LI College Hospital to become condos?

Few things are as symbolic of neighborhood change as the local safety net hospital.

For a long time it served the poor. Then, the poor left. Then, the hospital failed to attract huge numbers of the middle class, which is necessary because the middle class tend utilize hospitals less. Now, it may be closed. Those interested in helping the site become condos are licking their chops:

http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20130207/REAL_ESTATE/130209937?template=smartphone&X-IgnoreUserAgent=1

It will definitely be closed. Its a sad time. They have served many. Now those living in the area will have to travel much farther for health care.

I heard on the radio that they voted to close it, and the the hope is that it becomes a training center for health care professionals.

...I'm not sure there is money out there to re-develop it in that fashion, or to staff such an entity but I suppose we shall see.

I worry that Interfaith is next to close or at least shrink. Brookdale is also in sad financial shape.

I guess all of us will be going to Methodist, Kings County (uggh!), or going into Manhattan in an emergency.

Methodist has become a pretty decent, modern hospital.

The non-HHC "safety net hospitals" (those which provide care to people who are, for the most part, on Medicaid) are the most at risk of closure:

Interfaith

Brookdale

Fyi ....kings County has one of the best ER's in the country.

It sure does. It's also, ridiculously overcrowded and serves a huge indigent population so the bedside manner leaves much to be desired.

Thankfully, I am not in a position of having to choose between the likes of Brookdale Hospital (non-profit safety net) and Kings County (HHC).

But if I was, I would choose Kings County.

At present, Brookdale is in such bad fiscal shape that simply forcing it to pay its water bill would likely result in its closure:

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/brooklyn/soaked-brookdale-hospital-leads-boro-list-water-bill-deadbeats-article-1.1259033?localLinksEnabled=false

As a result of first hand experience with the parent company of Brookdale (Medisys), I've written about its problems (and those of other Brooklyn Hospitals) pretty extensively here: http://www.brooklynian.com/discussion/33944/without-bribes-the-state-money-stops/p1

I would rather Methodist or Maimonides Hospital than Brookdale. Too many horror stories I have witnessed there over the years.

I would also vote for Maimonedes. Depending on how you get there, you may not have a choice. Ambulances will take you to the closest available HHC entity. Kings County has a few horror stories - as does Coney Island, Brookdale

Unlike LICH, Brookdale's neighborhood has not changed substansially, and so it has remained quite busy.

However, many of its clients likely do not have insurance that pays more than Medicaid. This young man was a recent patient:

http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20130212/brownsville/cops-shoot-armed-16-year-old-brownsville-nypd-says

This article, published today, seems to not pay enough attention to the problems of excess bed capacity and changing demographics.

http://www.bkbureau.org/dueling-prescriptions-brooklyns-hospitals

This article demonstrates an understanding of the reimbursement economics involved:

http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20130214/HEALTH_CARE/130219944

However, it stops short of stating this isn't merely about hospitals that serve the compartively rich, vs those that serve the poor

...there is actually no way for a hospital to serve a predominantly poor population without getting significant subsidies.

The heavily subsidized (but completely competent) HHC system may have to take over the likes of Brookdale and Interfaith, but the state and city lack the will, mechanisms, and authority to do so.

This article talks about some of the behind the scenes ways that are being attempted to save the hospital: Zoning that limts the height 50'

http://www.brooklynews.com/022513-elected-officials-call-for-extension-of-50-height-limit-to-save-lich/

Using the logic of the hospital's advocates, such rules would make the property less attractive to a buyer.

This article is written from a decidedly "keep it open" point of view, and cites occupancy rate which are, um, much higher than other sources cite.

http://thebrooklynink.com/2013/03/01/51691-lich-hospital-supporters-in-court-next-week/

And, frankly, LICH is an entity that has been losing money for approximately 17 years in a row. Even if it is full, that does not mean it is sustainable.

...even if it is vital, it does not mean that it will continue to be around.

I'm not sure if people have been following this story, but recently a judge decided that the hospital can't close YET because of some technicality re: public notice.

I believe that it will close, but it is interesting to read the opinions of those who work there on why it should be kept open:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Keep-Brooklyn-Hospitals-Open-for-Care/350012111775330?ref=notif&notif_t=fbpage_fan_invite

I do feel bad for those who will lose their jobs and medical care. In the present environment, there is nothing that can be done to keep these money losing hospitals open forever.

Interfaith, you may be next.

Yet another vote to close the hospital:

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/brooklyn/state-officials-vote-close-lich-layoff-notices-wtihin-days-official-article-1.1293014

News sources are stating the most of the patients have already been transferred to other facilities, and the hospital's staff is rapidly shring as they accept other positions.

SUNY has stated it wishes to make the soon-to-be-closed hospital into a training center for health care workers, but the analysts are stating it has no means to pull this off in the short term.

So, it will likely spend a good deal of time vacant before SUNY figures out what to do with it. Needless to say, it will be very tempting for them to sell it to a housing developer.

If NYS pulls this off, it will have figured out a way to close the surplus of money losing hospitals that no health corporation wants: Use SUNY as a proxy.

Brutal times for hospitals and patients in Brooklyn.

St. Mary's Hospital (formerly located near Utica in Crown Heights) closed back in 2005, and became supportive housing for people with mental illness.

http://www.concernhousing.org/brooklyn_eagle_rochester_Oct2011.pdf

Needless to say, there is a lot of jockeying by such groups re: the soon-to-be-former site of Long Island College Hospital.

However, it does not look like those who want to provide housing for the low income and/or mentally ill are going to be able to compete with the for profit sector in this instance.

The location is too good. The mental health sector is too broke. The demand for market rate housing is too strong.

The total properties at state is being estimated at around $1 billion.

http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/real-estate/long-island-college-hospital-property-developers-buzzing-article-1.1299103?localLinksEnabled=false

This hospital is not being allowed to die with dignity.

Please pull the plug or administer the anesthesia, this chapter is done.

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/brooklyn/long-island-college-hospital-leg-article-1.1309835

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/brooklyn/cuomo-pleas-federal-brooklyn-hospital-closures-article-1.1338959#ixzz2T2qBJBSy

LICH continues to be made to suffer before it is allowed to finally die. People in denial continue to insist it should (and can) be saved

Meanwhile, desperate efforts are underway to save Interfaith.

...they are not going well

http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20130620/bed-stuy/merger-between-troubled-interfaith-brooklyn-hospitals-hits-snag

With all due respect your honor, you can order us to keep staff but they are leaving in droves becasue they know this hospital is closing!

Sincerely Yours,

LICH Management

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/20/nyregion/in-brooklyn-long-island-college-hospital-staff-gets-reprieve.html?ref=nyregion&_r=0

It is sad to watch LICH "circle the drain".

Should I hold out hope that Interfaith will have a better fate?

http://www.bkbureau.org/2013/05/28/interfaith-hospital-running-out-of-cash-as-merger-stalls/

And, now, the potential buyers line up:

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/brooklyn/new-suitors-line-lich-article-1.1401414?localLinksEnabled=false

A Judge learns that thier power is limited:

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/08/nyregion/judge-raises-prospect-of-criminal-charges-in-hospital-case.html?ref=nyregion

The fight over what entity gets the property of the former hospital takes center stage:

http://www.brooklyneagle.com/articles/brooklyn-judge-places-lich-property-‘constructive-trust’-says-othmer-fund-must-be-repaid

The potential buyers have been vetted, and (no surprise...) the community does not like the one that is chosen.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/18/nyregion/suny-withdraws-development-plan-for-troubled-brooklyn-hospital.html?adxnnl=1&ref=nyregion&adxnnlx=1387385086-UJ26nM+CLCfj4q9NJ2srOQ

Only developers who participated in the initial bid process are welcome to be a part of the "revised" processhttp://therealdeal.com/blog/2014/01/29/suny-reopens-rfp-for-long-island-hospital-and-critics-jeer/