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November 23, 2007
Brooklyn Hospital Banks on Gentrification
Fort Greene’s Brooklyn Hospital Center is hoping proximity to condos like One Hanson Place and the Oro will help keep it in business. The 464-bed hospital, which emerged from bankruptcy in September, wants to increase its patient base by luring the area’s affluent new residents; to help achieve that goal, it’s putting $40 million into capital improvements and is going to start focusing on new programs like cardiac services, weight management, and back pain. And while the hospital wants to convince deep-pocketed newcomers that its services are up to snuff, it's also being called on to not abandon its its Medicaid and Medicare patients, who currently make up 80% of the hospital's patient base. Think it can do both and turn a profit?
After Bankruptcy, a Hospital in Brooklyn Looks To Rebuild [NY Sun]
Photo by Scott Bintner for Property Shark.
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Comments
I wouldn't send my dog to that hospital.
My wife and I waited for over 5 hours in the ER one night after she fractured her ankle, and we were still behind 10-12 other folks who hadn't been seen. We didn't even get an ice pack from the unhelpful staff. We gave up at around 5am, and I half-carried her back to our apt, where at least we could ice her ankle and give her some Advil. In the morning we took a cab to a real hospital in Manhattan.
A guy I know (who grew up in Bed Stuy and now lives in Ft. Greene) received a fairly serious eye injury during a pick-up basketball game and actually took a cab into Manhattan rather than go to this dump.
Avoid it at all costs.
Posted by: McFin at November 23, 2007 9:18 AM
I think this hospital like most sections of Downtown Brooklyn has great potential. It needs to change along with everything else. That includes a complete overall of the staff as well. This hospital has played a significant role in providing the only access to an emergency room for the many poor residents that resided in Fort Greene. And I don't just mean Fort Greene public housing residents. There were many poor residents living in SRO units along the park that is now selling for 3 million dollars.It will take some time, but I believe that when people stop talking about art centers and the restoration of Fort Greene Park, brooklyn hospital and the local schools will become a priority of this great neighborhood.
HEY!...do anybody remember when part of the hospital was a city jail?
Posted by: guest at November 23, 2007 9:47 AM
When I lived in Ft. Greene I had a scare and the EMS was called...I refused to get in the ambulence because they said they would only bring me here.
I took the time to call a cab to bring me to Methodist.
Ive also been there on one other occasion with my Ex whos sister had a baby here and I was disgusted at the conditions!
Posted by: guest at November 23, 2007 10:15 AM
I was born there in the 70's and they almost sent my mom home with the wrong baby. They handed her a baby with a big head of hair, and she told them her baby was bald. They realized their mistake and gave me to them. She told me that people were giving birth in the halls it was so croweded there. She regrets having birthed there.
Posted by: guest at November 23, 2007 10:23 AM
Developing a vigorous plastic surgery program could meet the needs both of criminals who need to change their appearance and of fancy people who need facelifts. Win-win!
Also stomach stapling, liposuction, erectile dysfunction, and hair-loss remediation (I think I just made up marketing-speak!).
And let's not forget restless leg syndrome, or RLS.
Posted by: Rehab at November 23, 2007 10:39 AM
well the rate limiting step in hospital is usually the pharmacy, an efficient pharmacy department here infected w/ high staff turnover and multiple management firing/ resignations
Posted by: guest at November 23, 2007 11:10 AM
You know, it's all relative. I bet many of the 80% of patients that pay with Medicaid and Medicare are grateful that they didn't have to go to Woodhull.
10:15, expressing his/her relative preference, took a cab to Methodist to avoid Brooklyn Hospital. But I had an experience much like McFin's wife at Methodist. I finally went home, took something considerably stronger than asprin (stashed away from an earlier injury) and went to Beth Israel. I will never, NEVER go to Methodist again, even now that I moved just a few blocks away. The funny thing? A few days later, I got a call from Methodist asking if I was satsified with the service. It's rare that I am at a loss for words, but really, who walks out of an emergency room?
If I have to go to a Brooklyn hospital, I go to LICH.
Posted by: guest at November 23, 2007 11:14 AM
It’s great to see that there is going to be some investment in the facility and the treatments offered. But does no one see an issue with the need for gentrification for this investment. I guess gentrifiers are the only persons in need of cardiac, weight management and back pain services. God knows what I would have done a few years ago if I needed heart surgery.
Posted by: Kamal at November 23, 2007 11:16 AM
"But does no one see an issue with the need for gentrification for this investment."
Come on now, not everything is so controversial. It's very simple. Gentrification = money. 80% of its current business is Medicare and Medicaid. The hospital was bankrupt in September.
Posted by: guest at November 23, 2007 11:27 AM
getting a name brand ob-gyn practice on board, some spiffy birthing rooms, and you might stand a chance... lich abandoned their birthing center in fave of the medical model, so there's a niche that could be filled locally, since those wanting a more natural center in a hospital setting now go to SLR all the way on the west side.
Posted by: linkinplace at November 23, 2007 11:54 AM
Celebrity rehab!
Discreetly located outside of Manhattan!
They would be rich.
I should probably sign up for that myself.
Posted by: Rehab at November 23, 2007 12:13 PM
You are a closet racist "rehab @ 10:39". You are probably one of those angry people who sit at home in the morning feeling sorry for your injuries while you watch Jacoby and meyer commercials.
Posted by: guest at November 23, 2007 12:54 PM
put a vet in there! The way people care about their pets these days, they'd make a killing. Go to ft greene park in the morning and see what I mean, lol
Posted by: guest at November 23, 2007 1:31 PM
I agree with the poster who criticized Methodist. I went there after being mugged and waited over four hours to be seen. At one point, a doctor shined a light in my eye for five seconds (literally) and then charged my insurance company $495 for this "service".
If you want a decent hospital, go to LICH or St. Vincent's in Manhattan.
Posted by: guest at November 23, 2007 2:00 PM
columbia university makes tons of money serving both the insanely wealthy and the extremely poor.
Posted by: guest at November 23, 2007 2:05 PM
Interesting point, 2:05. Besides "Downstate," are any of the hospitals in Brooklyn affilated with medical schools? I don't think so.
Posted by: guest at November 23, 2007 3:51 PM
Closet racist? Blow it out yer ass. There is nothing racist about getting Lindsey and Brittany the rehab services they so desperately need, all in a discreet, beautiful, and profitable location in Ft. Greene. Go get your stomach stapled--you'll feel better about yourself, and you'll take up less space on the sidewalk.
Posted by: Rehab at November 23, 2007 4:07 PM
I find Maimonides to be okay but even the hospitals in the city leave much to be desired. The bed side manor of medical professionals just isn't the same as in the good olde days. If I here another nurse suck her teeth and roll her eyes because she was asked to do what she gets paid for or a doctor refer to a patient as the "bi-lateral inguinal hernia" instead their name or a dietary aide ask me a question in a language other than English and look at me like I was stupid because I didn't understand....
Posted by: guest at November 23, 2007 7:09 PM
Re gentrifying FG and CH won't help the hospital. As others have pointed out, park slope's current and consistent gentry have not made methodist worth visiting. I've been through their emergency room (at least 5 hrs over night) and several follow up clinic visits. The doctors were mostly decent though overworked, but all the other staff were horrendous. I think it is associated with Cornell for at least some specialties. The place is still filthy and poorly run. The new remodel makes it even harder to get to the ER where you will not find any park slope residents. If in need, get a car over the bridge.
Posted by: guest at November 24, 2007 12:23 AM
I will preface my comments with the realization that this is a real estate blog, but if you look at the comments on this thread, the consistent theme is that people have been dissatisfied with their ER experience. This is true of just about every ER. Don't think that the ERs in Manhattan are some amazing panacea, where every patient is seen right away, and the best food is served, and all the staff is polite and friendly. This problem stems to a very large extent from ER overcrowding, which is a nation-wide problem, and stems from patients who are admitted not having a bed in the hospital. They then have to stay in the ER, and so the poor guy waiting in the waiting room isn't brought in, because there is no place to put him!
Posted by: guest at November 24, 2007 5:23 AM
Having had bad ER experiences recently both at this hospital and (serving a very different constituency) St. Luke's Roosevelt, I have to conclude that the ER experience inherently sucks regardless of where you go and therefore it doesn't serve as an effective measure of a hospital.
That said, my impression of this place was that it could use some help.
Re: The concern of disenfranchising needier populations - it's a reasonable concern but also just another example of a broken system being asked to fill the gap our elected leaders don't have the wherewithal to address.
Posted by: guest at November 24, 2007 8:09 AM
I could go on about economics, race, time & patients, and the notion that this situation is indicative of the state of other less than adequate services (schools; the response, behavior & policies of local law enforcement; just to name a few), but I won't
I will suggest that an earlier comment about ER's being hell in general should not be ignored. Clearly, this is exacerbated in a situation like this one.
But . . .
NYC is full of specialized hospitals like the Hosp. for Joint Diseases. Most of them have ER's. I have a child and on the three occasions that we have had a bone/joint emergency, It was well worth the trip to Manhattan! No wait, cost was the same, better service. and that is all they do! This approach does not work for everything, but most of us living here are use to being resourceful seek out and use the services that this city provides and exploit them!
Posted by: guest at November 24, 2007 1:59 PM
Don't worry about abondoningMedicare patients.
Medicare has very high reimbursement rates.
Better than most of insurances the 'affluent' new neighbors might have.
And - hosipitals don't need affluent customers - just one with jobs that have good insurances.
Posted by: guest at November 24, 2007 2:22 PM
5:23 and 8:09 state that going to the ER sucks everywhere. My experience tells me otherwise. Granted, I don't go to the ER eight times a year so my anecdotal evidence is not very scientific. But based on my experiences and those of my spouse and close friends, I say: Methodist was consistently not good, and LICH, St. Vincents and Beth Israel were faster, more courteous, more compassionate.
I'll spare you the details of a conversation two Methodist doctors had within earshot of a friend who was having a miscarriage. If you're that desensitized, you are probably ready for a career change -- 11/23 11:14
Posted by: guest at November 24, 2007 2:47 PM
I've been to ER's in the city that seem to be no better than what's here in Brooklyn and the previous poster in correct in stating that you can't judge a hospital by its ER. Unfortunately, too many people because of their lack of insurance or accessibility to doctors with hours condusive to their work schedules have resorted to using the ER as their primary medical care. They go to the ER for non-emergencies which makes the wait longer for everyone. I used to have to do this myself because I didn't have coverage and would not have been seen by a doctor without payment up front. I am now fortunate enough to have had coverage for the past 20 years and I found a medical group that is open every single day of the year between 9 AM and 8 PM. If you don't have an appointment they will take you as a walk-in but the walk-in wait is longer. They have four general practioners all affiliated with Maimonides and perform rudimentary testing EKG, stress tests, etc.. on-site.
Posted by: guest at November 24, 2007 6:23 PM
I took my Mom to the ER here once when she was visiting and had a (relatively minor) emergency. It was okay in a pinch but I wouldn't choose to go here again. I have a rare and chronic medical condition and so I frequent the ER at NYU and Beth Israel and both are definitely better. I disagree with those who say all ER's suck the same. The only thing that might get me to try Brooklyn Hospital again might be the hiring of some seriously great doctors who can attract other highly talented medical staff to the hospital.
Posted by: guest at November 24, 2007 8:03 PM
So, just wondering, where do all the Brooklyn breeders have their babies then?
Posted by: guest at November 24, 2007 8:04 PM
8:04 -- LICH or St. Luke's in the city.
Posted by: guest at November 25, 2007 5:46 PM
I agree with 6:23. For all of the reasons stated in that post most hospital ER's are about the same with those in close proximity to economically disadvantaged neighborhoods
the worst of all. Some of them like Brookdale and Kings County have excellent trauma centers. You might not want to have a baby in Kings County but if you get shot, that's the place to go.
Posted by: guest at November 25, 2007 8:00 PM
The hospital with the best c-section rate in Brooklyn is Maimonides (20.3% vs rates of 34% at both Brooklyn Hospital and LICH and a whopping 38% at Methodist). In Manhattan the best rate is at NYU Downtown (18.8). Another thing to think about when considering where to birth around here...
Posted by: guest at November 26, 2007 11:02 AM
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