My head is spinning. First, finger-pointing and counter-finger-pointing. Now a court ordered receiver — no wait, a sale agreement for West Sub and Weiss has been agreed upon (aka “the check is in the mail”).
In the continued shenanigans about these two hospitals and with recriminations flying in both directions, there appears to be no serious thought given to needed health-care services rather than re-opening the brick-and-mortar facilities. First identify the needed services, then drive the solution — maybe it’s a hospital, maybe it’s freestanding services, maybe none of the above. But the solution (re-opening a hospital) should not drive the process. The actual needs of the communities should. Long ago I realized much (but not all) of the health-care industry was about selling health care as a way to make money. It was not about delivering to the needs of the community.
I don’t deny anyone a profit, but in health care the profit should be the end result of high-quality, efficient health care, not the other way around. The “sale” and “new ownership” of these facilities will continue the tradition of making money on “heads and beds” (i.e. filling up a hospital with high-margin services), not on improving the health care of the Austin and Uptown neighborhoods.
I once asked a CFO why the hospital system doesn’t have in its strategic vision statement (let’s say) “to drive down the incidence of diabetes.” I was told that was impossible because we are a money-making entity and that is our priority.
The state and local communities should drive this needs assessment and determine (if needed) re-opening of services. In any event, these new or re-opened services should carry an obligation to actually improve health care, not just the bottom line.
Dr. Gary Wainer
Oak Park