By Nick Buglione
The affiliation agreement, approved by NHCC¹s board of directors, is aimed at improving health-care services at Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow, which NHCC runs in addition to the A. Holly Patterson nursing home in Uniondale and seven community health clinics.
NHCC has been losing millions of dollars every year since its creation in 1999. A county-commissioned report released in 2004 made numerous recommendations for how the corporation could get out of the red, including affiliating with another area hospital.
³NHCC and North Shore-LIJ Health System will focus on the best interests of their patient population by improving access to clinical services and operational efficiencies consistent with their mission,² Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi said. ³It¹s a win-win situation for the residents of Nassau County, and is another positive step in our continuing efforts to ensure the long-term viability of NUMC.²
By affiliating with North Shore-LIJ, NHCC will be able to enhance its own clinical programs, from pediatrics to psychiatry, and improve its graduate education program, said Daniel Kane, NHCC president and CEO. The two sides worked on the affiliation agreement for several months. Its initial terms will last five years, but may be terminated upon mutual agreement with at least one year¹s prior written notice.
Both entities will remain independent and continue to be responsible for their respective assets, liabilities and operations, and will be run by their respective governing boards.
³This affiliation is part of NHCC¹s plans to fulfill its mission by enhancing patient services and strengthening its teaching programs,² Kane said, ³while working together to eliminate health care disparities.²
It is hoped that the affiliation will also give the Nassau University Medical Center¹s image a shot in the arm, Kane said. Many believe its reputation as a hospital for indigents has hampered it from attracting insured patients.
North Shore-LIJ is widely regarded as one of the best health-care systems in the country. Boasting 15 hospitals, a medical research institute, four long-term care facilities, three trauma centers, five home health agencies and dozens of outpatient centers, it is the largest health system on Long Island.
³The North Shore-LIJ Health System is committed to working with NHCC to deliver more accessible, higher-quality health care to Nassau County residents,² said Michael Dowling, president and CEO of North Shore-LIJ.
NHCC¹s financial health is essential to Nassau County. If it were to go under, the county would ultimately be responsible for the $256 million in debt service payments on the bonds issued to finance its creation.
Though it continues to lose money, the corporation¹s fiscal outlook is not as bleak as it once was. It lost $15 million in 2004, and plans to lose $6.5 million this year. That would be the smallest loss the corporation has ever posted. NHCC hopes to break even by 2006.
³Nassau University Medical Center has recently made great strides toward improving its fiscal condition by restructuring itself and implementing long overdue management reforms,² said Nassau County Comptroller Howard Weitzman. ³The hospital¹s new affiliation with North Shore-LIJ Health System will ensure that it concentrates on its core mission, to become an excellent community medical center, in addition to its critical role as a safety net for the county¹s most vulnerable residents.²
Comments about this story? NBuglione@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 236.
