Don't Know What If Anything To Make of This

[Annie]

Just saw this flipping through the Tribune:

Chairman of largest doctor's group at U. of C. Medical Center steps down -- chicagotribune.com

Chairman of largest doctor's group at U. of C. Medical Center steps down

By Bruce Japsen

Tribune reporter

7:44 PM CST, February 7, 2009


Amid a major restructuring and an expected announcement as early as next week of several hundred layoffs, the chairman of the largest group of doctors at University of Chicago Medical Center has resigned, according to a document obtained by the Tribune and sources close to the situation....

...The medical center last month confirmed a massive restructuring that will trim $100 million in expenses, or nearly 7 percent of its annual budget, amid the economic downturn and unpaid bills owed the hospital from the state Medicaid program for the poor.

And though the hospital has not disclosed the number of layoffs, they are expected to be massive. Sources close to the situation say they are be between 500 and 1,000. The medical center would not comment Saturday night.

Last month, Madara would say only that the hospital is eliminating 15 senior executive jobs, including vice president for community and external affairs, a position that had held been by First Lady Michelle Obama, a former medical center vice president.

Her duties have been taken over by Dr. Eric Whitaker, a friend of her husband, President Barack Obama, and executive vice president for strategic affiliations and external affairs.

Sources also say there could be changes to the program Obama was once involved in, which includes outreach to the South Side community and relationships with community hospitals, including Holy Cross Hospital and Mercy Hospital and Medical Center, to which less seriously ill patients are referred.

 

[garyd]

The first casualty of government excess is always that which they think the public will yell loudest about.

 

[RetiredGySgt]

They created the position for her, she is gone so they are getting rid of it, pretty simple really. Pretty obvious too.

 

[Annie]

They created the position for her, she is gone so they are getting rid of it, pretty simple really. Pretty obvious too.

It's more than that, they knew months ago about costs problems, yet waited. Could it just possibly have to do with quid pro quo? It's not that one position, U of C hospitals is a major employer on the South Side. How many jobs might be lost, simply because of delay?

 

[garyd]

First off it is public not private.

2nd when the economy shrinks governments at all levels lose revenue.

3rd the last thing the government wants to do is to reduce staff. Damn hard to guild an empire if you don't have any soldiers.

 

[Annie]

First off it is public not private.

2nd when the economy shrinks governments at all levels lose revenue.

3rd the last thing the government wants to do is to reduce staff. Damn hard to guild an empire if you don't have any soldiers.

University of Chicago hospitals are not public, if you mean county/city/state.

 

[garyd]

University of Chicago is a private institution?

 

[Annie]

University of Chicago is a private institution?

Indeed. Just like Northwestern, Loyola, DePaul.