Dr. Smith and Rosenbaum make the claim that no “credible” bidder will offer a full­ service hospital.  How would they know that if the latest rounds of bidders have not been made public? And had they sat in with the community groups that have engaged that the latest round of bidders, I don t think they would have made that statement.

The aforementioned community and health-affiliated groups had the opportunity to listen to several of the bidders’ presentations to purchase LICH. And I was most impressed with Brooklyn Health Partners’ (BHP) plan to offer a 21st century full­ service hospital, with up to 400 beds at the core of a revitalized campus, in what they are calling the Brooklyn Medical District. Their proposed operator is Quorum Health Resources, one of the largest and most successful hospital management firms in the country. Moreover, BHP’s CEO has extensive background in developing medical facilities and comes from a background in healthcare.

Some of us actually agree with Doctors Smith and Rosenbaum’s suggestion that the successful bidder should not just be ready to fill LICH’s footprint, but offer “new, innovative solutions to expand services to Brooklyn populations that are historically underserved, like Red Hook.” While I do not pretend to be an expert in health care delivery systems, common sense does tell me that a new 21st century hospital in LICH’s present location, managed by a world class operator, would certainly attract doctors who would want access to Brooklyn’s patient base. And I would find it hard to believe that tens of thousands of Brooklynites would continue to drive pass a first-class facility on their way to Manhattan.

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