SAVING LICH: Doctors raising money to fight hospital closing
Doctors from embattled Long Island College Hospital are raising funds to head off the proposed closure of the Cobble Hill medical center.
A group of seven physicians met Wednesday night and committed to “fight this proposed closure with all of its efforts,” in conjunction with the LICH nurses, other LICH employees, community leaders and local elected officials, a source told the Brooklyn Daily Eagle.
A tumultuous hearing about the hospital closing took place Thursday before the SUNY board of trustees.
The seven LICH doctors have re-formed “Concerned Physicians for LICH,” which is already collecting money to hire lawyers and a public relations firm. The group was originally formed when LICH’s previous owner, Continuum Health Partners, attempted to close LICH’s Ob-Gyn and Pediatrics services and sell off its buildings.
In 2009, this group warned that the deal to give LICH to SUNY was “being railroaded through by the same group that has been responsible for all of LICH’s current problems without input from the critical stakeholders — the medical staff, the non-clinical staff, and the local community that LICH serves.”
LICH supporters are scheduled to march from LICH to Brooklyn Borough Hall Friday morning, which a public hearing is planned for 10:30 a.m. to discuss the ongoing Brooklyn health care crisis. Residents and advocates will be testifying to the Assembly Standing Committee on Health “regarding the detrimental effects that proposed hospital mergers and closures would have” on Brooklyn.
Meanwhile, in Manhattan, a SUNY press conference is scheduled for 9:30 a.m., where an announcement about the hospital’s closing is expected.
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