Thu, 27 Jan 2005 10:24:57 -0800 (PST)Subject:Re: [Root_Cause_State_of_the_Practice] Train Wreck: What can rooticians learn from this one?
For decades, transit officials have been aware that the system was obsolete, but updating it - both logistically and financially - has been seen as impractical.”
222 http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/26/nyregion/26subway.html?pagewanted=print&position=www
If you think this is a republican issue or President Bush with the disabled you are wrong. Most of the managers and the "hands on" people with the disabled are hard nosed liberals. What I find most amazing, is how the good people can turn any ideology into a destructive tool of self interest.
You should see the distorted liberal rationales they use as tools to hide what is going on in the name of human rights and dignity. Almost without any controls they can accuse any employee with a human right violation in an attempt to hide the greater abuse that is going on. It is a concentration of unconscionable power bar no other industry, because it is perceived and structured as they are doing it in the interest of the weak and powerless. They are abusing power in this manner for the sole interest of selfish self interest. It’s the old iceberg.
We see it in the Clinton(president) and Dean (VTgovernor) where they created policies of economic governmental efficiencies in the name of votes–cut backs to the least of us- and they slit the throats of many helpless people in the name of a smaller government philosophy –i.e. it’s clearly what the public wants and demands of the democratic politicians. You see that’s the dirty little shame and secrete of our whole nation –is the majority of us are systematically abusing the least of us. That’s why it’s so intractable. Didn’t the governmental cutbacks in the Clinton administration lead to the NASA Columbia tragedy? Didn’t that destroy the NASA safety culture really? So what do we really think about the Vermont state mental hospital meltdown?
You see it’s us…us…us… –who is committing crimesagainst ourselves-most especially our liberals.
We’ve seen many so called liberals democratic governors, who have with malice have cut costs of the human services in a bid to get reelected even as they intentionally reduced transparency to themselves of the wreckage of lives all around them -and to the public. What we get is these perpetual seasonal political reorganization of the human service agencies– they spends tons of money on experts, reorganization experts and credit card dinner and drinks, thus the elites gets a bonus out of the horrors, everyone gets destabilized by the repeated changes of the organization -but it creates the illusion that the political class is acting on the horrors of the system.
Folks it’s political class protection and nothing elsehere –and the democrats are up to their necks withthis knowingly disgrace…
We are watching very closely the recent subway fire in Manhattan subways –the A and C lines. It’s amazing the interactions with the “undesirables”( homeless and disabled) potentially setting the fires –and disrupting 600,000 people’s lives for months and years–antiquated and 1930’s engineering of the wiring ofthe subway –not being able to find the money for the system upgrades – and the status of our mega city infrastructures as seen in this. It’s a world wide problem.
We sit there looking at these sparkling cities from a distant -but we wonder what is really going on in the belly of the beast.
Isn't that the symbol of our times on the big picture?
Thanks,
mike
State hospital loses fundingFebruary 2, 2005
By Darren M. Allen Vermont Press Bureau
MONTPELIER — Two months after restoring millions of dollars in funding for the Vermont State Hospital, the federal government yanked it all away again, Gov. James Douglas announced Tuesday.222
Prompted by the disappearance of two patients from the Waterbury hospital last week, the federal Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services late Monday decided to decertify the trou2led 113-year-old inpatient psychiatric facility, citing safety concerns.2222
The decertification means the state will lose nearly $3.1 million in the current and following budget years, and, in all likelihood, will hasten the facility's closure.222
"This situation is entirely unacceptable," Douglas said. "The problems are so severe and so systemic, that nothing short of total reform will be acceptable."222
To that end, the governor said he wanted to accelerate the closure of the hospital, a move contemplated to occur no sooner than 2009 under current administration timetables. Both Douglas and Agency of Human Services Secretary Charles Smith declined to specify how quickly the closure can occur.22
"We are going to accelerate even faster plans to close the state hospital," Smith said. "We obviously will take a very hard look at those timetables."222
The decertification comes 60 days after the hospital regained certification after having lost it for 14 months. The federal government first took away the hospital's Medicare and Medicaid funding amid two patient suicides and findings of inadequate care. That move cost Vermont about $5 million.222
The decertification also comes at a time when the state budget can least afford another multi-million dollar hit, legislative and administration officials said. The current year's budget adjustment act — scheduled for debate on the House floor in a day or two — will be affected, as will next year's full budget.222
"It doesn't seem like there is any option but to find the money and work through this," said Speaker of the House Gaye Symington, D-Jericho. "The last thing we needed was another $1.5 million hit to the budget."222
Douglas was said to have been livid late Monday night when he received word of the pending decertification, particularly since he believed that the management and care changes made over the fall were "a step in the right direction," according to Administration Secretary Michael Smith.2222
Douglas said, "For many months, I thought we were making great progress and were moving in the right direction. The hospital has failed to create a culture of safety."2222
The two disappearances last week were reported to the federal government by the Vermont Division of Licensing and Protection. In one instance, a patient with permission to be outdoors left the hospital grounds Thursday, but was later returned.2222
A day earlier, Mary Ellen Gottlieb, 46, was taken by two attendants to Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington for a medical appointment. One of the attendants left to check on the car, and, when Gottlieb asked the other to get her a drink of water, she fled, according to the Vermont State Police.222
She was still at large Tuesday night, and was "considered to be a danger to herself and others," the police said.222
Legislative leaders and mental health advocates said they were generally pleased that the governor wants to accelerate the hospital's closing, but they were concerned with the current roster of nearly 50 patients.
"At last we have the motivation to move expeditiously towards closing," said Sen. James Leddy, D-Burlington. He has long advocated closing the troubled hospital and finding better treatment options for its patients.2222
He suggested that the state should seriously consider sending some patients to empty psychiatric beds in New Hampshire hospitals.2222
Rep. Anne Donahue, R-Northfield, also expressed concern for the safety of the patients. She said they were subject to the equivalent of a lock-down in the wake of the disappearances last week.222
"No one could leave, and while this was not a punishment, that is the net effect to the patients," the longtime mental health advocate said.2222
She noted that the administration has been talking about closing the hospital for at least two years. Until now, she questioned Douglas' resolve.222
"I'm very much hopeful this will turn that around and provide the emphasis and impetus that was lacking," she said.222
Douglas' resolve appeared more sturdy Tuesday.222
"I find this entire situation completely unacceptable," the governor said. "This lack of rigorous attention to detail — this failure to meet its most fundamental obligations — is, I believe, indicative of pervasive systemic flaws that must be and will be addressed as expeditiously as possible."222
His administration secretary reiterated that "all options are on the table."222
Ed Paquin, executive director of Vermont Protection and Advocacy, said the decertification "has made a political decision for the administration. Clearly they have a huge challenge, but one thing has been decided for them: they have to address this quickly."222
Symington said that while she commended the governor for taking quick action, the fate of the patients must not be ignored in crafting a solution.222
"You can't just wish away this population of 54 patients," she said. "We can't just come in today and close the door. These patients have nowhere to go tomorrow."222
Vermont Press Bureau reporter John Zicconi contributed to this report.2222Contact Darren Allen at darren.allen@rutlandherald.com.
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