Another troubling article in today's Washington Post

In the article "Howard U. Reaffirms Pledge to Build Hospital in SE," Howard University, like the Mayor's Office, says "damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead" even though many important questions are being raised about whether or not this hospital is a good idea or is needed.

Here's a troubling statement in the article: (emphasis added): "After two years of planning, negotiating and controversy, Howard University trustees have recommitted to their partnership with the city to build a $400 million hospital complex intended to fill gaps in acute and emergency care on the District's eastern side."

But no comprehensive health plan looking at gaps in acute and emergency care in the eastern quadrants of the city, let alone the whole city, has been conducted.

Then why should we rush pell mell into a $400 million construction project plus a commitment of maybe $200 million/year to run a hospital?

The quote is interesting also because now Howard U. and the Mayor's Office are focusing on "gaps in acute and emergency care" in response to pointed criticism that a hospital isn't necessarily the best way to address the most acute and public health needs (as opposed to hospital care) in the eastern quadrants.

This has been discussed in the blog before, as well as in DC Watch, through a number of entries by Dr. Eric Rosenthal.

This is but another example of how we aren't really doing any "comprehensive" planning in the city at all.