Ven-Mar Neighborhood Association

More about the Daniel Freeman Marina Hospial decision (4-8-03).

Community spokesperson Julie Inouye questions sincerity of Tenet

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Julie Inouye (310)306.1487

Save Our Marina Hospital Coalition and We CAHRE Claim Victory –
Daniel Freeman Marina Hospital to Continue Operating

Tenet Healthcare Commitment to the Community Remains Doubtful
April 8, 2003 (MARINA DEL REY, CA) Save Our Marina Hospital Coalition (SOMH) and Community Action for Healthcare Reform and Education (We CAHRE), claim victory for keeping the Daniel Freeman Marina Hospital open, but aren’t sure that Tenet will keep it operating indefinitely.
“With only a $4 million investment in the Daniel Freeman Marina Hospital, it shows that Tenet is not really committed to staying in our community,” states Julie Inouye, spokesperson for SOMH. “ It's not credible that a sudden change of heart has taken place and Tenet now sings a tune completely opposite of what they touted for one year. In fact, in their April 8 Press Release stated that ‘Tenet needs to continue meeting the healthcare needs of the area's growing and diverse population,’” added Inouye.
“What this year has given us is an opportunity to really research who Tenet is. The entire nation saw up close in the media about Tenet's aggressive Medicare outlier charges, unnecessary heart surgeries, illegal compensation schemes and other questionable business behavior,” said Inouye.
Gerard Duiker, former CFO of several hospitals in Southern California and New York City and Board member of We CAHRE, states, "We CAHRE reviewed publicly available information about the Marina Hospital, and determined early on that the Marina Hospital is financially viable. Tenet finally came to the same conclusion.”
Few physicians, medical staff and hospital employees trust Tenet at this point and they are not a good fit for the community. Tenet, the second largest hospital owner in the nation had an incredible window of opportunity to turn the hospital around when political pressure forced the Attorney General to sue them (People of The State of CA vs. Tenet Healthsystems). Instead, Tenet chose to continue their spin that the facility was losing money and that this community’s demographics didn’t support having a
local hospital. Tenet, who intended to make an immediate, huge profit by selling the property for its land value, never planned to stay in the Marina. As a result, their credibility with the community is damaged, just as it is nationally.
Liston Witherill, former Director of LA County Health Department and Board member of We CAHRE agrees, "If Tenet really wants to have the best interest of the community and the hospital physicians, nurses and employees, and to change their image, then we welcome them to come to the table and urge them to donate this hospital and the property to We CAHRE."
"We are only looking out for the community’s best interest,” said Inouye. “We know we can manage this hospital as a successful non-profit corporation, while improving its services to the community. We are working with elected officials to accomplish these goals. We have been in contact with other westside hospitals that are interested in We CAHRE’s business plan as well. We CAHRE invites Tenet to begin dialogue.”
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