Complaining about LICH

By on August 15, 2008 4:45 pm in Brooklyn Heights, News

Recent trends in government and politics suggests that more decisions are being rendered on a local basis as a result of grassroots involvement. Last week Brooklyn Heights began digesting the announcement that LICH will be closing the OB/GYN department and selling a number of their buildings. As a disability rights attorney and activist, perhaps I am more familiar with the squeaky wheel phenomena. In a recent BHB comment I encouraged people to demand accountability. It is time for the residents of Brooklyn Heights and the surrounding areas to squeak up!

Not very buried in the Continuum Health Partners/LICH website itself is an invitation for people to contact the entity that accredits hospitals with any concerns. The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations (JCAHO) at some point will be conducting an unannounced visit to the hospital. Concerned citizens can contact the JCAHO via mail, telephone or e-mail to schedule an appointment. Are the readers of BHB ready to act?

Share this Story:
  • http://BrooklynHeightsBlog Karl

    OT

    I can’t believe the trailers that have been erected in the PS8 school yard. Ugly is putting it nicely. Homer, you got to get a picture of how ugly it looks. Looks like a trailer park next to those beautiful wooden structures next to them and up the block.

    It doesn’t get any worse. A trailer park in Brooklyn Heights.

  • anon

    TK,

    What happens to the “wonderful” LICH parks on Clinton Street below Atlantic Avenue (created in exchange for land to create the parking garage) if LICH closes? Do they close too? Is that land still sellable by LICH to create an even bigger windfall? Does LICH keep the land, and the parking garage, and is able to sell it to the highest bidder if LICH closes?

  • T.K. Small

    Anon,

    Good question. This is another category of neighborhood issues that need to be sorted out. Monday I will try to get some answers and report back to the folks.

    Incidentally I thought that the park you referenced was on the corner of Henry & Pacific. The park located at the corner of Clinton & Congress is a New York City park I believe.

  • T.K. Small

    According to the NYC Department of Parks, LICH does not own the park area closest to the garage. This area is called Van Voorhees Park and includes the basketball, handball & city area south of the parking garage

  • Andrew Porter

    In December 2006 I saw a doctor in one of the buildings at LICH now to be sold, and saw a giant water stain down the wall. I was not impressed with the quality of that building, and decided to get a second opinion elsewhere. Was very favorably impressed with the facilities and abilities at another NYC hospital, and had my operation elsewhere. I’m glad I did now.

    On the other hand, having availed myself of the LICH ER on several occasions, once you get beyond the rather squalid waiting room, the quality of care and cleanliness of the facilities inside were outstanding. Losing a major hospital that one can walk to from the Heights would be a great loss for the neighborhood.

  • bornhere

    Andrew- Maybe the physical plant and HCPs have undergone some miraculous transformation since last September; all I know is that, one year ago, when a family member embarked on a sad journey that began in the ER and progressed to different floors within LICH (thus providing me with experiences in several LICH settings), the dirt, lack of security, and across-the-board horrible care were stunning. My feeling is that Continuum should shut it down, and that feeling doesn’t sit well with me, because then where does one from BH go in a real emergency — but maybe taking one’s chances with a trip to Methodist or across the Bridge to Beekman (ow whatever it’s called) or BI might be the safest choice.

  • T.K. Small

    Anon,

    An update to your earlier question: the park that you described as “wonderful” is I believe, Cobble Hill Park which is part of the NYC Department of Parks. Regardless what happens to the hospital the park will remain! There is an interesting description of the history of that particular park on the Department of Parks website.

    Andrew & bornhere: Will you be contacting JCAHO with your experiences? They sound like the type of thing that an accrediting entity should hear.

  • bornhere

    TK- What I did do was go to the Commission Web site and, after much searching, find the area in which to communicate concerns about care afforded by a Joint Commission-accredited institution. It is a very user-friendly, precise questionnaire that also allows for a detailed summary of the issues/concerns/complaints. (And, TK, I thank you for suggesting doing more than just bitching about something this important.) I also went to the LICH Web site, but I’m not sure the invitation to “chat” is open to consumers; I may be wrong, but it seems to read as an appointment forum for healthcare workers in the particular facility. Whatever, my concerns have now been shared with those who might be in a position to do more than commiserate/disagree. (Thanks, again, TK.)

  • anon

    TK,
    The parks I am referring to are NOT Cobble Hill Park or Van Voorhees Park.

    There are two OTHER parks on Clinton Streets that are LICH Parks, which were created when LICH sought NYC park land for its parking garage. The LICH parks are on Clinton Street between Amity and Pacific Streets on the western side of the street. The Gowanus Lounge had some recent postings about problems with the LICH Parks, which had recently been in disrepair.
    http://www.gowanuslounge.com/2008/06/30/cruddy-cobble-hill-lich-playground-continued-part-i/
    http://www.gowanuslounge.com/2008/08/06/lich-making-repairs-to-its-cruddy-cobble-hill-playground/

    http://www.gowanuslounge.com/2008/06/26/filth-at-the-lich-playground-in-cobble-hill/

    As part of the creation of the parks, NYC gave up actual park land, while LICH got to keep ownership of the land under the LICH parks. It remains LICH property, which could conceivably be sold by Continuum if it sells LICH. LICH would then get the benefit of the bargain by selling the parking garage and the LICH parkland. What a deal courtesy of Howard Golden, former Brooklyn Boro President.

    A NYTimes article from about 92 or 93 explains the process. This is not the article, but gives a flavor for your searching: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CEFDA1131F93BA3575BC0A965958260&scp=4&sq=lich%20playground&st=cse

    Anonymously Yours,

    Anon

  • anon

    Can someone please let TK or the original poster know there is another comment on this blog post?

  • T.K. Small

    Hello Anon et al,

    Thank you for your perseverance in bringing this information to my attention. Since Tuesday, when your message was posted, I’ve been quite busy and then took a few days away in the Catskills. What is particularly helpful in the links that you have provided is the approximate time that the parks department made the deal with LICH.

  • nickL

    Hey anon,
    the parks you refer to are on henry st, not clinton

  • anon

    nickL-You’re correct. I meant Henry St. My bad.