Category: Health Care Reform

1964 Civil Rights March on Frankfort Redux.

separare-never-equal 50 years later, still marching for voters’ rights.

Yesterday, along with thousands of others and 50 years too late, I went to Frankfort to participate in a celebration of the 1964 March on Frankfort. Ironically, and belying the opinion of some on the US Supreme Court who must willfully be wearing blinders, the principal issue of protest yesterday was of voting rights– the restoration of suffrage to felons who have paid their dues to society. Many in the huge crowd also carried signs protesting the Commonwealth’s intention to appeal last week’s Federal Court decision requiring Kentucky to recognize legal out-of-state same-sex marriages.

Innumerable signs carried by the crowd recognized heroes of Kentucky’s”s civil rights movement and identified current obstacles to full implementation of basic civil rights for all citizens. These tangible aspects of the march are symbols of the slow but inexorable progress towards the ideals that underlie American culture, but which were imperfectly implemented by the first version of our Constitution. I was even more moved however, by unexpected portents that arose along the route of the march. Continue reading “1964 Civil Rights March on Frankfort Redux.”

Pediatric Cardiac Surgery in Kentucky Revisited.

University Presidents speak about cooperation.red-blue-heart

A month ago, I wrote about issues concerning the pediatric cardiac surgery program at Kentucky Children’s Hospital in Lexington. That institution, part of the University of Kentucky’s University Hospital programs, was receiving much adverse publicity about allegedly poor mortality rates for cardiac surgery for pediatric congenital heart disorders. The institution temporarily suspended that surgery program and conducted an intensive in-house review emphasizing plans for the future.

My article was seen by Elizabeth Cohen, Senior Medical Correspondent for CNN who had been following the story. She asked me to respond to several questions. Because I believe the matter is relevant to health policy in Kentucky, I present here the responses I offered with some minor edits. Continue reading “Pediatric Cardiac Surgery in Kentucky Revisited.”

Some Problems With University Hospital Partnership Emerge. How Bad Is It Really?

Much Distress Among the Home Team.

KentuckyOne Health’s announcement of major cuts in expenditures, layoffs of employees, and possible hospital closure(s) is bad news to lots of people. The organization’s facilities and employees in Louisville are in the bullseye too. It is no surprise that nervous employees are reaching out to the media, hoping perhaps for some external recognition or oversight of their plight. KentuckyOne seems to be making a genuine attempt– perhaps too late and too little– to show some openness. In my opinion, the University of Louisville and KentuckyOne have developed a reputation for secrecy but they have not yet earned a reputation for transparency or accountability. Hiding plans from the public also hides them from their employees. The pain felt by these latter is both financial and emotional. Continue reading “Some Problems With University Hospital Partnership Emerge. How Bad Is It Really?”

KentuckyOne Health Buys Largest Block of Land at Dupont Medical Center

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The plot thickens, but what is the plot?

It seems like the juiciest news stories break when I am out of town. Last week, John Karman and David Mann of Business First, and Sheldon Schafer of the Courier-Journal informed us that KentuckyOne Health was purchasing additional land at the Dutchmans Lane/DuPont Circle medical center in eastern Louisville. The purchase price has not yet been disclosed.

I have been waiting for this other shoe to fall. This acquisition gives KentuckyOne Health control of a huge block of land making up fully one half of Dupont Circle adjacent to its existing Jewish Hospital East facility. The total land now held rivals the amount occupied by Norton Suburban Hospital. I haven’t seen any contracts yet (and do not expect to), but I understand that some sort or purchase agreement has been prepared and that the sale “won’t be completed for three years in order to honor the leases of the 15 tenants in the center.”  (I did not think that closings could be delayed that long.)  As it happens, all but two of the lots on that half of Dupont Circle are owned or controlled by realtor and former University of Louisville Trustee, Sandra Metts. In my opinion, the sale of land to UofL’s best new partner has never been in serious doubt. Continue reading “KentuckyOne Health Buys Largest Block of Land at Dupont Medical Center”