BellevueGuy says

I totally disagree.  My dad was a patient with North Coast Cancer and they sent him to the Cleveland Clinic for treatment.  The Doctors and Staff there are amazing.  If it wasn't for the Cleveland Clinic I don't think he would still be with us today in good health. 

Kelly says

Well I have no clue why you directed that comment to me but we've always gotten second opinions for anything major. That's why we eneded up with the best at the Cleveland Clinic.

ObserverCasual says

CLEVELAND CLINIC VS PENN STATE

The allegations in this blog about the corporation of the Cleveland Clinic, CEO Cosgrove, and Jihad Kaouk, mirror the recent allegations about the institution of Penn State, Coach Paterno, and Coach Sandusky.  In both cases, there is an individual in a position of trust devastating the lives of innocent victims.  The emotional and physical injury to victims is reported to those in authority by a witness in the case of Coach Paterno, and by multiple patient complaints to the ombudsman, findings by CMS and the Joint Commission, and by letters citing serious violations to CEO Cosgrove.  In both cases, it appears protecting the reputation of the institution/corporation was more important than preventing harm/injury to more victims.  

CCFDoc1 says

 DGMutley,  you are quite correct.  Getting multiple opinions however does not reveal the devastating negative outcomes of a surgeon who conceals negative outcomes in a system that protects rogue doctors.  In the case of Jihad Kaouk at the Cleveland Clinic, if one attempts to verify his credentials, this information is shielded.  The state medical board will only provide a statement that he possesses a medical license.  Board certification, if it exists, is not on the state medical board site, and must be sought out separately. A disclaimer on the state medical board website states any information placed on the site by doctors is not verified.  Number of procedures, outcomes etc are what the doctor says.   Many of Jihad Kaouk's victims were told that he had performed 2000 prostatectomies when court records later revealed approx 400 at the time.  He claimed to have done 1000 open prostatectomies when court records later revealed he had done 0 since his residency. He claimed positive outcomes of 95-99% and yet all of these victims reported total impotence and incontinence, some left with life threatening injuries. Op reports are “by rote” description of procedures written in third person by a resident reporting "no complications."  Much, if not all, of the surgeries are done by doctors in training in violation of informed consent and without the patients knowledge.  Other complications included  punctured bowel resulting in life threatening injuries and 5 reconstructive surgeries, damage and loss of donor kidney, female donor left barren from injuries, sepsis, kidney failure, ileostomy, immediate onset Peyronies disease, venous leak, heart failure, .  Findings from complaints filed against Jihad Kaouk with the State Medical Board, Centers for Medicare/Medicaid (CMS), Joint Commission, Insurance Companies, etc, are CONFIDENTIAL thanks to legislation pushed by the medical lobby to protect doctors. FOIA obtained CMS findings and letters to CEO Cosgrove cite multiple serious violations by Jihad Kaouk and the Cleveland Clinic. The only way to learn of a doctor’s negative outcomes and histories is to search doctor ratings by patients at sites such as doctorsdig, vitals, ratemds and patient blogs such as kidneytransplantkiller.  In this tort reform state (and others), an affadavit of merit by a physician asserting malpractice and injury is necessary before a complaint can be filed.  Jihad Kaouk has multiple complaints filed against him in Cuyahoga County Court. For anyone undergoing major surgery, search for your doctor on these sites before you undergo surgery.  Doctors and hospitals do not report negative outcomes as noted with CMS findings of six unreported operating room fires and patient’s injuries at the Cleveland Clinic.  ONLY PATIENTS REPORT NEGATIVE OUTCOMES!

DGMutley says

"For those of you that aren't aware,  the Northcoast of the U.S. has the largest cancer rate of anwhere within the U.S., so this doesn't surprise me at all. ..."<Truth or Dare

I think it's the lake water.

------------------------------------------------

To Kelly and knuckledraggerll,

It is always wise to get more than one opinion for any medical problem.  Even three opinions.  Besides differing opinions one doesn't know what ranking a professional had in his graduating class.

btm54rb says

Thanks to the Register for allowing freedom of everyone's opinion on these blogs, unlike the Cleveland Plain Dealer who removes blogs at the request of the Cleveland Clinic. The comments that were put on here by the Cleveland Clinic has proven the point we were trying to make. The uncaring and viscious blogs have shown them to be what they trruly are.The information that was brought forth would only be known by them. The people in this area are not this nasty. If you look to Cleveland, the clinic is censoring the newspaper, the city , the attornys. Is this what you want in your town?  Right now you have freedom of choice in regard to doctors, if they take over for retiring doctors, your choices will be dictated by them.If you really want to know what we are saying read our website www.kidneytransplantkiller.com.  CC has proven my point for me.

btm54rb says

Yes it sounds very familiar., In fact Mr. view of the ocean, It sounds like my awful life story at the Cleveland Clinic. Do you take us for fools. Went to Cleveland in the 70's, had an aneryism, a kdiney transplant.  You are so obvious! I can't believe the stupididly of these lame attenpts to make the horrible injuries of all the people who  I have come in contact with sound like a one time incident that can be dismissed. They have all happened at the CC, and yet you still deny it. What have you got to gain from saying were are lying? As far as it being a wonderful teaching institution, it isn't so wonderful when they let the students operate on people. But I don't have to convince you, the people that I talk to on the streets are listening and staying away, and that is all that matters.

Truth or Dare says

For those of you that aren't aware,  the Northcoast of the U.S. has the largest cancer rate of anwhere within the U.S., so this doesn't surprise me at all.   My brother and our family learned that 10 yrs. ago this winter.   There is a billboard sign on the sw side of 101/Tiffin Ave., right at the railroad underpass, it says something about having "a choice" regarding Rx/medication.....  Good Samaritan Hospital, where myself and 6 siblings were  born, became Firelands,  then merged Memorial, then Providence.   We have 1, that's 1  hospital within Erie County. right?   How many jobs do ya suppose that affected, and in many ways still does.    

 Why not  other options when it comes to healthcare?   Especially a facility that is not only a world-renowned teaching facility,  w/facilities in other states,  but is state of the art, on the cutting edge of cancer care as well transplants, brain/heart surgeries, etc., etc., etc..  We pay a pretty penny for our private healthcare coverage, plus an outrageous out-of-pocket.       I like having more than 1 option,  especially when it'll also be helpful in cutting down on the cost,  time,  and for many, the hardships of travel to rec. healthcare......gas, lodging, food, etc.....you all don't think that costs an arm and a leg as well, especially   when having to travel back and forth w/a loved one stricken with cancer, needing a Stem Cell Transplant to give  4  more years of quality life for an incurrable form of cancer known as Multiple Myeloma,  and won't be home for a little over a month!!!!  That was 10 yrs. ago, and thank God for Hope Lodge!!!  I'm pretty sure the families in the Clyde/GreenSprings area will be happy w/the news.   Or,  how bout when your Mother is  diagnosed w/a brain anurysm, and  is sent home from a local Neurologist, told she's too old for surgery, only to have Neurologists @ the clinic waste no time in attacking a brain anurysm that turned into a double anuryism rather quickly and surgery being done in "the nick of time"!  FRMC won't need to worry about losing patients, if they and their Physicians/Specialists are providing the best care possible.  By the way, we started our travels to the Cleveland Clinic/ Rainbow Babies Hosp. back in the 70's.  A cousin was diagnosed w/Kidney Failure, needing a transplant.  She had two in her lifetime, living into her 40's.  They're not God's, just Doctors blessed with a God-given-gift!  We helped provide transportation at times  too and fro for our Aunt so she could be with her 8 yr. old daughter when this all started.  She spent many a night at the Ronald McDonald House  whilst in Cleveland.    Sound familiar? 

Hey normalcy;  It's called the Northcoast because we border another country,  Canada, of which is separated by the waters of our Great Lakes Region (referred to as a small sea/ocean, if I'm not mistaken).  It starts in Duluth, MN. on Lake Superior and travels all the way east  to Lake Ontario, (ever hear of 1,000 Islands),  the waters eventually flowing into the Atlantic Ocean.  If you ever have the opportunity, take/make the road  trip.  You'll see some of the most breathtaking scenery our Northcoast has to offer!     

Kelly says

LOL Your argument is ridiculous. They are licensed doctors. Board certification is not required. It is voluntary & if my doctor has better things to do than spend his money on a useless credential then more power to him. No, sorry, I don't work for the Cleveland Clinic. My grandfather and my father both had life saving operations there and you'll never hear me say a bad word against the place. They work at the Cleveland Clinic because they are the best. You hope they weren't ill because of substandard care? Oh please.  What a stupid comment.

knuckledraggerII says

 Kelly, you are the first person I have met who would be willing to put their family on an "airplane" with an "uncertified" pilot.  I find it hard to believe that you would allow yourself or a loved one to go into surgery with an uncertified, foreign trained surgeon, who has a documented history of permanently injuring many patients.  You are either a paid agent for CCF or willing to take risks that no reasonable person would take.  US News ranked CCF low for patient safety and patient and doctor comments in US News question the legitamacy of these ratings.  I hope your family members were not extremely ill because of substandard care at CCF as the KePro  investigation cited in the failed kidney transplant case (kidneytransplantkiller.com).  

Kelly says

Yes, I would feel comfortable. I've had many foreign trained doctors. I love the Cleveland Clinic. Thanks to them I spent many, many years with family members who had been extremely ill. I'm sorry you didn't have the same experience but the Cleveland Clinic is one of the best and most respected medical institutions in the world. There's a reason they have that reputation.

knuckledraggerII says

 Kelly, how do you know he was fully licensed?  Verification of physician's "credentials" are NOT available to the public.  You can only see that he has a medical license.  Would a doctor be considered "fully licensed" if he graduated from an UNACCREDITED foreign medical school?  But from a practical perspective, a private pilot with 50 hours of experience is "fully licensed."   If this pilot is not certified in a 747, would you feel comfortable riding as a passenger in the747 he is piloting?  What if he had a reputation of crashing airplanes?  Would you dismiss this history because he is "fully licensed" as a pilot?  The medical community does not police itself nor are findings by oversight agencies available to the public.  This fact is described in many recent articles.  The Cleveland Clinic has had many complaints filed against Jihad Kaouk of devastating injuries.  Even the government investigations citing violations are not admissible due to tort reform and are considered "confidential."  What happens in the "operating room", stays in the "operating room."  Complications are not revealed in the op notes written in third person with no attribution.  Patients are not allowed to know.   Would you want to "fly" with this doctor?

Factitious says

Wouldn't it be great if FRMC merged with CCF?

lisa1964 says

I have a question.  Will NCCC patients still be admitted to FRMC or will they be shipped out of town to a Cleveland Clinic facility??

Norma J-C says

I've been to the Cleveland Clinic and was treated very well, my surgery went smoothly and that was four years ago.

My consternation is with business owners who call this area the North coast of anything. We are located on the SOUTH SHORE of LAKE Erie and the last time that I checked a map, a coast line is what goes around an ocean.  There and thanks for letting me vent.

OceanviewII says

Except for the Clinic.  Physicians at the Cleveland Clinic are EMPLOYEES of the Clinic.  They do not work without reimbursement.  

HealBySteel says

Buckeye:

Plus, do not forget that every hospital in the state of Ohio receives reimbursement from the state for caring for non-insured patients.   This amounts to millions of dollars per year, while the individual physician is required to take call without any reimbursement when a patient decides that they do not want to pay their bill.  There is not another profession that does this on such a large scale than physicians.

OceanviewII says

Kelly, you are correct. A fully licensed doctor is one who has graduated from medical school and has a state medical license.  A recent medical school graduate holding a state license is "fully licensed."   Would you wish to have brain or heart surgery done by a "fully licensed" recent medical school graduate who is uncertified?  For this reason, VA and military hospitals require board certification for all staff physicians--without exception.  For a specialty surgeon of 17 years to represent that he IS board certified, when he is NOT,  is a BAD THING.  The devatating multiple  permanent injuries to many victims is well documented in doctorsdig, rateMDs, vitals, kidneytransplantkiller and in US News Doctors rankings methodology blogs.  Patient's rights and informed consent violations are cited in CMS investigations.  Many complaints have been filed with the Cuyahoga County Court.  Jihad Kaouk stated in court testimony April 2011 that he had submitted paperwork to the American Board of Urology for certification. For a doctor to CLAIM to be in the top 1% at an institution ranked #2, with this documented history of negative outcomes and CMS violations, one must question:  Why after 17 years of specialty practice does Jihad Kaouk still NOT have board certification?  

duckie1 says

I think this is a positive move for North Coast Cancer Care, as it enhances the quality medical care that paitents in this and surrounding areas can receive.  Partnering with the Cleveland Clinic ensure that this facility and business will remain to serve the patients of Erie County and beyond, should any of the current physicians or employees retire. 

Kelly says

You keep saying uncertified surgeon like that's a bad thing. He was fully licensed. Board certification is voluntary. It isn't required. 

Buckeye_Nation says

OceanviewII says

Mr. Mann, thank you for your thoughtful response. The influence of the Plain Dealer on the Cleveland Clinic is certainly much less than the Clinic on the Plain Dealer.  The Plain Dealer will "exalt" the Clinic with editors and cameras in the operating room as seen this week.   Unfortunately they do not balance this "exaltation" with “uncomplimentary” information from patients and government documents. The Cleveland Clinic video of the botched kidney transplant and the first hand reports by victims was not reported.  The "removal" of this video by CCF from the internet was not reported. The KePro investigation citing the standard of care was not met in this surgery was not reported.  The Plain Dealer was informed by many injured patients of other extremely negative outcomes, some life threatening, by this UNCERTIFIED SURGEON Jihad Kaouk.  The Dealer was informed and provided the CMS investigations of Jan and Apr 2010 citing serious patient rights violations, six unreported operating room fires, and undocumented burns to patients.  Two letters admonishing CEO Cosgrove, removing CCF from "deemed status" and later placing CCF on "termination track" of Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement (approx. $800M annually) were not reported. One stated “deficiencies cited are significant and limit your hospital’s capacity to render adequate care and to ensure the health and safety of your patient[s].”  Indeed, many patients are misled by the Cleveland Clinic massive marketing campaign even though the Clinic claims to be “non-profit.” The press should serve the public interest with balanced reporting.  I contend the unbalanced reporting by the Plain Dealer, including the removal of many uncomplimentary blogs by injured patients, can be attributed to this CONFLICT of INTEREST.  Kudos to the Sandusky Register for allowing both sides of the story. 

Erie Countian says

Unsuccessful outcomes to medical procedures can and do happen at EVERY hospital. It's ridiculous how some on here belittle one of the world's great hospital systems...a place where people come from all over the world to be treated because they know they'll receive the finest level of treatment and care available. I for one have always been thankful to know that world class healthcare is available to myself and my family so near to Sandusky at the Cleveland Clinic and University Hospitals. If I were ever need their services due to a cancer diagnosis, I am glad to know they'll have a facility here, too. We should be thankful that the Cleveland Clinic will have a facility here.

HealBySteel says

Buckeye_Nation:

I highly doubt it.  I am in healthcare.

Horace Mann says

OceanviewII, your allegations of coflict of interest due to PD execs being on the CCF board are unfounded and unfair. The board is huge, most major Cleveland corporations are represented, and no one board member is likely to be able to exert undue influence. Because the CCF is a charity, the board is comprised of unpaid volunteers. This hardly represents a "cozy corporate relationship." Would you have NO corporations represented?

That's not so say that conflicts are not possible, and serious boards adopt policies and procedures to guard against that. But unless you have specific information where a PD executive or his is benefitting from his position on the CCF Board, your comment is libelous and an insult to volunteer charity board members everywhere.

BTW, surely you are aware that major publications other than the PD say nice things about CCF.

I find no fault with the rest of your comment.
_____________

OceanviewII says

 Stop your ad hominem attacks on victims of the Cleveland Clinic!!!!

Buckeye_Nation says

@healbysteel...thats funny because i probably know more about healthcare than you know about anything...

man4451 says

OceanviewII says

Georgigirl says

As a patient at NCCC, of course I am concerned about the change, but I have to say that the doctors and the rest of the staff there have been wonderful, and I am hoping for the best. My husband was also treated at the Cleveland Clinic (biopsy, which was negative) and was treated with respect and kindness.

nofufucat says

All I know for sure is that I do so miss the ability to choose a hospital to go to.  It was nice when we had three hospitals in the area to decide on.  And as for the quality of care Providence Hospital couldn't be beat especially with the nuns wandering around keeping everyone honest. 

man4451 says

HealBySteel says

Buckeye_Nation:

You are truly a moron and have no clue about the medical field!

savantpm says

If it's not about money, it's about money.  Another example of American capitalism at it's finest.

albrooks says

Odd that an article about NCCC is mostly a statement from FRMC. 

InjuredByKaouk says

 "Oceanview", again you reveal yourself. On the many devastating and permanent injuries described in these blogs, only one is a transplant -- a common and highly successful procedure when done properly by a CERTIFIED AND COMPETENT surgeon.  The many other botched surgeries leading to devastating outcomes are also low risk surgeries.  CMS and KePro cited serious violations and that the standard of care was not met. I hope CCF is paying you well for your ad hominem attacks on victims of devastating malfeasance and imcompetence.

btm54rb says

KNUCKLE DRAGGER OR SHOULD I CALL YOU KNUCKLE HEAD-YOU DO NOT HAVE ANY CLUE WHAT HAPPENED TO THE PEOPLE AT THE CLEVELAND CLINIC AND HOW MANY DEPARTMENTS AND SPECIALTIES OF DOCTORS, ROBOTIC AND TRANSPLANT SURGEONS, TRANSPLANT COORDINATORS, CANCER DOCTORS, RADIOLOGISTS, BILLING DEPARTMENTS, AND ON AND ON,WERE INVOLVED IN THESE ISSUES. WHEN YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED THE FULL SCOPE OF THIS ORGANIZATION, WHICH I WOULD NOT WISH ON MY WORST ENEMY, THEN YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO SAY WE ARE WRONG.

Cracked Cherry says

KnuckleDragger says

So in essense what you numbskulls are doing is berating a whole health system due to the actions of one Physician?  Maybe the transplant you should be seeking is a brain transplant.  Don't get me wrong, I sympathize with those who had bad outcomes with transplants but transplants are a high risk procedure and the chance of complications is fairly high, even under the best of circumstances.

InjuredByKaouk says

Many patients, not just one, reported to the Plain Dealer and CCF Ombudsman devastating permanent injuries, some life threatening, by the NON-BOARD CERTIFIED and foreign trained Director, Urology Center for Laparoscopic and Robotic Surgery.  CMS investigations of this UNCERTIFIED surgeon led to admonishments sent to CEO Cosgrove removing Cleveland Clinic from “deemed status” and placing Cleveland Clinic on termination track for Medicare/Medicaid reimbursements (approx. $800M annually) with statements that CCF could NOT “RENDER ADEQUATE CARE” nor “ENSURE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY” OF ITS PATIENTS.  In reference to the kidney transplant, KePro investigated the injuries to donor and recipient citing, “The services that were the subject of the complaint DID NOT MEET APPLICABLE PROFESSIONALLY RECOGNIZED STANDARDDS OF HEALTH CARE.”  The CCF Ombudsman dismissed the complaint.  Compare the marketing of this uncertified surgeon showcased in several recent CCF Annual Financial Statements with patient outcomes found by Google “Jihad Kaouk ratings”   Cuyahoga County Court complaints, and in articles and blogs of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.  

tk says

I think this is great news.  I was successfully treated at the Cleveland Clinic when a local specialist wasn't able to diagnois my problem.  Excellent and courteous treatment.  I highly recommend the Cleveland Clinic to anyone with a major health problem.

Captain Gutz says

I heard this was just a rumor.

EastEndRez says

 @ btm54rb: I feel for you and your family. However, for you to degrade the entire Cleveland Clinic health system based on your experiences is irresponsible. EVERY healthcare facility has poor outcomes, no one is perfect. The Cleveland Clinic would not be world-renowned if it was some chop-shop like (in my opinion) FRMC.

This is good for everyone because it gives Firelands what they desperately need which is COMPETITION. NOMS has done that to a small degree but what this area truly needs is a large healthcare system with options. Options for treatments, patients and also employees. Anyone who has ever worked for FRMC, especially if they were there to see the pre-Stark days, knows what I mean. The only reason they get "best place to work" recognition is that they have the largest volume of year-round employees in the county.

Buckeye_Nation says

your ignorance is astounding,  do you have personal insight to the situation or are you just speculating that you actually knew what was discussed between everybody involved, because in my opinion any physician who goes away from the hospital just to set up their own practice is very selfish and arrogant and really doesn't care about the community and patient care, this is another reason healthcare is becoming more expensive take away these clinics and special offices and you get rid of a lot of unnecessary expenses

lisa1964 says

What does this have to do with Chuck Stark.  This has to do with the patients in and around Erie County.  It has to do with  Firelands Reginal Medical Center, our locally owned and operated hospital and it's employees, that NCCC chose not to partner with.  It's about taking the money out of our local economy and sending it to Cleveland.  What does that say about NCCC??

HealBySteel says

Chuck Stark either had his head in the sand or is not telling the whole truth.  Everyone that has anything to do with healthcare knew NCCC was in discussions with the Cleveland Clinic.  The way he treated NCCC physicians, why would he think NCCC would want to partner with him?

btm54rb says

Obviously you have never read the website. If it had been your child, if you have any, and your sister in law, you would have some compassion. You are the "sick person" laughing at others people's misery.  I will be going on with my mission to warn people against the CC even with your disapproval.

OMG.LOL.WT_ says

 There is BIG money to be made in health care and insurance!

iamrevolutionary says

 The C.C. has saved my life, LITERALLY, more than once!  I had local hospitals send me by EMS to C.C. b/c they were not equiped to care for me.  I think this is the best news I have heard in a long time!  You all should be rejoicing for the caliber of Drs. and Specialists you will be getting!  

KnuckleDragger says

btm54rb, you are a nut case.  You have to know, as you drive around the area in your vehicle with your website plastered all over it, that people are laughing at you.  The only reason CCF hasn't sued you over the outrageous claims you have made is that they are laughing at you too.  Really, get a life, your disability check would be better spent doing something productive.