MBAs in suits took over and ruined fine hospital system

MBAs in suits took over andruined fine hospital system
EDITOR:
I was saddened but not surprised to read in the May 1 Vindicator of the end of a wonderful era of pediatric care in the institution once known as the Tod Children's Hospital of the Youngstown Hospital Association. I use that name because when it was referred to in that manner, it was one of the top 10 community hospitals in the country and was an outstanding teaching facility for interns and residents in internal medicine, general surgery, pediatrics, family medicine, pathology, anesthesia, med-peds and radiology. We had 1,000 bids operating at full capacity during my one year of internship (1961-62) and three years of residency in internal medicine (1964-67).
When the three-piece suits took over with their MBAs and the administration began to grow faster than a malignant tumor, they changed the name twice (Western Reserve Care Center, then Forum), made terrible business decisions and basically ruined what had been a premier medical facility in our town.
The article told of a pediatric nurse with 30 years' experience whose application at the new facility, now managed by Akron Children's Hospital, was rejected. Where are they going to get that kind of wisdom acquired over 30 years of taking care of sick children, some critically ill? A receptionist in the Pediatric Clinic will be losing her long-held job. This will be the first of many to lose decades-long, cherished jobs at Forum.
If Forum had merged with Humility Mary, as I had urged, those jobs would still be in Youngstown, and a CEO in Akron would not be deciding which Mahoning Valley nurse or receptionist he want to hire.
When this downturn at Forum became apparent, I made many parities aware of a plan that I had to combine two 250-bed hospitals (Forum and St. E's) into one 500 bed facility that would have saved the jobs, the residency programs, the quality of care and the indigent care that closure of the North Side Unit will ultimately cost. The board of trustees (of which I was a former member), the new CEO (who has no interest at all in the future of medicine in Youngstown) and Jay Williams, the mayor of Youngstown (who complained that he had not heard any input from the community regarding Forum's dilemma), all ignored my detailed plan.
I know that the very excellent residencies that remain at Forum will not last much longer, once the HM facility opens in Boardman and the average daily census begins to drop on Gypsy Lane. Residency review committees take a dim view of small hospitals because the broad range of illnesses needed for hands-on experience falls off. When the residency goes, the quality of care is bound to suffer -- if there is any care left, or if there is a Forum still doing business on the North Side of Youngstown.
CHARLES H. McGOWEN M.D,
Howland
Samson couldn't see fallout
EDITOR:
The strife over Mahoning County's decision to move some of its operations from a decaying rented structure to the former Southside Hospital building brings to mind a biblical story of anger, revenge and tragedy. Judges 16 describes the death of Samson, a man of tremendous physical power. Enraged after being captured and blinded by his enemies, he puts his arms around a pillar of the temple and topples it with a mighty heave. This brings the building down, killing everyone present -- Samson, his foes and also thousands of innocent onlookers.
The current drive to keep the county operations in an old East Side building by making the county commissioners look like fools, thus defeating the sales tax renewal, could do irreparable damage to our community. Law enforcement would be hobbled because jail operations were gutted. There would be more bad national publicity for our area. More good jobs and good people would leave the Valley.
Nobody likes to pay taxes, but this renewal is so crucial that political games intended to defeat it are inexcusable. As the African proverb puts it, & quot;When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. & quot;
ROBERT D. GILLETTE
Poland
Please continue helping
EDITOR:
I would just like to say how important it is to renew the levy for Mahoning County Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities.
I thank the taxpayers of Mahoning County who have supported our programs so our young students and adult consumers can enjoy typical lives in our community. Once again we need your support in order to maintain the Leonard Kirtz School, Bev Road and Meshel Masco workshops and the retirement/medically fragile programs at Javit Court.
Government funding cuts have hurt our programs in the past few years, but this renewal levy will maintain our current programs, which improve the lives of the clients and their families.
Please, vote yes on Issue 2.
MARY JO NAGY
Youngstown
The writer is president of the Mahoning Education Association of Developmental Disabilities.
Politicians serve big oil
EDITOR:
As I stopped for gas at my usual station, I saw the sign advertising fuel for 3.19 per gallon. I heard a number of people bitterly complain about the price. "What can we do, & quot; one woman said, as I noticed that the price on her pump was near 45.
Wake up, America. We elect people and send them to Washington to represent our best interests. Whose best interest is 3.19 per gallon? As the oil companies get richer and richer, the public gets poorer.
The haves will not be affected too much by the price of fuel. It's the have nots who will suffer the most. The guy with a wife and two kids and a house payment, forced to drive 50 miles a day for a 8 an hour job is the one who suffers.
It's time our elected officials came to the plate and do what they were elected to do, represent the people, not big oil. The winds of change need to blow.
JIM EIDEL
Poland