By February 3, 2015 Read More →

Lakewood Hospital Community Meeting Video, Letter of Intent and Presentation

 

The first Lakewood Hospital community meeting filled the Beck Center auditorium with concerned Lakewood citizens. Many came to listen and some also came prepared to ask questions about the letter of intent regarding the closure of the hospital.

Public knowledge of the proposed hospital transition came to light in a press conference at Lakewood Hospital on January 15. The City of Lakewood also released this statement regarding the relationship with The Cleveland Clinic and Lakewood Hospital.

There was a familiar feeling at the meeting, similar to other meetings where the future of a long-standing Lakewood institution was in jeopardy – much like the Sloane McDonalds moving to the Detroit Theater location. Just as in that meeting, residents were granted the opportunity to ask questions of city officials and other stakeholders.

Present at the Lakewood Hospital meeting were Shannan Ritchie, interim president of Lakewood Hospital; Dr. Brian Donley, Cleveland Clinic chief of staff; Ken Haber, chairman of the Lakewood Hospital Foundation; Lisa Fry, from healthcare consultant Subsidium Healthcare; and Tom Gable, chairman of the Lakewood Hospital board of trustees.

Present at the Lakewood Hospital meeting were Shannan Ritchie, interim president of Lakewood Hospital; Dr. Brian Donley, Cleveland Clinic chief of staff; Ken Haber, chairman of the Lakewood Hospital Foundation; Lisa Fry, from healthcare consultant Subsidium Healthcare; and Tom Gable, chairman of the Lakewood Hospital board of trustees.

Mayor Summers kicked off the meeting with the history of Lakewood Hospital, how The Cleveland Clinic became involved and the overall goal to address “evolving healthcare needs.” Summers also described the letter of intent (LOI) as a “shell of big ideas” that could be changed by city council.

Tom Gable, Lisa Fry, Dr. Brian Donley and Ken Haber took turns speaking accompanied by slides that can be viewed below or downloaded here.

After the presentation, Mayor Summers opened things up for Q&A. People lined up in two aisles to ask questions regarding the decision process, transportation, and plans to retain architectural elements of the old building in the new building. Some of the questions were direct and questioned the Cleveland Clinic’s real motive for the transition – some from the audience shouted out “PROFITS!”

The audience reacted to questions they liked with applause and answers they didn’t like with boos. It seems clear that there are trust issues between Lakewood residents and The Cleveland Clinic.

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Got Lakewood Hospital questions? Email them to wellness@lakewoodoh.net.

The next Lakewood Hospital town hall meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 11 at 7pm at Lakewood City Hall Auditorium.

Lakewood Hospital Community Meeting Slides

Cleveland Clinic, Lakewood Hospital Association, Lakewood Hospital Foundation Letter of Intent