Muhlenberg the talk of mayor's forum

Muhlenberg was much on the minds of those attending Mayor Robinson-Briggs' community forum on Tuesday evening, and a good number turned out, despite short notice by the mayor's public relations machine.

Read more here: "Muhlenberg, crime dominate Plainfield community forum".

Green wants state to hold off on Solaris bonds

Today's Courier features a front-page story where Assemblyman Jerry Green calls on the state to hold off on the planned Solaris bond issue until some 'grievances' are addressed.

Dan Damon has a link to the story along with his observations over at PLAINFIELD TODAY.

See more here: "Jerry Green: Hold off on Solaris bonds"

Muhlenberg in study on 'preventable' hospital stays

Though Solaris has closed Muhlenberg, the hospital figures in a just-released study on preventable hospital stays.

A front-page story in today's Courier reports details of the study, which covers Union, Middlesex, Somerset and Hunterdon counties.

Read more here: "Central Jersey hospitals lauded on low rate of preventable patient stays".

What's next for Muhlenberg?

A front-page story in Saturday's Courier details the surrender of Muhlenberg's license by Solaris yesterday.

Dan Damon links to the story and comments on what's likely next over at PLAINFIELD TODAY.

Read more here: "Muhlenberg: License surrendered, dismemberment next?"

Strokes: In Muhlenberg service area, quick thinking may not be enough

Today's Asbury Park Press reports on how the quick response of a carpenter's workmates while he was having a stroke AND the fact that they were working on the grounds of a hospital at the very time helped save the man's life.

Knowing that someone having a stroke in the Muhlenberg service area of Plainfield and the surrounding towns will have to a) wait for an ambulance that can take who knows how long, and b) be transported -- 20-25 minutes? more? -- to a 'nearby' hospital, cannot be comforting news.

Especially given the importance of the time factor, as the story points out.

Read more here: "Quick thinking saved stroke victim's life".

Muhlenberg closing still open issue for residents

Writing in today's Courier, reporter Mark Spivey covers the issues raised at Monday night's Plainfield City Council meeting by supporters and Council members.

Read more here: "Muhlenberg's closing still open issue for Plainfield residents".

FLASH: Colvin on 101.5 at 9:10 AM - Today!!

Muhlenberg supporter Rev. Jim Colvin will be on 101.5 at 9:10 AM this morning.

Jim was invited as a result of talk show host Jim Gearhart's receipt of a copy of the letter from Jim and Sarah published in the August 7 Westfield Leader (see bottom of this item).

The call-in number for 101.5 is (800) 283-1015.

---

Westfield Leader, August 7, 2008

Letter of Revs. Jim and Sarah Colvin

Taxpayers Pay for Questionable
Hospital Closings in New Jersey

Thanks for your coverage of Muhlenberg.

The only entities who benefit from the closing of a hospital are the large corporations that close them. Gov. Jon Corzine must be pleased that his friends at the top of the economic food chain benefit so handsomely. Catholic Health East of Pa. will receive $252 million in low cost bonds issued by the state as it takes over St. Michel’s in Newark, and the issuer may well be Corzine’s alma mater, Goldman Sachs. (Goldman Sachs is listed as a possible issuer in the NJ Hospitals and Facilities Authority bulletin). For the first six years, we taxpayers will shell out $8.8 million per year, then theoretically the company will take over payments, although we remain on the hook for the duration.

Solaris Health Systems, who declared Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center insolvent and convinced Corzine and his Health Commissioner, Heather Howard, to close this essential urban hospital, will benefit greatly from the closing. At first, Solaris applied for $70 million to close Muhlenberg. Now the number has magically increased to $160 million — an astonishing figure that could be used to maintain the hospital for another ten years! We taxpayers have a right to see just what the $160 million is intended to do.

Instead, Solaris is trying to cash in at the expense of state taxpayers and at the same time selling off as much of the property as possible. (It is valued at over $90 million.) Solaris must be drooling in wait of the day when they can shut down all operations in Plainfield and cash in to support bloated executive salaries. CEO John McGee makes $652,000 on the books and who knows how much from his other business dealings partnering with local politicians.

Corzine should be held accountable for these amoral shenanigans that end up endangering people by depriving them of healthcare. Not surprisingly, most of them are located in poor urban areas with large minority populations.

We pray for the day when Corzine holds no public office and Solaris is out of the healthcare business — and for the day when healthcare is seen as a human right rather than a source of profit for the few.

Revs. James and Sarah Colvin
United Church of Christ, Plainfield

'Smart' hospital room tours area

Today's Ledger carries a story about a 'smart' hospital room exhibit developed by Kansas City-based Cemer, a company that supplies hospitals with technology, that stopped of at Somerset Medical Center as part of a multi-state tour.

Read more here: "The 'smart' cure for care".

About Jerry Green's role in the Muhlenberg closure

Today, Dan Damon reviews Assemblyman Green's OpEd piece from Saturday's Courier over at PLAINFIELD TODAY.

The Assemblyman raises more questions about his role (and that of Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs) than he may care to.

Read more HERE.

Dr. Lauer: Muhlenberg closure may affect heart ailment care

Cardiologist and 'miracle worker' Robert Lauer outlines his concerns over the outcomes for cardian patients in emergency situations now that Muhlenberg has closed, in a story written by Mark Spivey in today's Courier.

Dr. Lauer is known to all as one of the most outspoken critics of the closure of Muhlenberg.

This is a must-read article.

See: "Muhlenberg closure may affect heart-ailment care".

Last look at cast of characters: Lynch, Piscatelli, Schwartz

Today's Courier features two stories on the Muhlenberg closure.

First up, writer Brandon Lausch, who took over coverage of the Muhlenberg story when reporter Clem Fiorentino took an early retirement buyout from Gannett, reprises some of the players in the efforts to save the hospital, particularly Olive Lynch of 'Buy Muhlenberg', David Schwartz and Drew Piscatelli (remember him?).

Read more here: "A last look at the cast of characters in the Muhlenberg closure".

Letter: Andrea Kee chides Howard, Solaris

This morning's Courier has a letter from Plainfield resident and Muhlenberg activist Andrea Kee, taking Commissioner Heather Howard and Solaris to task over the sale of Muhlenberg.

Read more here: "State, Solaris must serve health needs of area".

Courier: Howard and Green meeting; Green OpEd

Today's Courier reports on the meeting between Commissioner 'Chainsaw Heather' Howard and Assemblyman Green yesterday. Read about it over at Dan Damon's PLAINFIELD TODAY.

Muhlenberg: Access to Medical Records Costly

The question of access to their medical records has been much on the minds of those who received care or treatment at Muhlenberg Hospital.

Solaris ran an ad in yesterday's Courier (page A-10) concerning the matter, the text of which is reproduced below --

AN IMPORTANT NOTICE TO OUR COMMUNITY

How to Access Your Medical Records from Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center

Please be advised that due to the closure of Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center, JFK Medical Center will retain the responsibility for the safekeeping and accessibility of all components of the patients' medical records (both active and stored, and paper and electronic) on the Muhlenberg Campus. The patient or the patient's legally authorized representatives can request, in writing, copies of medical records. Request should be sent to:

Health Information Management Muhlenberg Campus Park Ave. and Randolph Rd. Plainfield, NJ 07061

One copy of the medical record from an individual admission shall be provided to the patient or the patient's legally authorized representative within 30 days of request. If patient has any questions, they may contact Health Information Management Department at 908-668-2234.

Readers should note that this is NOT REALLY THE WHOLE PICTURE, SINCE COSTS ARE NOT MENTIONED IN THE AD.

For those, you can turn to the 'records' page (http://www.muhlenberg.com/medical-records/) on the much-shrunken Muhlenberg website, where you learn that the charge will be $1/per page for the first 100 pages and then 25¢/per page up to 200 pages.

Those used to paying for public documents requested through the state's OPRA act will find the charges excessive -- by state regulation the charges for copying printed government documents are 75¢ each for the first ten pages, 50¢ each for the next ten pages and 25¢ for each page thereafter.

Mock funeral coverage and Muhlenberg's closure

Muhlenberg activist Nancy Piwowar pointed out that even the heavens wept yesterday over the closing of Muhlenberg Hospital.

As Solaris prepared to pull the plug on Muhlenberg after 131 years of service to Plainfield and the surrounding communities, hundreds of supporters gathered in the parking lot across Park Avenue from the hospital to rally their forces once again and continue the protests with a mock funeral from Plainfield to JFK, which concluded with a candlelight vigil in front of Plainfield City Hall.

Univision (Ch 41) and NJN sent sound trucks to cover the event, and today's Courier and Ledger feature the news.

In addition, you can read Dan Damon's take on the significance of today's meeting between Mayor Robinson-Briggs, Assemblyman Green and Commissioner Howard over at PLAINFIELD TODAY.

Read more of today's new stories here:

• Courier: "Protesters hold mock funeral to mark passing of Plainfield hospital"
• Courier: "Acute-care services ended Wednesday at Muhlenberg"
• Courier, Editorial: "Solaris should give Plainfield a chance"
• Ledger: A nice photo story with two pictures, in the print edition only.

Solaris Flyers: ER Information | Free Transportation Services

Here are two flyers put out by Solaris concerning the Satellite ER and its operations, and the Free Transportation which is part of the terms the State set for Solaris to close Muhlenberg.

The following can be printed out directly from this page, without needing to open a PDF reader. Just click on the 'iPaper' icon at the top left of the document window and select 'print'.

SATELLITE ER OPERATIONS

Satellite ER: Questions and Answers - Upload a Document to Scribd

Read this document on Scribd: Satellite ER: Questions and Answers

FREE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM

Solaris: Free Transportation Information - Upload a Document to Scribd

Read this document on Scribd: Solaris: Free Transportation Information

Heartstopper rescue for Muhlenberg?

Today's Courier and Ledger both features stories on the last-minute effort to save Muhlenberg.

This time by a Philadelphia heart surgeon with connections to a family enterprise that has successfully turned around troubled hospitals.

Catch links to the newspaper stories and get the background over at Dan Damon's PLAINFIELD TODAY.

Corzine signs 4 bills dealing with hospitals

Gov. Corzine signed four bills on Friday that deal with hospital finances and communication with their stakeholders.

One, sponsored by Assemblyman Jerry Green, would require an annual public meeting with the communities a hospital serves.

Read the coverage here --

• Courier: "Corzine signs bill package to protect hospitals"
• Ledger: "Early warning system for ailing hospitals becomes law"
• Record: "New law limits hospital fees charged to uninsured"

Courier: Final preparations for Muhlenberg closure

A front-page story in today's Courier assesses the impact of Muhlenberg's closure, slated for Wednesday, and the measures being taken to fill the gaps.

Read more here: "Final preparations under way for Muhlenberg Hospital to close Wednesday"

Westfield Leader: Muhlenberg closure increases Trinitas births

The Westfield Leader's August 7 edition has a report on the impact Muhlenberg's impending closure is having on births at Trinitas Hospital in Elizabeth.

Trinitas says 41 Plainfield women have delivered there since the arrangement went into effect.

Unconfirmed rumors are circulating among 'Save Muhlenberg' activists that at least one birth took place in an ambulance on the way from Plainfield to Trinitas.

Read the full story here: "Muhlenberg closure increases Trinitas births"

Solaris: Muhlenberg Home Care to continue

In a quarter-page ad in the Union County section of today's Ledger, Solaris states that Muhlenberg's Home Care Program will continue despite the hospital's expected closure.

The ad quotes Ellen Gusick, director of the program, as saying "the Home Care Program will continue uninterrupted, delivering the exceptional service the community has been accustomed to."

The program's RNs, physical, occupational and speech therapists, dieticians, home health aides and social workers assist in the recovery at home of patients of all ages in the Muhlenberg service area.

Info: (908) 668-2253.

Olive Lynch: Charity care as a tax writeoff?

'Buy Muhlenberg' organizer Olive Lymch is recommending an online article at Reason magazine's website.

Entitled "How Hospital Costs Ran Amok", it details how uncollected charity care costs can be used as tax deductions on hospitals' other income.

It is an interesting article, from a libertarian point of view; however, it does not make clear if the tactic applies to NONPROFIT community hospitals, of which Muhlenberg and JFK are examples.

Read more here: http://reason.com/news/show/127821.html

Muhlenberg: Gostel's missing OpEd, and missing Courier editorial

The Courier finally caught up later in the day Sunday and put up the 'Speaking Out' piece by Muhlenberg activist John Gostel of Edison (Voice needed to support Muhlenberg) and the editorial critiquing the plan to monitor Solaris' compliance with the terms of the closure (Give city more control of closure aftermath). Better late than never, as they say.

Read more here:

• John Gostel: "Voices, loud and clear, needed to support Muhlenberg"
• Editorial: "Give city more control of closure aftermath"

And yesterday's big piece on urban hospitals here: "N.J. urban hospitals 'unsupportable'".

Courier: NJ's urban hospitals 'unsupportable'

Plainfielders and other supporters of Muhlenberg may well rankle at the statement in today's front-page Courier story on urban hospitals that

Solaris [is] the nonprofit company that oversees Muhlenberg and its parent hospital, JFK Medical Center in Edison (emphasis added).

However you feel about that representation of the facts, you will want to read the story.

Unfortunately, you will have to get a dead-tree version of the paper for a 'Speaking Out' piece by Muhlenberg activist John Postel of Edison (Voice needed to support Muhlenberg) and the editorial critiquing the plan to monitor Solaris' compliance with the terms of the closure (Give city more control of closure aftermath). Read the online story here: "N.J. urban hospitals 'unsupportable'".

Record-Press: Howard challenged over cancelling Muhlenberg license

This week's Record-Press online features a story on the Muhlenberg closure highlighting POP attorney Zurofsky's challenge to Commissioner Howard on not granting active status for the Muhlenberg license for a period of time as recommended by the State Health Advisory Board.

Read more here: "Muhlenberg slated to close August 13".

Letter: Absent Plainfield officials hurt Muhlenberg fight

Muhlenberg volunteer and 'Save Muhlenberg' activist Jane Fargo has a tightly argued letter in today's Courier that indicts the administration of Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs for not having done more to rally the surrounding communities against the closure, and for failing to step up to the plate to assist legal moves to forestall the closing.

Read more here: "Absent public officials hurt Muhlenberg fight".

State gives St. Michael's the deal Muhlenberg needed

While Muhlenberg is being closed down, the state will lend Catholic Healthcare East $253M in taxpayer-funded bonds to keep Newark's St. Michael's Hospital open. This is the kind of deal Muhlenberg needed, but did not get. Was that because Solaris didn't want it or that Assemblyman Green was powerless to get it?

According to the Ledger's continuous news desk story, the money will be used to 'erase debt, replace outmoded equipment, and expand facilities'.

All that Muhlenberg needs is help with its charity care obligation, which, by state law, it cannot sidestep.

The print edition of the Ledger this AM includes even more details --

The loan will erase debt, replace outmoded equipment and expand facilities. It helps cement Saint Michael's future when half of New Jersey hospitals operate in the red. Seven hospitals have closed since 2007, and an eighth -- Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center in Plainfield -- will shut on Aug. 13.

"Given that the city of Newark faced catastrophic closure of three hospitals, this investment maintained access to care for the residents of the community," said Donna Leusner, spokeswoman for the state Department of Health.

But the Corzine administration's decision to go into debt to bail out Saint Michael's revived criticism that the state cannot control its spending.

"Further debt without voter approval concerns me, to the extent the state is on the hook," said Sen. Leonard Lance (R-Hunterdon), an outspoken critic of state borrowing.

The bond deal was assembled by the New Jersey Health Care Facilities Financing Authority, and the state treasurer and health commissioner approved the bond sale.

State taxpayers will pick up $8.8 million next year to begin paying back the loan. The state would pay $16.5 million a year from 2010 to 2013 if the hospital continues to struggle, said Mark Hopkins, the authority's executive director. If the hospital is making money based on a formula set by the state, it could pick up the payments as early as the second year and repay the state. The hospital is scheduled to assume the loan no later than 2014, Hopkins said.

The state's share of the payments will come from the state budget, which currently sets aside $2.5 billion to repay debt, Treasury spokesman Tom Bell said.

Isn't Newark one of the 'overbedded' areas?

Can you not almost spit from St. Michael's and hit University Hospital?

In New Jersey, it appears the only 'P' that counts is not 'Principle', but 'Politics'.

Read the story here: "Newark's St. Michael's Medical Center sold".

See the morning print edition here: "Bond deal will keep St. Michael's running".