewood.
We all know how politicians love to play fast and loose with other people's money!
Re: Cleveland Clinic Moves MRI Machine Out of Lakewood ?
Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2016 5:54 am
by Brian Essi
Under the Master Agreement, CCF receives a "dissolution distribution" which includes all of the LHA/City of Lakewood equipment, fixtures, cash, receivables and stock portfolio that were the hospital assets.
The value of the equipment alone has been estimated at $30M (replacement cost greater than $80M) and the cash value of the rest of the "dissolution distribution" is estimates at around $30M as well. So not counting the "free" restrictive covenant, good will and other goodies given to CCF, thye are walking away with about $60M so our elected leaders could press the EASY button.
Thee $30M in cash will come in handy as CCF funds the future political campaigns of Summers, Bullock, O'Leary, Dale Miller and Armond Budish, et al. in exchange for their aiding and abetting roles in the scheme.
Mr. Call,
FYI, the proper term in the medical community is "MR imager" not "MRI machine"
Re: Cleveland Clinic Moves MRI Machine Out of Lakewood ?
Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2016 8:17 am
by mjkuhns
Since this subject has come up, I'll add a small note.
There is already a precedent for ceasing 24/7 ER service at a Clinic site exactly like what Lakewood is to have, under the deal. Up until last fall, Sagamore Hills had a Cleveland Clinic health center with a freestanding ER (i.e. without a hospital attached). In November, the Clinic provided one month's notice that they were closing the ER and replacing it with an Express Care office. (1)
What I regard as most important about this is that, according to the Clinic's representatives, this was positive news and not a diminution of service in the community. They actually made comments such as "the Express Care facility makes it possible… to continue to care for the community,” and “This new level of care will better serve residents." (2)
Under the circumstances there is every reason for suspicion about why Lakewood's new Master Agreement refers to “a present need” for an emergency department, and states that “The need for emergency services may change with time.” (3)
(I learned about the Sagamore Hills ER from a friend last winter, and attempted to inform Lakewood City Council in February. I formed an impression that the information was not wanted, although I am open to correction at any time.)
1.
http://the-news-leader.com/news%20local ... om-closure
2.
http://the-news-leader.com/news%20local ... sing-dec-1
3. See page four:
http://www.onelakewood.com/wp-content/u ... 212015.pdf
Re: Cleveland Clinic Moves MRI Machine Out of Lakewood ?
Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2016 8:26 am
by Bridget Conant
It is indisputable that the Cleveland Clinic is NOT bound by the agreement to guarantee that an ER will remain.
I also think a smart person would see through the double talk and realize that as soon as the Clinic can, they will provide numbers showing a lack of utilization of the ER to justify its closing, and we will have NO recourse.
How many times can this administration deceive, lie, and obsfucate?
Re: Cleveland Clinic Moves MRI Machine Out of Lakewood ?
Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2016 8:39 am
by Bridget Conant
http://www.scriptype.com/uploaded/docs/ ... _S0116.pdf
The Clinic gave no advance notice to the fire department or the community. According to a township trustee, Paul Buescher:
Cleveland Clinic left us high and dry and it's going to cost all of us more money, and God forbid, it could cause a loss of life somewhere down the road.
They were NOT happy.
Re: Cleveland Clinic Moves MRI Machine Out of Lakewood ?
Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2016 11:26 am
by scott gilman
The MRI has not been removed and is still operational. The plans for the new Family Health Center have an MRI scheduled into the new building.
As for the ER the number of patients being treated is continuing to increase
As for the Sagamore Hills there is no comparison between the facilities. That facility opened as part of Brentwood Hospital which was merged with the old Suburban hospital. Back when it opened there was talk of building a hospital there but that never materialized. The same situation happened in Solon when St Luke's tried to build a hospital there. They ended up with a free standing.
The ER at Lakewood continues to be a community asset and will remain that way if it is supported by the community.
Re: Cleveland Clinic Moves MRI Machine Out of Lakewood ?
Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2016 11:39 am
by Lori Allen _
Wow, this thread is getting deep! This post reminds me of the Thompson Twins Song, "Lies, Lies, Lies, Lies"! By the way, I was up there last week for x rays and was taken out through the Urgi Care. One person was sitting in a bed fully clothed and talking on their cell phone. The other beds were empty! Apparently the word is spreading fast that this place is NOT a REAL "ER". I have been told by a couple of people who were patients that their care at Lakewood Urgi Care was less then adequate.
Re: Cleveland Clinic Moves MRI Machine Out of Lakewood ?
Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2016 11:41 am
by tom monahan
Scott:
Since you appear to be a spokesman for the Clinic's ER, maybe you can enlighten us as to what the number of patients are that have been treated monthly since Feb. 5th.
Re: Cleveland Clinic Moves MRI Machine Out of Lakewood ?
Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2016 12:04 pm
by Patrick Wadden
scott gilman wrote:The MRI has not been removed and is still operational. The plans for the new Family Health Center have an MRI scheduled into the new building.
As for the ER the number of patients being treated is continuing to increase
As for the Sagamore Hills there is no comparison between the facilities. That facility opened as part of Brentwood Hospital which was merged with the old Suburban hospital. Back when it opened there was talk of building a hospital there but that never materialized. The same situation happened in Solon when St Luke's tried to build a hospital there. They ended up with a free standing.
The ER at Lakewood continues to be a community asset and will remain that way if it is supported by the community.
Thank you Scott Gilman. So the title of this thread is misleading. The ER does have and will continue to have an MR imager.
Re: Cleveland Clinic Moves MRI Machine Out of Lakewood ?
Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2016 8:38 pm
by mjkuhns
As for the Sagamore Hills there is no comparison between the facilities.
Sagamore Hills had a freestanding ER. It was adjoined to a health center rather than a hospital. The Cleveland Clinic owned the facility.
I think those are all objective facts. Meanwhile, although the Clinic's marketing is probably more subjective, we may note certain facts about how it represented Sagamore Hills:
Beyond that, I think people are qualified to draw their own conclusion about whether the Sagamore Hills ER was a community asset, and whether there is any comparison with affairs in Lakewood.
Re: Cleveland Clinic Moves MRI Machine Out of Lakewood ?
Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2016 9:01 pm
by Bridget Conant
Read this about them closing Huron's Level 2 trauma. The Clinic does as the Clinic pleases:
http://m.clevescene.com/cleveland/sorry ... id=2216097
"It's a clash of cultures, of income, of race," Johnson says. While the Clinic claims this is not the case, it appears guilty at the very least of trying to keep secret a decision that potentially affects all Clevelanders.
Dr. Toby Cosgrove, President and CEO of Cleveland Clinic, announced the plan to close Huron's trauma center on Friday, October 22, though it was well known to Clinic insiders before that. Two hours before Cosgrove met with fire and EMS officials, council members, and others, news of the closure had been accidentally leaked. A trauma surgeon inadvertently mentioned what was happening to a Huron staffer, and word spread immediately.
Perhaps it would have been wisest to allow for the dissemination of critical information early enough in deliberations so that the affected cities and medical-response units could plan for it. Instead, the initial announcement was delivered as a statement of fact minimized only slightly when Cosgrove noted that "We do not plan on implementing this until we have managed the logistics to continue to provide the quality of care and to in fact enhance the quality of care for the patients and trauma patients of Northeast Ohio."
The quote struck some in attendance as odd, given that the proposed action — which would affect the residents of two cities — was being taken without discussion with city officials, the public, or even the first responders, especially paramedics and fire fighters, who must live with the consequences of the closing each day.
Cosgrove tried to soften the news by explaining why the shutdown was apparently out of the Clinic's control. The population needs have changed, he said; Cleveland and East Cleveland have fewer residents than in the past, and the number of trauma cases coming to Huron Hospital has fallen.
Re: Cleveland Clinic Moves MRI Machine Out of Lakewood ?
Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2016 9:42 pm
by m buckley
scott gilman wrote:The ER at Lakewood continues to be a community asset and will remain that way if it is supported by the community.
Mr. Gilman, care to elaborate?
I'm really trying to understand the inference of that statement. Is it that, if Big Daddy Summers and The Clinic perceive us as petulant children they will take away our ER privileges. Or are you suggesting that we rush to the faux ER with every scrape and bruise received, just to keep the numbers up, in the joke of a hope that the Clinic will determine that the faux ER is viable a year from now.
Re: Cleveland Clinic Moves MRI Machine Out of Lakewood ?
Posted: Sun Sep 11, 2016 10:02 pm
by Bridget Conant
scott gilman wrote:The ER at Lakewood continues to be a community asset and will remain that way if it is supported by the community.
Mr. Gilman, care to elaborate?
I'm really trying to understand the inference of that statement. Is it that, if Big Daddy Summers and The Clinic perceive us as petulant children they will take away our ER privileges. Or are you suggesting that we rush to the faux ER with every scrape and bruise received, just to keep the numbers up, in the joke of a hope that the Clinic will determine that the faux ER is viable a year from now.
In November of 2015, after being questioned about the ability of a downsized ER at Lakewood being able to handle the usual demand, Chief Gilman wrote:
As for 10,000 patients having no where to go how about trying primary care physicians. Many of the back logs in ER's are from patients that should be seeing a family doctor and don't really need the emergency room.
So obviously the fire chief believes far too many ER visits are not really justified. But, now he says we need to support the ER, which I presume means to use it, or we risk losing it.
My, my. To go, or not to go? That is the question.
Re: Cleveland Clinic Moves MRI Machine Out of Lakewood ?
Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2016 8:36 am
by todd vainisi
In November of 2015, after being questioned about the ability of a downsized ER at Lakewood being able to handle the usual demand, Chief Gilman wrote:
As for 10,000 patients having no where to go how about trying primary care physicians. Many of the back logs in ER's are from patients that should be seeing a family doctor and don't really need the emergency room.
So obviously the fire chief believes far too many ER visits are not really justified. But, now he says we need to support the ER, which I presume means to use it, or we risk losing it.
My, my. To go, or not to go? That is the question.
Those aren't just Chief Gilman's opinions. It's been the established opinion for many, many years now by all the experts. People with lousy health insurance or no health insurance end up in the ER instead of visiting their family doctor, costing everybody else that comes there more (to cover the cost of their visit which they cannot pay for).