Author: P Hasselbacher

University of Louisville Planning Process Criticized.

Insights gained into internal Medical School workings.puzzle

Courier-Journal reporter Andrew Wolfson placed a major piece in today’s Courier-Journal about the University of Louisville’s contracts with Excelcor, the company that facilitated several “Opportunities and Threats” surveys for several University-wide programs including its School of Medicine.  Issues were raised about the sole-source contracts with Excelcor, the qualifications of that company, its previous relationship with UofL officials, potential for conflicts of interest, the large expense of the contracts, the source of funding, and even whether the results were of any practical use. Senior University officials are in my opinion obviously on the defensive.  You can judge for yourself whether their justifications are persuasive. I think not. Continue reading “University of Louisville Planning Process Criticized.”

What is Happening at Louisville’s Norton-Kosair Children’s Hospital?

Louisville’s Messiest Divorce Ever.kids-balloon

Last August, the Louisville public was treated to a gloves-off confrontation between the University of Louisville and Norton Healthcare (and their respective allies) over the physical control of Norton-Kosair Children’s Hospital. Tough-talk was punctuated by threatening lawyer-letters and an all-stops-out public relations effort to capture the hearts and minds of us citizens. Some motivations were partially exposed. State government was drawn in. At least one court action was set in motion. Then, nuclear options having been wielded, cooler heads prevailed and the promise of continuing “discussions” was made. The matter moved behind closed doors and perhaps even out-of-state. Security has been tight. Not even long-standing medical staff know what is going on.

When Norton Healthcare and the University of Kentucky announced their intention to cooperate more effectively in providing children’s hospital services to Kentuckians, it was reported that they hoped to conclude negotiations by the “end of the year.” Obviously that has not happened but that milestone allows us a rationale for asking the question, “what is going on?”  Reports are filtering up from employees that negotiations have collapsed and that the sides are back to square one. Although I have good reason to believe that things are not going well, spokespersons at both Norton and UofL tell me that talks are still  continuing. That would be the diplomatic, albeit unrevealing thing to say.

This seeming hiatus, real or perceived, is a good time to inform the broader constituencies of these organizations and the public at large about what the difficult issues are. After all, “We the People” have a child in this fight, and are paying the bills to boot. Based on my long career in academic healthcare, I have some ideas about what the most problematic issues probably are, but on behalf of the public for which I consider myself an advocate, I invite the parties involved to enlighten us as they construct public policy that will effect everyone.

No one will be surprised at my claim that the issues revolve around (as they always do in such commercial enterprises) money and control, with a healthy dose of academic politics and pride thrown in. It is more about control of the local healthcare market than control over what medical trainees might be learning. The evident bad-blood between the institutions is not helping either. Continue reading “What is Happening at Louisville’s Norton-Kosair Children’s Hospital?”

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”

Kentucky Medical Association Endorses Downtown Veterans Hospital Location

view-north-1000Did the KMA get rolled?

I was out of the country for most of the past few weeks and missed the Fall annual meeting of the Kentucky Medical Association (KMA). I was surprised to learn that the Association’s House of Delegates passed a resolution opposing the new Brownsboro Road location for Louisville’s Robley Rex Veterans Administration Hospital and furthermore resolved that it supports “a location in close proximity to the University of Louisville Medical Center.” As I investigated what happened, I was not surprised to find a cast of familiar characters affiliated with Grow Smart Louisville, a one-issue advocacy group initially founded by neighbors to oppose building a new VA on the Midlands site at Brownsboro Rd. but which appeared to redirect its focus to advocate specifically for a downtown location.

In truth, I did not expect that the University would give up on its cherished dream of having another captive group of patients on its doorstep. I congratulate the players on the success of this latest tactical maneuver. Of course I had no right to be surprised, because the organizers told me explicitly last spring at a country club reception held for community physicians that this was how they planned to open an avenue for President James Ramsey to renew the University’s opposition to the Brownsboro location. You can read about that event and the operational strategy it launched in an earlier article. Continue reading “Kentucky Medical Association Endorses Downtown Veterans Hospital Location”