The proposed realignment of The Kingston and Benedictine Hospitals has taken an important step forward with selection of the New York-based consulting firm of Weiser, LLP to conduct a clinical integration study.
The study, expected to be completed by midyear, will review, analyze and evaluate the clinical programs at the two hospitals and will identify unmet community health care needs as well as opportunities for integrating clinical programs.
A critical component of the study will be the input of the physicians, nursing staff and the other medical professionals of both institutions, according to Benedictine CEO Thomas Dee. “Each hospital has a distinct culture, but we share a common recognition that quality health care is, first and foremost, dependent on our skilled and dedicated professionals. They directly provide the care, and no review would be accurate or useful without their input,” he said.
The firm will also conduct a facility overview in order to objectively define the comparative strengths and weaknesses of each facility and their appropriateness for each of the integrated clinical programs offered.
The process will result in the development of a range of recommendations regarding the deployment of existing clinical resources and assist in an evaluation of the clinical and financial implications of the various recommendations.
“Engaging Weiser is an important step in the process,” said Michael Kaminski, Kingston CEO. “Their recommendations, based in large measure on the input from our medical community, will give us the necessary information and analysis we will need to complete the realignment process. The results of the study will be a key component of the material we will submit to the state as we seek approval for the realignment. It is critical that the information we provide to the state be comprehensive.”
The hospitals worked collaboratively to develop a request for proposals which was submitted to eight firms. A task force consisting of representatives of both hospitals reviewed the responses and recommended the selection of Weiser.
Officials from both hospitals said they anticipate the receipt of state funding to pay the cost of the study as well as other costs incurred in the realignment process.
Both CEO’s credited their respective boards with providing the leadership to drive the realignment process.
“The boards of the two hospitals recognize the importance of being proactive rather than reactive, and have begun a process that will result in the health care delivery system reflecting the wishes of the community rather than state regulators,” said Benedictine Board Chair William Le Doux.
“The Berger Commission report makes it clear that the health care system in New York is on the brink of an historic transformation. As a result of the vision of both hospital boards, we will, in many respects, lead that transformation,” said Eugene Heslin, M.D., chairman of the board of The Kingston Hospital.
A series of five public forums will be conducted during the review period in an effort to both answer questions citizens may have about the realignment, and to solicit ideas and opinions from the public. Other public involvement efforts will be announced in the coming weeks, according to hospital officials.