Louisville’s Messiest Divorce Ever.
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?”