Earlier this year, Governor Andrew Cuomo proposed $300 million in the 2015 New York State (NYS) budget to help to ‘create an integrated healthcare delivery system in Oneida County.’ His proposal was part of a $700 million recommendation to support Upstate New York hospitals. The proposal for Oneida County became a reality with the approval of the budget this week.
“This is an incredible opportunity for our community and we are extremely grateful to the Governor and our legislators,” commented Scott H. Perra, FACHE, president/CEO of the Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS). “Last fall we began exploring the concept of a new, free-standing hospital. To be able to move forward with this concept changes healthcare in our community and enhances what we are able to do for the region.”
According to hospital officials, the Governor’s recommendation in early January was a most welcome surprise and was in addition to a proposal submitted in December under the Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) Program. DSRIP is a federal and state initiative designed to improve and coordinate care for Medicaid recipients and those without insurance. The funding for the DSRIP project has not yet been announced.
Officials say building a new hospital is costly, estimated at $460 to $500 million. They note that the $300 million helps to lay the foundation for funding. MVHS would still need additional financial support from federal and state governments, lending institutions and philanthropic support from the community.
The new hospital would replace the inpatient care currently provided at the St. Luke’s Campus of Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare (FSLH) and at St. Elizabeth Medical Center (SEMC). The project is estimated to take four to six years to complete and there are a number of steps that need to happen even before the first shovels are in the ground.
“One of the most frequently asked questions is ‘where would we build a new hospital?’ and we don’t know yet,”noted Perra. “We are working with Steve DiMeo and Mohawk Valley EDGE to look for potential sites in our area. EDGE has tremendous resources and their support is invaluable. It will take time, research and planning to determine the best location.”
The final determination for the site will be made by the Board of Directors of the MVHS. And officials caution that while many are interested in where the new hospital will be located– there is a long list of additional items that need to be decided. In the next 12 to 18 months a plan for the hospital, size, structure, location, services and staffing needs to be fully developed. Administration and the Board of Directors also need to work on a transition plan for the current FSLH and SEMC buildings and will work with the NYS Department of Health to complete a Certificate of Need (CON) application for the new project.
“This is the beginning of a long and important journey,” said Perra. “We are excited and we recognize what an enormous responsibility this is for our Board of Directors, medical staffs and employees. We only have one chance to get this right and that is what we intend to do. We want to build a new hospital for the families that we serve, one that will make a difference for generations to come.”
Mohawk Valley Health System is an affiliation of Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare and St. Elizabeth Medical Center. The two organizations affiliated in March 2014.
# # #
Erin Gigliotti
Manager, Marketing and Media Relations
Mohawk Valley Health System
(315) 624-5581
egigliot@mvnhealth.com