Seems LICH is Really on its Way Out This Time
The writing’s been on the wall for a long time, but now there’s no confusing the message: Long Island College Hospital in Brooklyn Heights Cobble Hill is almost certainly closing, according to The New York Times. The paper reports that the hospital is likely to begin closing next month “after a decision by the Cuomo…
The writing’s been on the wall for a long time, but now there’s no confusing the message: Long Island College Hospital in Brooklyn Heights Cobble Hill is almost certainly closing, according to The New York Times. The paper reports that the hospital is likely to begin closing next month “after a decision by the Cuomo administration to delay grants to help finance a merger intended to rescue the institution.” LICH was supposed to get $22 million in state grants, and if the money doesn’t come through, Stanley Brezenoff, president of Continuum Health Partners—which owns the facility—says the hospital “would run out of cash by mid-March. At that point, he said, he would be forced to begin bankruptcy proceedings and move forward with closing the hospital and laying off its 2,500 employees. Without the state money, Mr. Brezenoff said, Continuum could not complete moving the hospital under the SUNY umbrella. Mr. Brezenoff said that he was already putting together a draft closing plan and preparing to send out termination notices. He said that because the conversation with the state was so recent, he had not yet warned the employees that the merger might be called off.” Update: Thanks to the border patrol who helpfully pointed out that this is in Cobble Hill, goddammit, not Brooklyn Heights!
Long Island College Hospital in Brooklyn May Close [NY Times]
benson you are so right about medicaid. it’s sorta annoying how the dirt poor get free healthcare but the moderately poor basically get screwed.
*rob*
Rob you are so sadly misinformed about what nurses to PLEASE STFU FOR ONCE IN YOUR LIFE!
Scott;
The over-supply of hospital beds may indeed be a national trend – I haven’t studied it. The problem is acute in New York State, however. The hospital industry in New York State is basically the equivalent of a state-sponsored company in China. As I mentioned, New York State spends more on Medicaid (in total dollars) than California, which has double the population. This is not sustainable. Cuomo knows it, and he knows that those who are vested in the present status quo will not go quietly into a more rationalized system. If he can pull it off, he will have ensured his place in the history books.
cgar, nurses are like the brokers of the medical world, that’s why i dont like them. it’s like why are people forced to see a nurse before they get to see a doctor? i can take my own damn blood pressure and temperature. totally useless profession.
*rob*
Rob, why do you live in NYC?I think you would be happier in Yonkers or even west virginia.
Hospital closings are by no means unique to NYC. Several have closed in LA during the last decade, and from what I have read it is a common trend.
I think one thing that is missing is the right balance of ER facilities, urgent care/walk-in clinics, operating rooms, and overnight beds.
The need for beds is going down, while the need for other services is higher.
Study after study in the past decade has shown that there are way too many hospital beds in New York State. Alot of care is now done on an outpatient basis. The only reason that the rationalization has not come sooner is that SEIU 1199, the second most politically powerful union after the UFT, has arm-twisted the state government to prop up this industry.
The day of reckoning is here. The state is broke, and New York State spends more on Medicaid than California, which has double the population. Three hospitals have closed in NYC in the past 5 years (Victory Memorial, St. Mary’s and St. Vincent’s). More will be coming. Get used to it.
I have always had good experiences with LICH’s pediatric units. It’s far from the nicest facilities, however. The nursing quality was generally good, but there were the occasional bad apples that can really color one’s experience unless you try to look at the whole experience holsitically.
It was an old hospital, and I am sure that decades of poor management are at fault here. Continuum has been trying to close this place (or seriously streamline it) for years.
“Thanks to the border patrol who helpfully pointed out that this is in Cobble Hill, goddammit, not Brooklyn Heights!”
Snort! Glad to see you have a sense of humor about it! You’re welcome!! ; )