Courier: Reaction to Muhlenberg closure news

The Courier assesses the reaction to the Muhlenberg closure news today.

Read more here: "Residents, workers discuss Muhlenberg closure, impact".

Muhlenberg Closure: Howard's approval letter

Here is the complete text of Commissioner Heather Howard's letter of Julyy 29 to Solaris CEO John McGee, granting permission for the closure of Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center.

You may read it online or print out (to print, click on the little icon that says 'iPaper' and select 'print'.)

Muhlenberg Closure: Commissioner Howard's approval - Upload a Document to Scribd

Read this document on Scribd: Muhlenberg Closure: Commissioner Howard's approval

-- Dan Damon

Commissioner Howard signs Muhlenberg's death warrant

The news filtered in by email and cellphone yesterday afternoon that Commissioner Heather Howard finally signed Muhlenberg's death warrant.

Wasting no time, Solaris CEO John McGee announced there would be no new patient admissions at Muhlenberg after August 13.

You can see Dan Damon's take at Plainfield Today and Dr. Yood's comments at Doc's Potpourri. Assemblyman Green's new blog makes no mention of the momentous decision.

Read the newspaper coverage here --

• Ledger by Alexi Friedman: "N.J. health commissioner OKs closing of Muhlenberg hospital"
  
  
• Courier's staff report: "State health commissioner approves Muhlenberg closure"

Impact of Muhlenberg closure on Plainfield's United Way agencies

Below is the message received from Jeff Scheckner, Community Development Director for the United Way of Greater Union County concerning the impact Muhlenberg's closure will have on the United Way's partnering agencies in Plainfield. I'm sure the same points can be made by UW agencies in the surrounding communities that are serviced by Muhlenberg. -- Dan Damon

Dear Friends in Plainfield,

As we continue in our struggle to maintain Muhlenberg as a viable, fully functioning medical facility we also need to consider how a potential closing or diminishing of services could impact the residents of greater Plainfield. To measure this aspect, I contacted the directors of United Way partnering agencies. The following are my findings; comments and any additional information is appreciated.

Regards,

Jeff Scheckner

Impact of Muhlenberg Hospital Closing on

Plainfield United Way Partnering Agencies

By Jeff Scheckner

Community Development Manager

United Way of Greater Union County

33 West Grand Street

Elizabeth, NJ 07202

Jeff.Scheckner@uwguc.org

There are 12 Plainfield agencies which partner with United Way of Greater Union County: American Red Cross-Tri-County, BCSB Cathie Life Development Center, HomeFirst, King’s Daughter Day School, Literacy Volunteers of Union County, Neighborhood House, Presbytery of Elizabeth, Second Street Youth Center, UCPC Behavioral Health Care Rehabilitation, United Family and Children’s Society, YMCA and YWCA. Each would be directly or indirectly impacted by the planned closing of Muhlenberg Hospital.

One common issue cited by the 12 agencies is that since Muhlenberg is the only hospital in proximity, staff, volunteers, clients, program attendees and their families would lose the service of their major health care provider. As Muhlenberg Hospital employs nearly 1,000 persons, many of the agencies indicated parents and those in a support network for program attendees could become unemployed and could no longer afford program fees. Loss of health insurance due to unemployment status is an associated issue.

The YMCA, YWCA, Neighborhood House and Second Street Youth Center emphasized their focus on sports, children’s playground activities and use of a gymnasium and pool as places for potential physical injury. Each has an arrangement with Muhlenberg to assist with emergencies.

The Neighborhood House has a foster grandparents program which would be in jeopardy if the hospital closes as many of these volunteers do not drive or have mobility issues and these individuals are assisted by services provided by Muhlenberg.

The Presbytery of Elizabeth located in Plainfield provides health counseling to four churches in the Plainfield area. Many of their clients are Hispanic immigrants who do not speak English. Muhlenberg provides significant assistance to immigrants/non-English speakers in completing forms and offering bi-lingual health information.

For disabled persons and those who do not have a vehicle, the Tri-County American Red Cross significantly assists with transporting people to the hospital and doctors appointments. Should Muhlenberg close, the Red Cross would need to greatly expand transportation services to another hospital(s). To accomplish this they would need to purchase additional vehicles, hire and train drivers, expand insurance coverage, increase dedicated telephone lines and hire staff for billing and scheduling. Further, the Red Cross provides food packages on several major holidays and if unemployment increases due to hospital staff layoffs, these services would need to be expanded.

United Family and Children’s Society has a program “Rising Stars” for children with ADHD. The program is run jointly with Muhlenberg and both share with outreach, staffing, and administration. For proper Medicaid reimbursement, the State mandates the hospital must be in close proximity of the clients it is serving. Without Muhlenberg, this program could not continue for Plainfield area residents unless the State can change how Medicaid can cover expenses.

UCPC Behavioral Care would no longer have the benefit of inpatient psychiatric care or emergency screening services and this may result in an increase of clients seeking services from UCPC as its first or only recourse, rather than receiving acute care at Muhlenberg. This could result in more clients needing emergency services presenting UCPC an increase caseload of acutely ill clients. It could also mean clients in need will not receive hospitalization or need to be hospitalized at another distant hospital and have a shorter stay due to increased demand for hospital beds.

Zurofsky to Howard: You must reconsider

Over at Plainfield Today, Dan Damon has posted the complete documents from POP attorney Bennet Zurofsky online, including his letters to Commissioner Howard and the SHPB as well as the final brief he submitted after the June hearing at PHS.

Also posted is the text of the legislation sponsored by Union County legislators Sen. Ray Lesniak, and Assemblymen Neil Cohen and Joe Cryan expanding the uses $44M of state money may be put to regarding hospitals in danger of closing.

Read more here: "Muhlenberg: Rescue money for who?"

Nancy P: I saw equipment moved out at night

Muhlenberg activist Nancy Piwowar has a letter in today's Courier discussing her observation of medical equipment being moved out of Muhlenberg via the Emergency Room entrance on July 17.

Read more here: "Muhlenberg equipment taken out ‘under cloak of night’".

Going it alone, Robinson-Briggs searches for buyer

Today's Ledger (mea culpa!) reports those who want to save Muhlenberg have reached a fork in the road.

Actually, three.

Mayor Robinson-Briggs says she is going it alone (well, the Council majority is probably going with her) to find a buyer for Muhlenberg (Mr. Piscatelli, is that your cue?).

Olive Lynch and the 'Buy Muhlenberg' effort are going to publicly launch a campaign to amass the needed cash in pledges from an estimated 20-30,00 small donors.

And, the Peoples' Organization for Progress is pursuing the legal route by suing the state to stop the closure of Muhlenberg.

Read more here: "A 3-way split over hospital's survival".

Meanwhile, if you thought the State was playing by two sets of rules, you will want to read Dan Damon's post over at Plainfield Today (see HERE) about the hospital that was recently closed and the state is going to allow to reopen.

Cooper University Hospital attacks Courier

With some gall, a VP of Cooper University Hospital in Camden has the nerve to write a letter chiding the editors of the Courier News on the issue of elective angioplasties. The letter completely sidesteps that what New Jersey hospitals are participating in is a national study being conducted by Johns Hopkins University.

Also unmentioned, but lurking in the background in my memory, are the sharp elbows that Cooper brings to playing the funding game.

Ask around among hospital folks and you'll find a consensus: Cooper would strangle any hospital if it got them a few more bucks.

The high road, this is not.

Read the letter here: "Angioplasties best done in high-volume facilities".

State asked to reconsider, make stabilization grant

Both the Courier and the Ledger carry items on POP's request for the State Health Planning Board to reconsider its decision to recommend closure of Muhlenberg and to make the first grant from the newly-established Health Care Stabilization Fund to Muhlenberg.

Read more here --

Courier: "Letter asks state board to reconsider closure of Muhlenberg"
Ledger: "Group asks N.J. to reconsider decision to close Muhlenberg hospital"

Courier: Gallery of photos from last Friday

The Courier has a gallery of photos from last Friday's rally.

See more here: "Muhlenberg Rally, 7/11/08".

Gutenkauf: Solaris is patronizing

Dottie Gutenkauf finds Solaris partonizing over the community's needs and concerns.

Read her letter in today's Courier here: "Solaris patronizing over needs and concerns of community"

Courier editorializes on angioplasty licenses

Today's Courier editorial recommends that Commissioner Howard grant the angioplasty licenses recommended by the State Health Planning Board last week.

A bitter pill for Plainfielders, as JFK will then successfully rack up the license once held -- to national acclaim -- by Muhlenberg.

Read more here: "Community wins with angioplasty support".

'Super users' swamp ERs

'Super users' -- those who use Emergency Rooms frequently are the subject of a Ledger front-page story today. Including how one Camden doctor hopes to do something about the swamping of ER services. A problem for us as Solaris moves to close Muhlenberg?

Read more here: "Repeat 'super users' swamp ERs".

Coverage of Friday's rally

Today's Courier covers Friday afternoon's rally on Park Avenue in support of Muhlenberg.

Read more here: "Despite inevitable closing, protesters continue to rally for Muhlenberg".

Board recommends angioplasty license to JFK

Like I said yesterday, done deal.

The State Health Advisory Board yesterday recommended JFK get an angioplasty license.

Read more here --

• Courier: "3 Central Jersey hospitals recommended for angioplasty study"
• Ledger: "State board clears angioplasty study"

-- Dan

One more Solaris insult to Muhlenberg

Like an ungrateful family member picking over a dying parent's belongings before they have expired, Solaris schemes to get a recommendation for an angioplasty license today.

Read more at Plainfield Today: "Solaris hopes for success of final insult to Muhlenberg today".

Last Masses at Muhlenberg chapel

As Solaris continues to wind down Muhlenberg operations (though Commissioner Howard has yet to make her ruling), a flyer is being circulated announcing the final Masses by Fr. Udeze at Muhlenberg over the next few days. Note the Saturday afternoon Mass is in Centennial Hall.

If you go, please remember to say a prayer of thanksgiving for the ministry of comfort and hope that local Catholic priests and parishioners have offered to Muhlenberg patients. In particular, the late Fr. Al Carney comes to mind. (Click on image to print out letter-size flyer)

-- Dan

NPR picks up Muhlenberg story

The Washington Post story has brought national attention to Muhlenberg, including a piece on NPR.

Read more at Plainfield Today: "WashPost brings national attention to Muhlenberg".

Solaris secretly stripping Muhlenberg?

Front-page story in today's Courier on the moves by Solaris to close Muhlenberg's doors.

Read more here: "Transfers, equipment moves fuel rumors on status of Muhlenberg closing".

Muhlenberg makes front page of Washington Post

The Washington Post ran a front-page story on how the Muhlenberg closure crisis reflects national health care issues. Link to the story is over at Plainfield Today, where Dan Damon takes a close look at the WashPost story -- and its shortcomings. Read more HERE.

Fanwood's Chelsea residents worry about Muhlenberg closing

Residents of The Chelsea in Fanwood also worry about what will happen if Muhlenberg closes, especially since there are more people on average who need hospital attention.

Read more here: "Chelsea residents concerned about Muhlenberg closing".

Westfield Leader: State moves closer to Muhlenberg shutdown

The Westfield Leader's holiday weekend edition has a major story reporting on the Health Planning Board's meeting and recommendation to Commissioner Heather Howard.

Read more of the Leader here: "Westfield Leader".

The story on the meeting and vote can be found HERE (PDF).

'Save Muhlenberg' in July 4 Parade

The 'Save Muhlenberg' troops turned out in good fashion, complete with a float, in the annual July 4th Parade.

Petitions to Commissioner Heather Howard were circulated.

Reminder from the group:

Monday - July 7. 6:30 PM. Save Muhlenberg Meeting. 'Save Muhlenberg' participants plan next steps. Anyone with petitions to Commissioner Heather Howard circulated at the July 4 Parade is asked to bring them to the meeting. At duCret School of the Arts, 1030 Central Avenue.

Dr. Yood: Burden is on Solaris to make amends

Plainfield's Dr. Harold Yood, also known as blogger 'olddoc', has an excellent letter in today's Courier.

Read more here: "Burden is on Solaris to make amends for Muhlenberg".

Muhlenberg: Solaris moves 3 units to JFK

Muhlenberg supporters at State Board vote meeting.

Denying it is 'jumping the gun' on its closure plan for Muhlenberg, Solaris announced three units are being shifted to JFK, in a front-page story in today's Courier.

Read more here: "Muhlenberg begins transferring services".

Solaris spokesman Steven Weiss describes the moves as "physician-prompted", which certainly should certainly win him a Pulitzer nomination for creative torturing of the English language.

As it has been related to me, Solaris has lured the doctors down to JFK by refusing to schedule OR time at Muhlenberg, instead offering JFK privileges. Of carrots and sticks, you know...

-- Dan Damon

PNHC's expectant mothers and Trinitas

In a front-page story in today's Courier, Plainfield Health Center CEO Rudine Smith touts the partnership with Trinitas for maternity services to its expectant mothers.

Read more here: "Maternity services extended to Muhlenberg's expectant patients"

While the transportation issues are mentioned, I think they are going to turn out to be more serious than PHC and Trinitas are letting on. Why else would the CoN have had so many transportation concessions added to it.

Meanwhile, everyone waits on Madame Defarge (alias Commissioner Heather Howard).