+
The UMC business plan presented yesterday by Verite
+ Times-Picayune piece that
notes, rather tellingly:
"When the University Medical Center governing board committed earlier this summer to hiring two consulting firms to craft a new business plan for a Charity Hospital successor, Gov. Bobby Jindal hailed the move and encouraged the board not to chain itself to the model long sought by the Louisiana State University System. UMC Board Chairman Bobby Yarborough, a Jindal appointee, said "all options" would be on the table.
When Verite Healthcare Consulting, aided by Kaufman, Hall & Associates,presents its recommendations today at a 1 p.m. meeting of the UMC board, analysts will advocate a facility of essentially the same size and scope as has been on the table for several years."
+
Not everyone bought it:
Janet Hayes of New Orleans accused the board of adopting a "damn-the-consequences attitude."
"This meeting is rigged and predetermined," said Brad Ott, of the Save Charity Hospital organization.
+ No really,
not everyone bought what the UMC Board was selling:
"A business plan that has more holes than a slice of Swiss cheese and if you're willing to face the public and face the pages of history go on and approve this plan,” said Resident Jacques Morial who has questioned the project for years.
In the end the board approved the new business plan, even as opponents maintain Charity Hospital can be renovated of its Katrina damage.
...
"It's absolutely criminal. It could have been faster, cheaper,” stated Stokes.
