Hospital Merger

At a public hearing March 5, Grossmont District Hospital announced plans to merge with Sharp Health Care Group, a private corporation. On a backdrop of annual profits in the millions, the hospital manager pointed to gloomy financial projections to support the merger, while a dozing board nodded oxymoronic approval.

Grossmont District Hospital has the finest complement of primary care physicians and subspecialists assembled anywhere. Sharp Health Care Group is a “designer health-care group,” with designer health-care products, heavy into marketing. We all know the effect that designer concepts and marketing have had on the cost and quality of jeans.

Based on an audience reaction slightly short of outrage, it appeared that the public is aware also of what effect this merger will have on regional health care. The merger is unnecessary and basically a bad idea. Perhaps the hospital managers and board members will take the public’s cue, regroup, and address a real problem in the growing health care crisis--that is, why are the ranks of the uninsured growing steadily? The answer: designer health-care plans, designed to guarantee corporate profits while exploiting health-care risks.

ANTHONY J. CUOMO, M.D., San Diego