They accused the hospital’s parent body, Continuum Health Partners, of financial mismanagement and leaving the hospital in a precarious position.
The doctors, led by Dr. Arnold Licht, president of the LICH medical staff, feel that Continuum is treating the hospital like a poor relation, taking money out of it but concentrating on its Manhattan hospitals, such as Beth Israel and St. Luke’s-Roosevelt.
Recently, Brooklyn Congresspersons Nydia Velazquez, Ed Towns and Yvette Clarke sent a letter to Gov. David Paterson, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo and state Health Commissioner Dr. Richard F. Daines, alleging that the 150-year-old institution is in a condition of near insolvency.
The complaint also alleges inadequate financial records, and points to growing losses by LICH -- $15.89 million in 2006, $21.7 milion in 2007, and a projected loss of as much as $35 million in 2008.
Dr. Licht said that “LICH doesn’t have an independent board; Continuum’s board is its board.” He called for the return of a locally chosen board for LICH. As for the $140 million bequest to LICH by the late Dr. Donald Othmer in 1995, Licht said it was used “as collateral for loans” rather than going to the hospital’s services.
Although LICH has 506 beds, only about 350 are now used, he added.
Congresswoman Velazquez, looking like a medical professional herself in her all-white outfit (probably worn because of the heat), counted off five medical clinics that have been closed by Continuum:
Grand Army Plaza, which she said had more than 40,000 patient visits a year;The Total Health clinic in Greenpoint;Flatbush on Fifth Avenue, a primary care site;Graham Avenue, Williamsburg, an internal medicine site, and;Smith Street Medical Group, a primary care site.
Velazquez, Congressman Towns and the other speakers pointed out that one Brooklyn hospital, St. Mary’s in Bedford-Stuyvesant, closed several years ago, and another, Victory in Bay Ridge, is about to close. The borough, with areas such as Bedford-Stuyvesant, Bushwick and East New York under-served for health services, cannot afford another hospital closing, they said.
Katia Kelli, a neighborhood resident, pointed out that the Smith Street site, a former Longshoremen’s Union medical clinic, was sold to the Clarett Group and subsequently demolished for residential development.
Dr. Tom Sorra, the previous head of the medical staff, said after the meeting that some nurses in uniform had been prepared to join the demonstration, but were ordered to stay inside and not go out on their breaks by their supervisors.
Asked about the hospital’s CEO, Rita Battles, he said that she is often sympathetic to the doctors’ concerns, but “her checks are paid by Continuum.”
In a statement, Continuum responded on Monday: “The Board of Regents and administrative leadership of Long Island College Hospital and its parent company, Continuum Health Partners, have no plans to close the hospital. We reject the accusations that are being made through the media by a small group of LICH-affiliated physicians. These doctors do not represent the great majority of the medical staff or the thousands of other dedicated employees of the hospital.
“Like many New York City hospitals, LICH has struggled with financial difficulties for decades, well before the hospital joined the Continuum partnership. The hospital leadership has focused on ensuring LICH’s future as a vibrant community hospital. Over the past several years, we have made investments in capital improvement, such as the expansion of the emergency department and renovation of several patient units, coupled with thoughtful expense management. We will continue that course. And we will continue to work collaboratively with all LICH physicians and others with an interest in the hospital’s prosperity to secure a positive future.”
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