Lakewood Needs Its Hospital

In 1956 my parents realized that with four children, and the various relatives that lived with us throughout the years, that we needed a larger home than the one they had in Brooklyn, Ohio. For a variety of reasons they chose a colonial on Lincoln Ave.

They could have moved to many of the suburbs in the Cleveland area, but Lakewood seemed to best meet their needs. An excellent school system, recreation department, parks, many churches (we lived right down the street from St. Clement Church), quality housing stock, proximity to downtown and of course “the valley” were all factors in their choice of Lakewood. And on Lincoln they found a street teeming with children, like most streets in Lakewood at that time. Also important was that we lived only two blocks from Lakewood Hospital, a major consideration when you have children. Eventually my mom found employment there as a nurse’s aide and worked at the hospital for over 15 years. I have had foot and leg problems all my life and Lakewood Hospital attracted several excellent orthopedic surgeons then. I spent several weeks during three summers at the hospital, not very pleasant for boy who loved playing sports and being active, but at least it was close enough for my friends and family to visit, and I received quality care.

There is a term that is used in urban planning circles, and that is “branding.” It is basically a marketing tool, that by emphasizing all the city’s assets, they can be used as a way to make your city special, to stand out from other cities, so that your community is the one that people will choose in which to live, work and play.

Lakewood’s brand is that is has very good schools, a great library, city sponsored recreational programs, a family friendly environment, we still have excellent housing stock and neighborhoods that are well maintained, ethnic and economic diversity, strong senior services and a thriving small business community.

It also has Lakewood Hospital. Families with children and seniors know that a full-service (well at least it used to be), in-patient medical facility, with quality emergency services right in the center of town, accessible to any part of Lakewood in minutes, is vital. Cleveland is making a comeback. Many new jobs, some in the health care field, will be attracting families to move to this area. Lakewood needs all of its assets to put its best foot forward in attracting these new residents. We cannot afford to lose the largest employer in the city, let alone one that is a major positive factor when people consider where they choose to live.

Another consideration in maintaining Lakewood Hospital as a full service medical facility is that the earliest baby boomers are turning 70. In the coming years, more in-patient beds are going to be needed to serve this growing demographic. Expanded geriatric, cancer and cardiovascular wards are needed for the patients that will need extended stays in the hospital and definitely need more than the out-patient services promised by the Clinic.

I don’t understand why the mayor and several city council members are willing, almost eager, to see the hospital shut its doors. The proposal by the Cleveland Clinic to build this family health center, with the possibility of a recreation center and other amenities does not excite me nor does it offer anything new. And I haven’t seen any of these proposals in writing. It will not replace the attraction that a full service hospital provides for potential and current residents. If the Cleveland Clinic wants to invest in our city, bring back the medical services that have been transferred to other Clinic hospitals – great! Help our hospital reclaim some of its glory. Lakewood has received much local and national attention as fantastic place to live and raise a family. And Lakewood Hospital is a big reason for these accolades.

One other thing that I want to address is the new hospital being built in Avon. Responsible corporations are encouraged to rebuild in existing urban environments. Taking a piece of farmland and dropping a “big box” hospital in the middle and not using the same funds to improve and expand services at existing facilities is capricious and unaccountable. Another non sustainable aspect of the new hospital is that it is not, nor probably ever will be on a bus line. Where are you going to attract those employees who rely on public transportation to work at your hospital? It will put greater stress on our highways and stress out the budgets of those who work at lower paying jobs, as gas prices inevitably rise.

It is my hope that our city leaders approach the Cleveland Clinic and strongly request that it reconsiders its plan to demolish Lakewood Hospital, and reinvest in our city.

Too many businesses and institutions are abandoning American cities for the promised land of cheap property, tax abatement and impressive addresses. Look at the city my family left nearly 60 years ago. Brooklyn is still reeling from the loss of two of its largest employers; American Greetings and Hugo Boss. At least it has a strong retail presence, which Lakewood does not. If the Cleveland Clinic remains intransigent, then let the mayor and council people step aside and let another entity maintain our hospital as a facility that offers the best in-patient and out-patient services for which it has been known.

Lakewood and all of its citizens need this hospital, and needs it to be expanded, not torn down.

Tom Fahey has a Master's Degree in Urban Planning, Design and Development from Cleveland State Universaity.

Tom Fahey

Tom Fahey has a Master's Degree in Urban Planning, Design and Development from Cleveland State Universaity.

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Volume 11, Issue 15, Posted 4:30 PM, 07.21.2015