Bronx’s Westchester Square Medical Center Joins NY Presbyterian System
By the end of June, New York Westchester Square Medical Center in The Bronx was supposed to officially close it’s doors for good. The hospital is one of four throughout the city still slated for closure based on recommendations from a panel known as the Berger commission which tried to cut healthcare costs throughout the state.
But Friday, the hospital officially announced that it will stop operating on its own and will become part of the New York Presbyterian Healthcare System.
To show their appreciation, elected leaders who helped broker the deal with state health officials were given signed lab coats from hospital staff.
“I really believe if at all possible this is going to be even better,” said Bronx Democratic State Senator Jeffrey Klein. “You are going to have a great healthcare institution, world-renowned like New York Presbyterian taking over. It still is going to be a community hospital. Still going to maintain community mission of providing quality of care and they will have sort of a big brother watching over them.”
Under the takeover plan, members of the hospital board and elected officials claim all services will remain intact.
“It is basically a bail-out,” said Dr. Rudolph Nisi, Westchester Square’s Chairman of the Board. “The hospital will continue to be an acute care hospital as it has always been with the addition of services with asthma clinics, perhaps, or diabetes clinics.”
While senior staff and Senator Klein remain optimistic that services will continue and be increased, New York Presbyterian said the future of the hospital’s services remains uncertain.
“Part of the process we need to go through is not just to be able to say this makes the most sense in our view,” said Wayne Osten, director of NY Presbyterian Healthcare. “There are other partners and individuals that need to work with us, including the health department, including the governor’s office, including the staff here and the staff at New York Presbyterian.”
The takeover process will also involve bailing Westchester Square out of bankruptcy. But current hospital officials and New York Presbyterian maintain there will be no disruption of services while those issues are being worked out. Read more..
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