Spring Break
Hospital a great idea for future, but not now
Megan Lynch
Issue date: 3/18/09 Section: Commentary
Gov. M. Jodi Rell recently denied UConn President Michael Hogan's proposal for a new UConn hospital. A $45 million state funded hospital - $45 million that the state obviously does not have. It is a good thing that Rell denied the hospital because, at this time, it is extremely irresponsible to place a $45 million burden on taxpayers - and that sum only comprises its initial construction costs.
Hogan's plans for the new hospital are in response to the failing Health Center in Farmington, which receives millions from the state to cover its yearly deficits. The new "university hospital" would create a partnership with Farmington and Hartford campuses, placing the financial burden on both Hartford Hospital and taxpayers.
The concept of a bigger, newer UConn hospital is indeed a great idea. It would bring more medical students and more prestige to the Health Center and the university as a whole. However, the timing of Hogan's proposal makes it impossible. There are so many other places where those millions of dollars should be going - filling the state's budget gap, helping our tuition and keeping our existing campuses running as normally as possible.
The other hospitals in the area might also lose patients. By luring patients away from nearby Bristol Hospital and St. Francis Hospital, a UConn hospital would hurt others financially. While Hogan has been arguing about how many jobs a hospital would bring and how much revenue it would generate, he should really be focusing on saving the existing jobs that UConn employees are losing. Likewise, if the state actually had the money to save everyone's job, I hope they would focus on that priority before the hospital anyway.
What I don't understand is why people act as though there is no limit to the state or federal budget. If states and businesses had actually put this thought into practice years ago, this crisis could have been avoided. But instead, governments are billions of dollars in debt because of irresponsible spending. From a normal person's view, with all the talk of stimulus and increased spending, I have no idea where the money is supposed to come from. Yes, I know some of this burden will be placed on the younger generations someday, but how are we supposed to spend, spend, spend when we have no money in the first place? Spending alone will not fix everything. It will keep businesses running, which is important, of course, but while AIG is getting million dollar bonuses, families are homeless and starving. I believe that it is extremely important to know just what we are pumping our money into.
Hogan's plans for the new hospital are in response to the failing Health Center in Farmington, which receives millions from the state to cover its yearly deficits. The new "university hospital" would create a partnership with Farmington and Hartford campuses, placing the financial burden on both Hartford Hospital and taxpayers.
The concept of a bigger, newer UConn hospital is indeed a great idea. It would bring more medical students and more prestige to the Health Center and the university as a whole. However, the timing of Hogan's proposal makes it impossible. There are so many other places where those millions of dollars should be going - filling the state's budget gap, helping our tuition and keeping our existing campuses running as normally as possible.
The other hospitals in the area might also lose patients. By luring patients away from nearby Bristol Hospital and St. Francis Hospital, a UConn hospital would hurt others financially. While Hogan has been arguing about how many jobs a hospital would bring and how much revenue it would generate, he should really be focusing on saving the existing jobs that UConn employees are losing. Likewise, if the state actually had the money to save everyone's job, I hope they would focus on that priority before the hospital anyway.
What I don't understand is why people act as though there is no limit to the state or federal budget. If states and businesses had actually put this thought into practice years ago, this crisis could have been avoided. But instead, governments are billions of dollars in debt because of irresponsible spending. From a normal person's view, with all the talk of stimulus and increased spending, I have no idea where the money is supposed to come from. Yes, I know some of this burden will be placed on the younger generations someday, but how are we supposed to spend, spend, spend when we have no money in the first place? Spending alone will not fix everything. It will keep businesses running, which is important, of course, but while AIG is getting million dollar bonuses, families are homeless and starving. I believe that it is extremely important to know just what we are pumping our money into.
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Dr. Dave
posted 3/19/09 @ 8:15 AM EST
Here goes the Daily Crappus again...
Megan, why don't you check your facts, instead of relying on second-hand info? Exactly who did you speak to in doing your research? Let's have some disclosure. (Continued…)
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