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December 19, 2005
Fighting Over Charity Hospital
Dispute Over Historic Hospital for the Poor Pits Doctors Against the State - New York Times
The premise of the article is that untrustworthy state officials are money-grubbing for a new Charity hospital for New Orleans. The doctors who have worked in Charity are countering by saying the building is fine and, aside from major mechanical repairs, should remain the cornerstone of New Orleans' indigent care. Particularly, I was interested to read the doctors feel this is not the time to take down available beds in Orleans parish. Based on the numbers from our new dean, this is a great time to take some beds offline in New Orleans. The dean's numbers, by the way, jive with what my wife has learned about the area as she looks to regain an occupational therapy job in the city. The claim that the city's poor have been trying to reestablish themselves, and thus need Charity's free healthcare, is at odds with my general impression thus far that the people who have reoccupied so far are principly professionals who have the money to finance their return.
Should the state be begging for money? Yes. Should they be rallying around the idea of tearing down the old Charity? I think not. However, Charity does need to be completely gutted and rebuilt if it is to remain the center of healthcare in New Orleans and Louisiana. The generators need to be safe from floodwater, provisions need to be thought out, a helipad should be added (a trauma center without a helipad!?), and, if you've ever been in Charity, you know it was in need of some serious renovation.
Posted by Niels Olson at December 19, 2005 7:38 PM
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