Hats off to Senator Andrea Stewart Cousins for her efforts to save the Community Hospital at Dobbs Ferry. I joined the Senator, local officials and Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith on a tour of the Community Hospital at Dobbs Ferry and other medical facilities run by St. John's Hospital.
The Senate Minority Leader seemed impressed by Senator Cousins hard work and efforts. Senator Cousins approach to saving the hospital is a great strategy -- encouraging high ranking appointed and elected state officials to visit the hospital in person. If other high ranking state officials leave the hospital with the same impression that Senator Smith had, our chances of saving this hospital will be very good.
We told Senate Minority Leader Malcolm Smith that the Community Hospital is profitable and is the fastest growing health care facility in the region. The hospital's projected profit for 2006 is $625,000 and an operating margin of 3%. Discharges have grown by 12% over 4 years, referred ambulatory procedures are up by 24.4% and ambulatory surgery volume has grown by 8% over 4 years. The emergency room volume has grown by 17% over 4 years. >From an efficiency standpoint, CHDF has an average length of stay of 4.4 days versus 6.1 days in NY and 4.8 nationally. The average per diem reimbursement for CHDF is $1200 a day compared to $1800 per day for other hospitals.
296 people work at the hospital. The hospital has the largest breast cancer program in Westchester -serving 6000 patients every year. 9,000 emergency room patients will have to travel 15-30 minutes further (longer in rush hour) if the hospital closes - resulting in loss of lives. REgional emergency rooms which are already overburdened and have waits of 3-5 hours will have a significant increase in wait time if the hospital closes.
Saving the hospital is crucial to our community.
PAUL FEINER
Greenburgh Town Supervisor