The Brooklyn Paper reports that Long Island College Hopspital “is selling a chunk of its real-estate portfolio to stave off its ongoing financial meltdown, reviving the controversy that nearly tore the hospital apart in 2008.”
Critics say that the hospital’s management company, Continuum Health Partners, is breaking a recent promise that no more property would be sold. They characterized the bid to vend multiple brownstone houses, apartment buildings and an undeveloped lot around the core campus in Cobble Hill as a get-rich-quick scheme before an expected rupture between the hospital and Continuum.
“They’re trying to get while the getting’s good,” said Tom Sorra, a doctor and outspoken opponent of Continuum’s control of LICH since the two joined in 1998.
“This is despite assurances that there would be absolutely no more real-estate sales.”
A hospital spokeswoman countered that the properties, previously used as residences and office space, are not vital for the medical services offered at Long Island College Hospital and should be sold to negate the burden of debt obligations and yawning budget deficits, which ran close to $40 million in 2008.
what I don’t understand is why anybody wants this place open. I’ve been there twice and had the worst care ever. in fact once when I had to sign out of the ER–the paperwork had a woman’s name on it–I didn’t care I wanted out.
If I need a hospital I’ll go to Manhattan -LICH is the pits–close it or bring in a better one