|
Gabryszak, Volker stand up for hospital
Legislation to remove St. Joseph Hospital from a list of health facilities recommended for closing was introduced in both houses of the New York State Legislature last week by local representatives.
Assemblyman Dennis H. Gabryszak (D-Cheektowaga) and Senator Dale Volker (R-Depew) filed the bills on March 1.
Appearing at a rally in the hospital's emergency department last week, Gabryszak said that the recommendation by the New York State Commission on Health Care Facilities in the 21st Century was flawed in many ways.
Gabryszak noted that the commission failed to take into account St. Joseph's profitability and independence from Medicaid and also ignored the growing population in Erie County's eastern suburbs.
"St. Joseph is hardly a drain on Medicaid," Gabryszak said.
Roughly three percent, or about 200 patients, of the hospital's patient population relies on Medicaid. The commission cited spiraling Medicaid costs as one of the reasons to downsize the state's health facilities.
"This is not a hospital in dire straits, but a growing facility that just added a state-of-the-art emergency department," Gabryszak said. "Closing this hospital just doesn't make sense."
St. Joseph Hospital President James Millard agreed with Gabryszak, noting that the hospital made a profit of $1.3 million in 2006, had more than 6,000 inpatient admissions and cared for more than 27,000 patients in the emergency department.
Millard said that the commission was given 25 criteria on which to base its decision. Among the criteria were service, access to care, financial viability and quality of care.
"The commission was given specific objective criteria to be used as the basis for their recommendations, things such as financial viability, ser- vice to a vulnerable population and quality of care," Millard said. "It's obvious to us that St. Joseph Hospital was on the list purely for political reasons."
Most of the hospitals that are slated for closing are located in urban areas.
Gabryszak disputed the commission's report that closing the hospital would cost $20 million. He said the closing cost would be closer to $73 million.
Closing St. Joseph Hospital would affect more than 800 employees who have an annual payroll of $30 million. The hospital's annual economic impact to the community is estimated at $124 million.
"We are very grateful to Assemblyman Gabryszak and Senator Volker for their efforts on behalf of St. Joseph Hospital," said Joseph McDonald, President and CEO of the Catholic Health System. "Their reaction to the Berger Commission recommendations and subsequent legislation is exactly how our parents, associates, physicians and community feel."
The Catholic Health System has collected more than 52,000 signatures from St. Joseph supporters.
The health system filed a lawsuit against the commission and New York State to keep the hospital open. A judge ruled against the health system, but a formal appeal was filed in the New York State Court of Appeals on March 1.
"Although we were unsuccessful with the initial ruling, we firmly believe that we have a legitimate case," Millard said.
Volker could not attend the rally.
Governor Eliot Spitzer said he supports the Berger Commission's findings.
| 
