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.