August 3, 2016 There are many safety concerns regarding St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital’s Newburgh campus. How can you ensure that patients and visitors remain safe? The Newburgh campus is equipped with more than 100 cameras throughout the entire facility, including the parking garage, walkways, elevators and patient care areas. SLCH has worked to enhance safety and security measures throughout the last several years to ensure the safety of our patients, visitors and staff. Working in close partnership with the City of Newburgh Police Department, the SLCH security team has added officer patrols to our security efforts. SLCH is also adding Emergency Department valet parking for the overnight hours, and will be working with the city of Newburgh to increase the lighting in and around the campus. No patient or visitor has ever been injured as a result of violence around the Newburgh campus. We will continue to work with City of Newburgh officials, as well as our own security team, to ensure that the safety of all entering St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital remains a top priority. How will diversions at the Newburgh campus emergency department impact those seeking care? The Newburgh campus is very rarely on diversion, with less than five in recent years. The Newburgh campus currently redirects patients to the Cornwall emergency department based on volume and the level of acuity. Redirections are currently available to our health system as we are one hospital with two EDs. The Newburgh ED can accommodate these redirected patients. How will lockdowns at the Newburgh campus impact patient care? The duration and frequency of lockdown occurrences at the Newburgh campus has decreased in recent years because of enhancements to the SLCH security department, and increased cooperation with the City of Newburgh police department. When a lockdown occurs, it is to ensure the safety of our patients, visitors and staff. In a lockdown situation, only visitation is affected, patient care is never compromised, as we continue to accept all patients. How many people will lose their jobs as a result of the closure of the Cornwall Emergency Department? With the anticipated increase in volume in the Newburgh campus ED, those currently staffing the Cornwall ED will be offered positions in Newburgh. Approximately 31 positions will be affected, and we anticipate a reduction of approximately three. However, through natural attrition, that number may be reduced to zero.
How will the Newburgh campus handle the increase in volume? Between now and October 1, many systems will be put into place to handle the anticipated increase in volume. Specifically, the expansion of fast track hours and the addition of staff. In addition, an important element of SLCH’s Five Year Sustainability plan is to decrease length of stay, as well as reduce hospitalizations, which will ultimately reduce emergency department wait times and make beds available faster for those in need of a hospitalization. As we embark on this transition, SLCH will constantly monitor all staffing levels to ensure that patient care remains the number one priority, and patients receive high quality care in the most efficient way possible.
Why do those with medical insurance have to support the Newburgh campus? St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital is a not-for profit acute care hospital that provides essential healthcare services to the entire community which, by law, is regardless of the patients’ ability to pay. Has executive compensation impacted SLCH’s financials? The Board of Trustees has a fiduciary responsibility to this organization, one that is taken very seriously. Any and all executive compensation goes before the compensation committee, comprised of several board members, and uses third party data to develop compensation levels that are in line with industry standards in the region.
Where am I going to go for urgent and emergency care? St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital is not closing. The Cornwall Emergency Department is one element of our healthcare system. We have significantly added programs and services to both campuses throughout the last several years. In addition to the services provided at SLCH, there has been an expansion of urgent care in the area during the past several months, as well as primary care, many of which offer extended hours. To view the list of urgent care centers in the area please click here. We are here for you, as a provider, and a resource in navigating care. Are any of the urgent care centers in the area open 24 hours? No. However, SLCH’s Newburgh emergency department is here for you, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, when you are in need of emergent services, meaning conditions that cannot wait for primary or urgent care.
Will you be leasing the Cornwall ED to another healthcare facility? The plans for the Cornwall campus emergency department are still evolving as part of SLCH’s strategic planning process. We will continue the conversation with our community and elected officials regarding the future plans for this space and the overall evolution of the Cornwall campus. We thank you for your suggestions during our community town hall meeting, and will take them into consideration as the decisions for this space are evaluated and made. Can the Cornwall campus continue to be a temporary stop for patients with life threatening situations? No, however the best course of action is to bring a patient in need of emergency services to the closest emergency department. We recognize that this closure is a difficult change, but can assure the community that we will do everything necessary to keep our community safe, providing the highest quality of care in the most efficient manner. Have you considered closing / reducing the hours of the Newburgh ED? No, the Newburgh emergency department is a thriving center for emergency care, as evidenced by utilization. The Newburgh ED will soon be a verified Level III trauma center available to the entire community.
What is the makeup of the SLCH Board of Trustees? Does it reflect the diversity in the community? The SLCH Board of Trustees is comprised of a diverse group of community members, business owners, and our partners at the Montefiore Health System, representing a large geographical area. Our board is deeply rooted and invested in this community and the mission and vision of St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital. To view the 2016 Board of Trustees roster, please visit www.stlukescornwallhospital.org/about/Pages/BoardofTrustees.aspx
If you are looking to provide quality care and not quantity, why not bring the Cornwall campus up to state-of-the-art services? Why empty out another part of the hospital instead of improving it? Throughout the last five years, six new services with state-of-the-art technology have been added to the Cornwall campus, including wound care, cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation and cancer services. In addition, four services were relocated from the Newburgh to Cornwall campus in recent years. We are continuing to invest in both campuses in a way that fits with the evolution of care delivery and the identified needs of the community at large. Does SLCH pay taxes on the building that houses MD offices? No, SLCH does not own that building. We are simply tenants in the building and as such, we pay rent. What are the guarantees that urgent care in the area will remain open? While SLCH cannot guarantee that other providers will remain open, we will continue to evaluate community needs and respond appropriately. SLCH will continue to work with all of our community partners to ensure that patients receive all necessary medical care.
If I have Medicare, and supplemental insurance, how much extra is SLCH making off of my hospital visit? Medicare and supplemental insurance, combined, cover up to 88% of the cost of care at St. Luke's Cornwall Hospital.
Will this affect pension plans? We do not expect any impact on pension plans for any of the employees affected by the closure of the Cornwall ED.
Is the cancer center a winning service line? Yes, per external market analysis, the need for cancer care is expected to grow over the next five years. SLCH wants to ensure that we provide the highest quality cancer care so the members of this community do not have to travel for their care, placing many burdens on the cancer patients and their families. What is SLCH’s payer mix? St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital’s payer mix is 77% government pay and other, and 23% commercial pay.
There are piles of patients in the Newburgh ED at a given time, and patients have waited days for a bed. What are you going to do to decrease wait times? As do all hospitals across the country, St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital experiences periodic times increased volume of patients. While this can impact emergency department wait times for those being hospitalized, we are working with our point of entry case managers, medical and nursing staff to prevent unnecessary hospitalizations as well as reduce length of stay through our work in healthcare delivery redesign. This will ultimately have a positive effect on ED wait times.