Make A Bright Future For Lakewood Hospital; MetroHealth Is Only A Hurdle

Just over a year ago MetroHealth Medical Center presented a solid plan for the operation of Lakewood Hospital as an inpatient medical facility well into the future. The Step Two Committee of the Lakewood Hospital Association, chaired by the Mayor, pushed that proposal aside while they negotiated with the Cleveland Clinic Foundation a deal to close and tear down our hospital.
   
This past week MetroHealth sent a letter to City Hall confirming that, since the time its proposal was submitted, MetroHealth has developed strategies for the physical transformation of their health system and an inpatient facility in Lakewood is not currently part of that strategy.
  
The MetroHealth decision, resulting from City Hall's mishandling of the future of healthcare in Lakewood, is not the sounding of a death knell for Lakewood Hospital. As noted by prior contributors to the Observer, in particular Dr. Terrence Kilroy, there is a medical need for Lakewood Hospital and should the hospital close, there will be too few inpatient medical beds to meet the needs of Cleveland's/Cuyahoga County's west side.
 
Moreover, as enacted by Lakewood Ordinance, there still exist agreements between the City, the Lakewood Hospital Association and the Cleveland Clinic to continue operating Lakewood Hospital until the end of 2026. The Lakewood Hospital Association and the Cleveland Clinic continue to be obligated to make capital improvements to the facility and to establish "Centers of Excellence" at Lakewood Hospital. The Clinic is in control of patient utilization and revenues at Lakewood Hospital. The spickets must be turned back on. The ordinance and agreements must be enforced.
 
Most importantly, as we proceed down the road to 2026, City Hall, with all due diligence, must protect our asset and begin a responsible and transparent community dialogue about the future of healthcare in Lakewood. It is imperative to conduct a comprehensive community health assessment, fairly engage all healthcare systems, independent physicians and hospital employees. With such collaboration, other communities have been successful in saving their hospitals.