Franklin Medical funded through 2005 $1.63 million approved for local hospital

Alfano, a member of the Assembly Leadership, led final passage for the bill at 1:30 a.m. early Wednesday morning in the Assembly that channeled the funding to his Assembly District's sole Hospital institution. Alfano quickly shared credit with Governor George Pataki in helping make the bill a reality. "I thanked the Governor after the bill was passed for helping make this program a reality," Alfano said noting "he's a partner and friend who listens to the concerns of the people I serve and he acts on them."
      Alfano announced his support for the act weeks ago and broke with members of his party to support the measure. The final vote was 100-35. "This was a good bill for the people I represent and it gives the kind of quality health care that our community deserves," Alfano said. When asked to term what the bill measured out to in the Assembly district, Alfano noted, "this is a grandslam for health care, patient care and health care workers who take care of our families in hospitals. Today, we took a positive step forward in helping the people who take care of patients."
      Alfano also pointed to the fact that Franklin is the only local hospital that has diversified services that meet the needs of the diverse population he serves. "When you look at what Franklin does and how it impacts our community, you realize how important this bill was for health care services in the west-end," Alfano stated.
      The outlay is earmarked, according to Alfano, for healthcare workforce recruitment and retention programs. "The funding for Franklin is to be used for the purpose of keeping talented health care workers and retaining non-supervisory healthcare workers," said Alfano adding, "in a nutshell, those people who take care of our loved ones with direct patient care are the workers this funding will impact."       The Health Care Reform Act or HCRA bill was an important piece of legislation for local residents in Elmont, Franklin Square, North Valley Stream and West Hempstead communities not only for health care services but hospital workers as well. In October, Alfano took part in the New York State Assembly Nursing Task Force, which addressed issues such as recruitment of health care workers and nurses. In their findings, the task force noted that recruitment initiatives were non-existent and that health care workers charged with direct patient care were leaving the health care industry in alarming numbers.
      "Clearly, we had to do something to assist our hospitals so that they can help people with health care needs in our community," Alfano said adding, "Franklin Medical Hospital is an important part of our local community when it comes to providing vital health care services."
      Last year, Alfano hosted members of Governor Pataki's cabinet in touring Franklin Medical Hospital and hearing first hand the needs of the Hospital and the services they provide to working families in the surrounding community. Alfano escorted the Director of the Governor's Office of Regulatory Reform, David Bradley, in the visit to Franklin along with Health Care Regulatory experts from Albany.
      "There's no question that the Governor's office is aware of the work Franklin does and I'm pleased that we were able to pass HCRA so that Hospitals throughout the area will be able to take steps to improve recruitment and retention of those individuals who take care of our loved ones," Alfano said.