Your front-page article “A Medicare exam for Michael Reese” (Nov. 26) neglects, I believe, to put the blame where it really belongs for the decline of this once-great institution.
Let’s begin with privatization.
Once this hospital was a glittering example of a successful and effective non-profit facility, with marvelous volunteer and financial support from its women’s board, the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago and the Crusade of Mercy, as well as the efforts of individuals.
But “non-profit” became a bad word in the eyes of the greedy. And all the good things ended.
And it was sold. First Humana Health Care bought it, and later it was sold like chattel to the now scandal-ridden Columbia Health Care System. And the volunteers and financial support began to disappear. And for good reason: Why volunteer to help greed?
And the sick and needy have become the real victims, as well as the public whose taxes may now have to pay for investigations–and possibly emergency room care for the indigent.
It is strange that with all the talk of the need for volunteer-ism from our politicians, starting with President George Bush’s “Points of Light” and President Clinton’s present volunteer advocacy, that it has come to this.
And, now, there is all the talk about privatization by our economic budget-cutters. It has ended in this tragedy at Michael Reese.
