Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Mismanagement breeds mismanagement

In case you haven't read today's Youngstown Vindicator, Forum Health has backed out of a deal to merge its pediatric services (the most comprehensive in the Valley) with those of Humility of Mary Health Partners and Akron Children's Hospital. The deal would have preserved the pediatric services of Tod's Children Hospital while the rest of Forum circled the drain. Unfortunately, it was not to be. According to Dr. Elana Rossi of St. Elizabeth's, "The breakdown was not on our end." Forum's management seemed unable to deliver their portion of the plan, just as they have in the past two years of trying to restructure the hospital and provide a stable platform to deliver medical services to the community.

Of course, Forum will be closed within the year. The silver lining to all of this is that HMHP and Akron Children's end of the deal will continue, with expanded services at St. Elizabeth's and at the new hospital in Boardman.

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