As jury selection gets underway for the corruption trial of political fundraiser Tony Rezko, people in Naperville are left to wonder what role will Edward Hospital play in the proceedings.
The Naperville-based hospital, you'll recall, has repeatedly been denied permission to build a hospital in Plainfield. Edward sued, saying the denial was because Edward refused to bow to pressure from corrupt operatives, some of whom have since been indicted. Edward CEO Pam Davis cooperated in the corruption investigation, even wore a wire to gather evidence. It remains unclear whether that evidence will be needed or used by prosecutors in the Rezko trial.
Stuart Levine in the former Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board member who is cooperating with prosecutors in their case against Rezko. Another indicted individual, former investment banker P. Nicholas Hurtgen, allegedly told Pam Davis that Gov. Rod Blagojevich (then known as Public Official A) wanted hospital projects steered to a preferred contractor, the also-indicted construction magnate Jacob Kiferbaum.
The trail of indictments, the allegations by prosecutors that the defendants engaged in "pay to play on steroids," and Edward's own situation all seem to indicate that the Naperville hospital would be a key example of the type of corruption that prosecutors hope to prove. One version could depict Pam Davis as a heroic whistleblower, a key player who exposed powerful political operatives. Then again, the role of Davis and Edward may end up being greatly diminished during Rezko's trial.
The question is whether Edward is still paying the price for its cooperation in the investigation. Edward Plainfield Hospital, after all, is yet again recommended for denial by Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board staff that includes David Carvalho, deputy director of the Illinois Department of Public Health and Jeffrey S. Mark, executive Secretary of the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Blagojevich may have replaced the entire Health Facilities Planning Board, but those staffers were on board when Davis blew the whistle on corruption, and they still play an important role in determining the fate of Edward Plainfield Hospital.
Everyone wants to believe that their community has great hospitals and schools. Both hospitals and schools tend to be a source of community pride. The problem with pride is that it is often blind and subjective. Most people have a lot of trouble separating fact from fiction when they are emotionally involved or connected.
The truth is that we hear a lot about Edward Hospital because we live or work or live and work in the Naperville area. Once we leave the Naperville area Edward Hospital fades rapidly in awareness and reputation. Edward Hospital is a destination for local residents not for a portion of even the metropolitan region. Is it a good community hospital? Absolutely. Is it on par with other community hospitals throughout Chicago, Illinois, the Midwest, or the nation. Absolutely. If you have a life threatening illness or disease and if you have the ability to choose treatment anywhere in the US will Edward Hospital be your destination of choice hospital? Probably not.
Despite all the well intended efforts of it's Marketing and Public Relations Departments the truth is that Edward Hospital is very much a very average hospital. We should all be glad it is nearby and confident of it's ability to treat us when we are ill. At the same time we should also recognize that it is not the University of Chicago, Northwestern, or Loyola either.
Regulators in every state across the country have struggled to find ways to keep all of these very average community hospitals open and profitable. We all know healthcare is not cheap. Doctors earn excellent salaries. Medical equipment and hospital buildings are very expensive. Some extremely expensive and not well utilized. Gone unchecked the hospitals all compete with each other and suffer terribly from "Keep up with the Jones's syndrome". One hospital gets a CAT scan, they all want one to compete. Another gets an MRI and they all want one to compete. One hospital develops a specialty as a "Heart Hospital" and they all want to be know as a heart hospital. It leads to duplication, waste, underutilization, and drives up the cost to consumers. Regulators do try to fairly find ways to minimize such problems without neglecting healthcare needs or stifling competition. It is not an easy task.
Personally I have no love or tolerance for any kind of corrupt politicians. Throw them all in jail for all I care. Maybe, just maybe other people will wake up and stop voting these kinds of people into office.
At the same time I have no love or tolerance for the type of waste and mismanagement that permeates Edward Hospital. No kind of a master plan. One impulsive idea after another resulted in building after building, year after year for god knows how long now. The resulting hulking, bulky building is one mess of afterthoughts after another and not exactly pretty to look at. Trying to find your way in and through it is less than easy. I'd recommend everyone give getting to the emergency room a dry run before their next heart attack... assuming they don't move it yet again.
Although I do profess to be in excellent health I do seem to need to enter Edward Hospital on a more frequent basis than even I find comfortable to visit relatives, friends, and neighbors. The one thing that I do not understand at all is that every time I am in the building I see large groups of employees standing around doing nothing but talking. I'm not talking isolated incidents or about a few minutes here or there, I'm talking about talking for really long periods of time and since I couldn't help but overhear them on many occasions it was also pretty clear that they were not discussing hospital business. Seems on one hand somebody hired way too many people who have nothing meaningful to do... at least on a full time basis and on the other hand it seems that whoever is supposed to be managing these people are not terribly effective at their jobs... of course they probably hired these people they didn't need in the first place and... well I'm sure you know where this is going.
If Edward Hospital is against waste and corruption in government that is not necessarily a bad thing. I just believe people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
Another DuPage connection to Rezko is that according to the Chicago Sun-Times on September 23, 1007, our county board chairman, Robert Schillerstrom, was a recipient of campaign contributions from Rezko.
How many governors (and other politicians) have to go to jail before "we the people" stand up and demand campaign finance reform? This isn't "fixing" a few parking tickets or a "wink & nod" bench trial on a DUI case for some connected relative....this corruption is costing us tax payers billions.
When I travel to other states or countries, I'm embarrassed to admit I'm from Chicago. People overseas still think Al Capone's relatives run this town. Like many other countries have done, make "lobbying" a felony and reform the rules on campaign donations. Under the current system, you don't have a shot without "slated" money.
I was a volunteer at Edward Hospital and quit as did others due to what we saw as questionable practices. Money intended for a program under the Edward Foundation appeared to be used to promote Edward's agenda to build another hospital. The person running this volunteer program was also being paid a salary and her husband was a high ranking doctor at the hospital.
If Edward hospital itself is part of the money monkey business, it would not surprise me.
I the Media is a disgrace the way the are attaching Hillary Clinton, for just being a woman....I hope you ladies wake up.
Firt they say she was pimping out her daughter by involving her in politics, the girl is an adult now, she can make here own choices and does.
Then they attach her for being in the White House when Bill was unfaithful, where else should she be but at home?????
She has quite a few years experience as First Lady,
She has been a Senator and she still is, she knows more about the healthcare problems, she would end war within 60 days of her going to office. She would save medicare, and have solutions to strenthen our economy. She is totally sincere and willing to take on the most important job in our country....she will do well, give her a chance guys----back off.
I truly believe that the Media is totally bias against her just because she is a woman. I am 64
and I have seen a lot of politicians come and go, I truly think she would make a great president.
Obama, he is unexperienced and a smooth talker. I dont know about you but this is no "Talent Show" this is the real thing and you better know what your doing.
Also they made Hillary show her books, now we want to see OBAMAS books, his dealings with Rezco, and the Preacher....we do not know enough about him, we cannot elect someone just because he comes off as a nice guy. We want Facts, Hillary has to show FACTS, now we want OBAMA facts and McCains....
Thanks for letting me vent. The Media needs to clean up its ACT...They have over stepped their bounderies and owe Hillary and Chelse a BIG APPOLOGY...a PUBLIC APPOLOGY.