Obviously, I'm missing something here. Gary Gaube, chief executive officer and trustee of Landmark, petitioned the court earlier today to have a special master assume control of the hospital's assets and day to day operations. Isn't that what he is suppose to be doing as CEO. Doesn't make sense to me.

Long overdue. I certainly hope this "master" starts at the top - and also looks at the hospital as a necessary healthcare service, and not a business. Some services may be loss centers, but necessary for caring for people - it is about more than the bottom line. Exec. salaries, benefits. The er is not cost effective and probably loses money at every visit - but you can't close it. If this had happened a year ago, cardiac surgery would not have been closed. What a travesty of management ineptness for the people of RI - where is the accountability? Ultimately we know it is a national issue, CMS rates, BCBS reimbursement levels, etc....and this is only the tip of the iceberg - 3 other hospitals are right behind. What is the solution? Lifespan is the only hospital with an appropriate endowment to help - but you cannot have one giant healthcare system in the state. And the state has no helping money - the master has his hands tied and has very few resources with which to work. Landmrk is lean and mean and can't make it - what's the solution? Is there even one?

Northern Rhode Island needs Landmark, both for the close proximity of care and for the 1000+ jobs. It's too bad the administrators didn't focus on the real needs of the community when they decided to jump into bed with Deaconess and start a very unnecessary cardiac surgery program. That program is likely what bled Landmark dry and now the people of Woonsocket are going to pay dearly for that mistake. I pray there is a way to save the hospital.

If you want Landmark to stay open, you need to support the Governor's attempts to rid the state of benefit-leeching illegal aliens who are showing up at the ER for free care for every runny nose and boo-boo.