Comments on: Guest Column: Closing Singer: The fine line between public care and private hospital revenues

By: Will Rose

Will Rose — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 03:27:35 +0000

I appreciate all the comments on the article. I hope I can work on further articles to hold accountability within our government system and corporate structures that utilize taxpayer money for profit. Government should not be in the business of making profits for well off companies or lining the pockets of aristocracy while the middle class suffer loss in wages, jobs, and stability. No way, not while I am around.

By: Susan

Susan — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 14:48:34 +0000

Thank you Bill! One of the best written editorials on this situation. Directly on point and realistic as to the situation at hand. Agree wholeheartedly. Thank you again.

By: TheBackpacker

TheBackpacker — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 03:31:51 +0000

Thanks for your interest Mr Rose. I believe you have some very valid reasons for concern. Rosecrance Health Network has been leading the lobby effort to privatize mental health services in our area. They are also expanding in Chicago and McHenry County. They are a non-profit on paper but run like a corporate machine. Their CEO earned $441,726 in compensation in 2009 according to their IRS 990. All of their top management earn well over 100k per year. This comes from donations, but mostly from taxpayer money. I bet they are not paying their therapists, nurses, and technicians that well. This was never about patient care, only about getting those State contracts. The State is also breaking up a union to do this which provided good middle class wages for the people who actually did the work. And let me say that working in a prison or inpatient psychiatric unit or with disabled people is not easy work. All this privatization does is line the pockets of a few and further reduce the middle class. A trend that has been sweeping the country. Singer will close and people in psychiatric crisis without health insurance better learn to pull themselves up by the boot straps because after 6 days of treatment thats it. The jails and homeless shelters better be ready. The most important thing about the State providing mental health care was that it didn’t discriminate if you are rich or poor or if your condition is chronic or it is the first time you ever needed help. Everyone has a breaking point and with economy as bad as it is it could be you that gives up hope after you lose your job, then your house, then your family. People who are in their first mental health crisis, like when a person first develops schizophrenia or bipolar are most at risk to be under-treated in this new system of care. These people will have access to 6 days of hospitalization. Then what???? Out the door and on the street or transferred several hours away from family and friends. Also, the time line the State is trying to do this in is absurd. You cannot hire recent college graduates, provide a couple of weeks of training, and expect them to do what a staff with years of experience and training are doing. There are also rigorous accreditation standards that appear are being waived to help this move along more quickly. This will be a disaster for the already fragile mental health system.

By: taxpayer2

taxpayer2 — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 00:12:01 +0000

Nicely stated. The system is now set up to fail the neediest citizens.

By: Susan

Susan — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 22:29:44 +0000

Good article. It is how we treat the poorest and most defenseless in our society that we will be ultimately judged.

By: Makleen

Makleen — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 12:56:15 +0000

Great article, Bill! There’s no hope for this state if Governor Quinn gets re-elected after everything he has done. Worst governor in my lifetime, and that includes the ones we’ve thrown in jail.