The state is recommending conditions on Muhlenberg's closure beyond those originally proposed by Solaris Health System. Plainfield Today has posted the entire document online (see below or here, PDF format).
The conditions begin on page 15 of the 19-page document. (Page 19 is a chart of drive times to various hospitals. Your mileage -- and time -- may vary.)
Among the key points --
- LICENSE: Muhlenberg's hospital license would be retained by Solaris for up to 24 months;
- COMMUNITY ADVISORY GROUP: Solaris will set up and appoint co-chairs of an advisory group to be in place for at least three years and charged with monitoring the closure process, performance of conditionally mandated services, 'explore options' for reinstatement of medical residency program, and examine the need for any services approved (by the state) for closure;
- MIDWIFE PROGRAM: Solaris to totally fund a physician to oversee midwifery services at NHC for at least two years;
- OUTPATIENT PRIMARY CARE: Solaris shall 'initiate' primary care services 'at Muhlenberg or in conjuncion/agreement with NHC' Mon-Fri, half-day Sat and 2 days with evening hours;
- TRANSPORTATION: Solaris will be required to operate, at no cost to passengers and without regard to insurance status --
- SHUTTLE: MRMC to JFK, continuous, Noon-8:30 PM, 7 days/week
- MEDICAL TAXI: Contracted door-to-door service in Muhlenberg's primary and secondary areas, for non-emergent services at JFK (this section does not mention insurance status);
- AMBULANCE: Transport by contracted services from Muhlenberg's satellite ER to area providers, on a 24/7 basis;
- TRINITAS: Solaris to provide SCHEDULED transportation for obstetrics and behavioral health patients and their families at no cost from Muhlenberg's satellite ER to Trinitas (details of pre-natal/obstetric care by Trinitas are not provided other than a general statement of its 'willingness to serve');
- OUTREACH: An outreach effort, 'especially to the medically indigent', to ensure all residents of the hospital service areas have access to AVAILABLE SERVICES at the two Solaris locations -- JFK and Muhlenberg ER;
- DaVITA DIALYSIS: Solaris shall not terminate the lease unless it DaVita has obtained an alternative site 'within the same service area'; and lastly,
- COMMUNICATIONS PLAN: Solaris must notify the public with ads in Spanish and English in at least two newspapers, as well as advising impacted hospitals and EMS providers 15 days in advance of closure.
However, to anyone who has ever dealt with bureaucracies, it is clear there are some WEASEL WORDS -- a skimping over exactly to what extent Trinitas is taking on obstetrics patients, midwifery oversight funding is only for two years (much else is for five), and a loosy-goosy on DaVita relocation.
Concrete resolution of exactly what services Trinitas will provide needs spelling out. In funding midwifery supervision for only two years, are we supposed to believe no one will get pregnant past that time frame? Is the thinking that in diminishing the offering of services at the Muhlenberg site, DaVita may find it more financially beneficial to relocate? Or is it that Solaris may have something in mind for the Muhlenberg campus that might preclude DaVita staying? (Remember the totally public, yet somehow sneaky, subdivision of the MRMC property in April 2007.)
Will the Health Planning Board meekly accept these conditions or will it recommend even tougher ones?
You will have to attend their public meeting next Thursday to find out (see details and map here).
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1 comments:
It's such a joke that they use the CN application as the "source" for travel times by "Department Personnel" read: ambulances. I guess the board members just didn't have the time to drive and check for themselves. But then again, what bureaucrat does? It's much easier to read a piece of paper and dictate what "should be done" - especially when it's an elaborate million dollar presentation.
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