[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 30 (Thursday, March 8, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E321]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    IN HONOR OF THE SUCCESS OF ST. MICHAEL AND UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 8, 2001

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to rise in 
congratulations to the success of St. Michael Hospital in maintaining 
the tradition of high quality, community health care.
  Last year, the life of St. Michael Hospital, a full service community 
hospital, was threatened by a buyer who sought to close it. Without 
notice, patients were told to find other physicians, wards were closed, 
ambulance service was stopped and units were shut down. Once the 
community learned of the pending closure, they sprang into action to 
save St. Michael. A massive effort began. Neighborhood residents spoke 
out, the City Council supported, doctors and nurses worked tirelessly 
and my office filed an amicus brief to prevent the closure, supported 
by hundreds of constituents.
  Today, St. Michael Hospital is not only in stable condition, but 
growing its services and expanding its facility. Not even a year after 
it stood at the brink of closure, it is now in the middle of plans to 
increase the size of the emergency room by 50 percent. Construction 
will begin in a few months to allow the hospital to create more 
treatment areas for trauma patients. Later this month, two renovation 
projects are slated to begin. A new inpatient gero-psychiatric ward was 
opened last December after renovation was completed on the fourth 
floor. St. Michael has even started a shuttle service for patients 
without transportation.
  For 117 years, St. Michael Hospital (formerly St. Alexis) has done a 
remarkable job of tending to the health of Clevelanders. It has 
provided high quality health care to hundreds of thousands of patients, 
no matter their color, country of origin, age or ability to pay. Over 
20 percent of its patients are unable to afford health care, but they 
are treated at St. Michael.
  Our community has long known the institution's strength of 
compassion, and we are now so lucky to witness its strength of 
determination and resilience. St. Michael has rebounded with new 
medical care programs, an increase in patient volume and an improved 
financial situation. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the 
work of St. Michael Hospital and the University Hospital Health Network 
which came to its rescue. I ask that you join with me in congratulating 
all who have brought St. Michael Hospital back to life.

                          ____________________