Editorial: Enough time for a miracle?

Today's Courier editorializes on the worthy but uphill battle by supporters to keep Muhlenberg a full-service hospital.

Read more here: "Muhlenberg: Enough time for a miracle?".

Muhlenberg Supporters: Healthcare, Not Warfare!

An email passed along by the 'Save Muhlenberg' network -- Rally is today, 11 AM.

The fight is far from over. Everyone of us succeeded the minute we chose to do anything rather than just sit there & let it happen. Now it is even more urgent to get those who said that they were interested in buying the hospital & running it to remain active. I am concerned about what Cathy had added about the license to the CN. I think that her condition might be helpful but perhaps I am wrong.

If I am understanding what she said at the hearing speciality hospitals do not have to treat everyone. They can turn people away. Her stipulation was that the license has to be keep as a full service acute care hospital specifically so that no one can come in and buy it at a discount to make a "medical mall".

It is also very important for everyone to see the connection this issue has to race & class. As we live with what is going to be our "Great Depression" elected officials (Jon Corzine) brag about the largest budget cut in the history of the state of NJ. They allow NJ's National Guard to be deployed again!!!!! Many of these men & women are serving their 3rd tour of duty!!!!!!

And as they do this our elected "representatives" are planing their attack on Iran. (If you think $4.00 a gallon is a lot to pay for gas just wait till they attack Iran!)

Don't put your hopes in elected officials. Put your hope in your selves and each other. Don't let your activism stop now.

The next step is to join us Saturday in front of the Military recruitment office in downtown Plainfield at 11 AM. It is on Front Street at Park Ave. Just 3 storefronts down from where we had our protest recently where we marched in the street.

HEALTHCARE NOT WARFARE!

Muhlenberg closure OK'ed

The State Health Planning Board unanimously recommended the closure of Muhlenberg yesterday.

Read the media coverage here:

• Courier: "Board votes to close hospital"
• Courier: "Emotions run high at meeting to determine hospital's fate"
• Courier photo gallery is HERE.
• Ledger: "Panel unanimously backs closing of Muhlenberg hospital"

Coverage of 'graveyard' press conference

Today is D-Day, when the State Health Advisory Board meets to vote its recommendation to Commissioner Howard regarding the proposed Muhlenberg closure.

Both papers have stories on yesterday's 'graveyard' press conference.

Read more here:

Courier: "Activists stage 'graveyard' rally to protest closure"

Ledger: "Final protest of hospital closing"

Jim Colvin responds to Ledger editorial on Muhlenberg

The Star-Ledger editorialized on Muhlenberg's closing yesterday (6/24/08) and Muhlenberg supporter Rev. Jim Colvin, pastor of the United Church of Christ, responded with the letter below, submitted to the Ledger and also circulated by email. The complete editorial and a link to the original online version appear after Jim's letter.

-- Dan Damon

_________________________

LETTER

Star Ledger Exhibits Ignorance
and Arrogance on Muhlenberg

The Star Ledger printed an astonishingly ignorant and arrogant editorial on the proposed closing of Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center in Plainfield. The editors steadfastly ignored research we sent to them refuting the Certificate of Need by Solaris Systems and illustrating ten years of transferring money making assets out of Muhlenberg to the advantage of Solaris' main concern, JFK Hospital in Edison.

The proposal that a puny satellite emergency room should suffice for an urban area with no nearby accessible hospital is the height of upper middle class arrogance. The Ledger's attitude toward, just as an example, the 1200 mothers who deliver babies yearly in Plainfield is virtually, "Let them take helicopters" ala Gov.. Corzine, whose attitude is the same. The Ledger, Corzine and Solaris all have this in common: they practice an ethic of the survival of the fittest and the richest. Unfortunately for them, some of their wealthier friends will be rudely awakened to find JFK and Overlook hospitals even more over-crowded and inaccessible to them.

Shame on the Star Ledger for failing to do its homework on Muhlenberg, for ignoring our repeated pleas to cover the story in depth, and then writing its nasty editorial two days before The State Planning Board's final hearing.

The Ledger is obviously in bed with the State and Solaris, in spirit if not in fact.

This is the shoddiest form of journalism that I have seen in this newspaper.

They will probably not print my title and office, as they refused to do so a few weeks ago in a letter by Rev. Sarah Colvin (my wife) and myself.


Rev. James Colvin
Pastor
United Church of Christ
Plainfield, NJ

_________________________

Full text of the Star-Ledger editorial, Tuesday, June 24, 2008. Original can be found here.

OPINION

A satellite-hospital solution

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Keeping the emergency room open when a hospital closes is a logical solution for those needing quick help. That is what the state Department of Health and Senior Services recommends for Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center in Plainfield, and it's a suggestion that should be accepted.

Muhlenberg -- which is expected to run an $18 million deficit this year -- is among the latest in a string of New Jersey hospitals seeking state permission to close.

Some community groups are fighting to maintain a full-service hospital in Plainfield, citing the long distances to the nearest hospitals. Unfortunately, history teaches that once a hospital's owners throw in the towel, resuscitation is not realistic. The satellite emergency department option -- with proper arrangements for transferring patients to full-service hospitals when necessary -- could be the best option for many of the communities destined to lose their hospitals.

In October, for example, Overlook Hospital in Summit took over the Union Hospital emergency department when Union closed. The Union emergency department sees about 60 patients a day, close to what Union had been averaging when it was a fully operating hospital. The emergency room typically sends four patients a day to Overlook for admission.

There's some irony in that the emergency room, traditionally a financial loser, is paying for itself under this arrangement. The unit has delivered babies and stabilized patients suffering cardiac emergencies and strokes and transferred these people to full- service hospitals. It also has treated patients who walked in and out on their own.

Patients at Union's satellite department usually see a doctor within 15 minutes of arrival. That kind of timing, compared with the long waits often associated with emergency rooms, could be the key to whether these programs succeed. They get the job done more quickly because they do not have to wait to share key equipment or personnel with inpatient operations.

Elsewhere, the Adventis HealthCare group built a free-standing emergency room in Germantown, Md., to serve a rapidly growing, traffic-congested area. It quickly attracted 5,000 more patients a year than expected. Adventis officials say short waits and the 24-hour, no-appointment convenience attracted many patients, including those with the insurance and cash to see private doctors if they chose.

It remains to be seen whether the same will happen in urban communities with large indigent populations and chronic health care needs, such as Newark, where two hospitals have closed.

This is not the solution for every dying hospital. All communities will benefit from accepting the inevitable, instead of fighting it, and allowing their hospitals to become what the communities need them to be.

Thursday vote on Muhlenberg: Buses available

xxx

Muhlenberg supporters from Plainfield and surrounding communities who wish to attend Thursday's Health Planning Board meeting in East Windsor can take a bus.

Round-trip bus transportation is available from Randolph Road and Park Ave., Plainfield at 8 AM on Thursday morning The bus fee is $15 round-trip.

Those wishing to testify on Thursday must phone the Department of Health and Senior Services beforehand. Call: (800) 367-6593 or (609) 292-7837.

For those who are driving down, more information and map/directions are HERE.

Meeting of the State Health Advisory Commission
Thursday June 26, 2008
9:30 AM - 2 PM
Topic: The Proposed Closing of Muhlenberg Hospital in Plainfield,New Jersey
Location: The Holiday Inn, 399 Monmouth St., East Windsor, NJ

Trinitas pinches pennies

Just when you were trying to get your arms around the notion of having to deal with using Trinitas hospital in Elizabeth, comes a front-page story in today's Ledger about trimming costs -- including limiting ketchup packets with patient meals.

Exhibit No. 1? Trinitas.

Read more here: "As costs spiral, hospitals watching their pennies".

Brian Fertig letter; Street Theater slideshow

Muhlenberg physician Dr. Brian Fertig has a letter in the LEDGER's 'Union Forum' section in Sunday's edition (Union County section, page 33), but you'll have to buy the hard copy to read it as it is not online.

Dan Damon has posted a slideshow of pictures from the Street Theater rally of Thursday, June 19.

See here: "Slideshow: Save Muhlenberg Street Theater".

Text of Nancy Piwowar's full-page ad

The complete text of Nancy Piwowar's full-page ad in support of Muhlenberg that appeared in Friday's Courier (print edition ONLY) has been posted on Plainfield Today.

Read more here: "Text: Nancy Piwowar's full-page ad in support of Muhlenberg"

Board votes on Muhlenberg next week

This week's Suburban News reminds readers of the State Health Planing Board's meeting next week to vote on recommendations re: closing Muhlenberg.

Read more here: "Hospital hearing is set for June 26"

Nancy Piwowar: Open Letter to the Muhlenberg Community

Plainfield activist and Muhlenberg supporter Nancy Piwowar has run a full-page ad -- "An Open Letter to the Muhlenberg Community" -- in today's Courier.

You can find it in the print edition ONLY -- page B-8.

The letter is a heartfelt appeal to the state to reconsider closing Muhlenberg, paid for at Nancy's own expense.

You will NOT want to miss it. -- Dan

Editorial: Delay Muhlenberg closure

Stop the rubberstamping!

So says the Courier in today's editorial.

Read more here: "Muhlenberg closure should be delayed".

Letter: Retired accountant calls for audit of Solaris

Audit Solaris.

So says John Gostel of Edison, a retired accountant, in a letter in today's Courier.

Read more here: "Run an audit on Solaris to check on its business sense".

Courier: Supporters rally again with Street Theater

The Courier's Brandon Lausch has a page-one story today on yesterday's 'Street Theater' rally in support of Muhlenberg.

Read more here: "Last ditch effort to save hospital".

I'll be putting up a slideshow of pictures from the event. -- Dan

Letter of Gerri Heydt: Needy feel brunt, but all affected

Gerri Heydt, president of the Van Wyck Brooks Association, had a letter in the Courier recently, which was inadvertently overlooked.

Read it here: "Needy feel brunt of hospital closing, but all will be affected"

My apologies. -- Dan

Ledger: Report calls for closing Muhlenberg

In today's Ledger, Alexi Friedman writes of the DHSS staff recommendations concerning the Muhlenberg closure.

Read more here: "Report calls for closing hospital".

Online Exclusive: State's Muhlenberg Closure Conditions

You can view ONLINE HERE the complete document setting out the state's recommendations on the proposed Muhlenberg closure at Plainfield Today. Thanks are due to Nancy Piwowar and another Muhlenberg supporter (who cannot be named) for providing the complete document.

Today's Courier covers the matter with a front-page story. Read more here: "State recommends Muhlenberg closure".

Using 'Street Theater' to promote Muhlenberg cause

Crutches from Muhlenberg helped Nancy Piwowar in 1974 .

'Save Muhlenberg' activists will be trying out a new approach to getting their message out tomorrow (Thursday) on a vacant lot on Randolph Road, across from the main entrance driveway.

Those of us who can remember the 1960s may be put in mind of "guerilla theater" or "street theater", both popular ways of getting a social message out in those flamboyant days.

More power to them!

Read more here: "Protesters try theater to save hospital"

Closure aftermath: Longer ER waits, diminished care

Closing hospitals puts extra burdens on ERs, particularly lengthening wait times and diminishing the quality of care, as reported in the Herald News, an edition of the Bergen Record that serves Paterson and Passaic County.

Read more here: "As hospitals close, ER wait time rises"

Note: If you are interested in this story for future reference, save a copy to your hard drive. The Bergen Record has recently adopted a policy of charging for stories more than a week old -- $1.95 per story. -- Dan

Three from the Record-Press News

The Star-Ledger's parent company, Advance Communications, also publishes several New Jersey weeklies -- including the Suburban News.

Here are three from the Record-Press News (the online version of the Suburban News), which serves central Union County, passed along by a reader --

"Hospital's closing would put stress on patients, squads"

"Westfield Council drafts solution to support Muhlenberg"

"Crowd packs Muhlenberg Hearing, Board to vote later this month"

Dr. Brian Fertig blasts state in Courier

At the state's May hearing at PHS.

Dr. Brian Fertig lets loose in an opinion piece in today's Courier, flaying the state for not putting forth solutions for the Muhlenberg crisis.

Read more here: "Muhlenberg solutions not forthcoming from state"

Muhlenberg vote set for June 26

Holiday Inn is off Turnpike Exit 8.

Both the Courier and the Ledger carry details this morning on the meeting and vote expected to seal Muhlenberg's fate.

Read more here:

Courier: "Board sets June 26 recommendation meeting on Muhlenberg's future"
Ledger: "N.J. health panel to vote on closing of hospital"

Get directions here: "Holiday Inn, East Windsor"

Alma Cruz questions future of midwifery program

Plainfield activist Alma Cruz has a letter to the editor in today's Courier, expressing her frustrations over unanswered questions surrounding pregnant clients of the Plainfield Health Center and the future of its midwifery program.

Read more here: "Changes in Plainfield come up short for community".

Hospital funding weighed by legislators

Today's Ledger reports that efforts are under way to restore SOME of the hospital funding the Corzine budget proposes to cut.

Read more here: "Plan weighed for hospital funding".

A. Not enough.
B. No mention of Muhlenberg.

Get those support letters in!

This passed along from the 'Save Muhlenberg' campaign --

We encourage everyone to write a letter to demand that the Muhlenberg Hospital remain open as a full service hospital. Please send by June 10th, 2008 to ensure receipt by the State deadline of June 12.

We appreciate everyone's support and hard work!!!

All testimony/comments must be received by June 12, 2008, at the following address:

NJ Department of Health and Senior Services

Office of Legal and Regulatory Affairs

Market and Warren Streets

P. O. Box 360

Trenton, NJ 08625-0360

Muhlenberg shutdown delayed

Today's Courier has TWO items of interest.

Most importantly, Solaris has pushed back the closing of Muhlenberg, saying there will be 'no layoffs' until June 27. (Funny, a friend told me her last day was Thursday.)

See more here: "Muhlenberg shutdown delayed two weeks".

The Courier also editorialized about the closing delay being a tiny step in the right direction.

Read the editorial here: "Muhlenberg delay shows good timing".

State's 2nd Hearing: Media coverage

'Save Muhlenberg' supporters rallied outside the hearing.

Both the Courier and the Ledger have excellent coverage of Thursday's second public hearing by the state's Health Planning Board on Solaris' proposal to close Muhlenberg. Dan also gets his two cents in at Plainfield Today.

Read more here --

Plainfield Today: "Muhlenberg hearing puts more pressure on state"
Courier: "Residents fight to save Muhlenberg at second hearing in Plainfield"
Ledger: "1,000 repeat the cry to keep Muhlenberg open"

POP Rally at 5 PM precedes State hearing tonight

"The state's second -- and final -- hearing on the proposal by Solaris Health System to close its Muhlenberg operation will be held tonight, 6:00 - 8:00 PM at the Plainfield High School auditorium, corner of Park and Stelle Avenues. Come early, parking is sure to be at a premium.

All the 'Save Muhlenberg' forces will rally hold a sidewalk rally beginning at 5:00 PM.

Read the Courier News article here: "State board to review Muhlenberg statements at second public hearing".

Opinion: Healing NJ's hospital system

UMDNJ and Mt. Sinai professor Jonathan M. Metcsh has a thoughtful opinion piece in today's Ledger about how to fix New Jersey's broken hospital system.

Though it may come too late to save Muhlenberg Hospital, it is well worth reading.

See the OpEd here: "How to heal the hospital system"

Another vision for Muhlenberg's future

Former Assemblyman David Schwartz met with Assemblyman Jerry Green, 'Buy Muhlenberg' leader Olive Lynch, and Oliver Bartlett of the Plainfield Neighborhood Health Center on Thursday to outline a further vision for Muhlenberg.

Read more here: "Group discusses vision for Muhlenberg"

State's 2nd hearing on Thursday

Today's Courier features TWO Muhlenberg stories -- one on the second hearing.

The state's second hearing, set for Thursday, June 5 at PHS Auditorium.

Read more here: "Second hearing to be held on Muhlenberg"

Letter: Higher help needed for Muhlenberg

A letter in today's Courier by Plainfield resident Marilyn X. Burns suggests higher help is needed.

Read more here: "Muhlenberg solution may take help from higher-ups".