• A Message from Jim O'Connor
• Testimony to the
  Rightsizing Committee
• Berger Commission News
• Senator LaValle
  Supports St. Charles
• Doctor calls Berger Commission's
  recommendations 'dangerous'
• Port Jefferson Resolution
• Senate Confirms Daines
  as NY's Helath Commissioner
• The Maryhaven Letter
• Email Talking Points
• Your St. Charles Story

A Message from

Jim O'Connor

Executive Vice President

It has been well stated, "Experience is not what happens to a man, but what a man does with what happens to him." Over the past few months, the heartfelt response and outpouring of support exhibited by the St. Charles staff and physicians, our legislators and the community, in response to the report issued by the Commission for Health Care in the 21st Century, is a testament to the mission for which this hospital was founded 100 years ago. However, as with any news story, there has been much speculation and many rumors about the Commission's recommendations. I’d like to take this opportunity to communicate directly to you what the Commission's recommendations are for St. Charles, what that means for the hospital and what I feel will happen in the coming months.

Eighteen months ago, former Governor George Pataki appointed The Commission on Health Care Facilities in the 21st Century for the purpose of undertaking an independent review of health care capacity and resources in New York State. In addition, the Commission’s goal was to ensure that the regional and local hospitals and nursing homes were best configured to deliver high-quality, affordable and accessible care to the community in a manner that promotes financial stability. Members of the Commission were not elected, but appointed by Governor Pataki. Stephen Berger was appointed Chairman of the Commission, which became known as the Berger Commission.

The Commission’s final report was released on November 21, 2006. The recommendations for St. Charles Hospital included closure of the Emergency Department, elimination of 77 medical/surgical beds and conversion of the remaining 37 medical/surgical beds to behavioral health beds. The Commission recommended that Mather Hospital eliminate 37 behavioral health beds and convert those to medical/surgical beds. It also encouraged the two hospitals to strengthen the Mather-St. Charles Alliance and to continue to look for ways to reduce duplication of services.

The recommendations were mandated to become law on January 1, 2007, if the Governor and the Legislature approved the recommendations. In addition, the report was set up as an all or nothing vote; meaning the majority vote needed to reject or accept the recommendations in their entirety. The Legislature was not in session in Albany at this time, however, a special session to was called on December 15, 2006, for the purpose of addressing a different bill. Though called to session, our Legislators were not given the opportunity to vote on the Commission’s recommendations. Governor Pataki approved the recommendations and they became law on January 1, 2007.

For St. Charles, adoption of these recommendations would cause significant patient safety issues as well as severe negative financial repercussions. In terms of patient safety, the obstetrical program could not safely provide services without an Emergency Department or critical care beds. The inpatient orthopedic surgical program would virtually be eliminated through a complete downsizing of our medical/surgical beds. Even our premier physical rehabilitation program would be compromised without the resources to treat and stabilize the rehabilitation patients whose conditions often warrant acute medical intervention.

What does this mean for St. Charles Hospital? First, and most important, I see no immediate changes in the hospital’s delivery of existing services. Our Emergency Department will continue to operate as usual and the scope and volume of surgeries will be performed as they were prior to the Berger recommendations.

Members of the Boards of Trustees, Administration and medical leadership from both St. Charles and Mather hospitals have and will continue to meet to discuss moving forward. It is my hope that the two hospitals will develop a blueprint for the future, one that will allow them to continue to meet the community's needs. We are currently releasing a joint statement that will begin to address the recommendations and the Mather-St. Charles Alliance.

We will also continue to work closely with our legislators, while developing a business plan that will support the intent of the Commission’s recommendations, yet provide St. Charles with a clinical mix of business that would secure a financially sound future. In the coming months, and with the support of our legislators, we will approach the new Commissioner of Health and present a viable, economically feasible business model for St. Charles; one that is in substantial compliance with the recommendations. Catholic Health Services of Long Island has pledged its support of St. Charles as well and has been diligently working to assist us in developing a plan.

This year marks the centennial anniversary of St. Charles Hospital. Indeed, there is much to celebration. For 100 years, St. Charles has provided extraordinary care to the communities it serves. The compassionate mission that began in 1907, when 4 devoted Sisters of the Order of the Daughters of Wisdom accepted 24 homeless children with disabilities into their care, continues today and will continue for another 100 years.

 

St. Charles Hospital · 200 Belle Terre Road · Port Jefferson · NY 11777