Thursday, May 17, 2007
[Later edit: See http://www.empirecenter.org/2006/11/berger_commissi.cfm for more info on why the urge to merge.]
The previous post is unnumbered because it's not "me" (me! me! me! what this blog's about!) and I figured I'd delete it before the end of the month, when I copy the month's posts to posterity.
I found Irwin's piece interesting, because, yeah, most of us civilians don't really understand why Kingston Hospital and Benedictine (and Northern Dutchess across the river) insist they have to combine to survive.
(Keep in mind that I know only the tiniest bit about this subject, at the highest level. I represent the average Joe-on-the-street. Joe and I are confused.)
The problem with them combining is that Benedictine is Catholic, and Kingston and Northern Dutchess are not. This is a critical distinction when it comes to women's health choices and end-of-life decisions, among other issues. Benedictine won't back down. If the three combine, even if a separate women's health clinic is set up as proposed, decisions on many levels will be taken from the individual, and given over to the Catholic Church. All three hospitals will be Catholic.
Ten or so years ago, the three hospitals claimed they were on the verge of bankruptcy, and they only way to save them was combining. The public outcry was so loud it didn't happen.
Kingston is a very small city, and quite frankly, two large hospitals only a few blocks apart does seem excessive. I think most people figured Benedictine would go under, and then Northern Dutchess and Kingston could combine and remain secular. We civilians waited to see what would happen.
Over the past ten years, all three hospitals built and bought. Northern Dutchess has doubled in size, and has formed some kind of "financial-and-services-only" agreement with a Poughkeepsie hospital, which takes them out of the Kingston/Benedictine equation. Kingston built a huge parking garage, and expanded. Benedictine is very proud of their new cancer center(s) and other new buildings. All three have upgraded to cutting-edge major equipment and services.
They've been looking pretty prosperous for businesses on the verge of bankruptcy.
We civilians don't understand.
So now this state report comes out, recommending that either Kingston gives up to Benedictine, or gets closed (Kingston Hospital being the public hospital, and therefore the one most easily threatened by the state).
Why can't they combine with the "financial-and-services" sharing type of deal Northern Dutchess struck? Why does Benedictine insist on dictating philosophy? How can they be in so much trouble when they've been spending so much money lately?
We civilians just don't understand.
Irwin's editorial adds considerations, but doesn't clear up the confusion.
------------------------------------
Mensa dinner tonight.
.
1 comment:
There has been talk of combining hospitals here because someone has decided that there are too many beds across the state. This makes no sense at all because almost nightly the ER is closed to ambulance units at some point because we don't have any beds left for admissions.
It's not like the hotel industry: there should always be beds available. We never know when a mass casualty is going to come in. Right now, even small multi-vehicle car accidents are causing problems because there aren't half a dozen beds available. Families get split up across the city based on who has what kind of spot available. It's just wrong.
Post a Comment