In response to Dr. Laurencin’s broadcast message of August 06, 2009
On Thursday, August 6, 2009 Dr. Laurencin made available the integration agreement between Hartford Health Care Corporation (HHC) and UConn Health Center (UCHC). This document was shaped in the Spring of this year. This is what HHC and UCHC call a partnership. I also encourage you to read this document - particularly the Governance section, Article II. The first bullet in the summary tells it all “HHC will control the strategic direction, capital and operating budgets, planning and resource allocation of and among HHC, UH, UH-HC, UH-FC [John Dempsey hospital], and UP [the UMG here at UCHC]”. The document references “reserved powers”. Jeff Flax, COO at Hartford Hospital, was asked if the reserve powers given to President Hogan or Dr. Laurencin would allow them to stop HHC from canceling one of the life Star programs. The answer from Mr. Flax was that Life Star is not a substantial material asset; so, NO, Hogan nor Laurencin cannot stop HHC from grounding one or all of the Life Star helicopters. I don’t know how much a helicopter costs, but I would think that the common man/woman would think of them as a substantial material asset. This is just one example of the control HHC would have.
I believe that this document was released at this time in an attempt by Dr. Laurencin to discredit UHP, and drive a wedge between you and your elected officers. This is common anti-union strategy. By discrediting the leadership it is easier for those that wish the takeover of all aspects of patient care at UCHC to be achieved. Remember that UCHC has been working with an anti-union law firm, Durant, Nichols, Houston, Hodgson & Cortese-Costa, P.C. So, I expect that there will be more attempts to discredit your union, and your union leadership.
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