Unity’s proposed expansion would put Brockport’s Lakeside Hospital in jeopardy, hospital supporters say
by Kristina Gabalski
Officials at Unity Health System say the goal of their Brockport expansion project is to make a positive difference in the health and well-being of those they serve by increasing Unity’s primary care and specialty presence; bring needed services closer to home for Brockport residents and support the community by establishing a long-term medical presence which keeps patients local and attracts patients from surrounding areas to Brockport.
“We need to grow,” Unity Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer Stewart Putnam says. He explains the 18,000 square foot facility currently under construction by Gallina Development near Wegmans, is a way to meet those growth needs, “the growth is tied to the needs of the community,” he says.
Putnam says Unity Health is not working to put Lakeside Health System out of business. “This has nothing to do with Lakeside,” he says, “and everything to do with community need.”
Unity Health System has had a presence in the Brockport community for over 10 years, Putnam says, with their ACM Medical Laboratory patient service center and the Unity Ob/Gyn Brockport practice.
According to a fact sheet provided by Unity Health System, Unity has received numerous requests from patients and area physicians to expand services in Brockport – specific requests for family medicine, medical specialists and mammography services.
“Of the 8,100-plus residents of Brockport, over 5,000 are currently served by one of Unity’s primary care physicians in other locations. Primary Care includes family medicine, Ob/Gyn, and internal medicine,” the fact sheet states. “Brockport is designated as a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA).”
“Patients like what Unity is doing,” Putnam says. “Physicians in the Brockport community have identified specialty needs.”
The new facility will allow Unity to expand and relocate its existing Ob/Gyn at Brockport; re-locate and modernize the existing ACM Lab patient service center and add two primary care providers, Unity officials say.
The new facility will also include specialty outreach utilizing a shared office suite for endocrinology, diabetic educators, pulmonary, neurology, infectious disease, and vascular surgery.
Putnam adds that Unity currently provides infectious disease and vascular surgery services through medical staff directly to Lakeside Hospital.
“We look forward to continuing those services,” he says.
Unity officials say interest has also been expressed and discussions are underway with colorectal surgeons, gastroenterology, ear, nose & throat, and nephrology services for the new Brockport facility.
The Unity at Brockport facility will also provide Unity Physical Therapy services and imaging service through Borg Ide – one general X-ray room (sinus, chest X-rays, extremities) and one mammography room.
Putnam says he feels confident Unity’s Certificate of Need (CON) application filed with the state will be approved.
He says services that will be provided at Unity at Brockport are in direct response to requests from patients and physicians. He says endocrinology is a big need, “everywhere you go.”
On the issue of the need for primary care providers, Putnam says Unity wants to be pro-active in the event there are shortages in the future.
He notes hospitals everywhere are facing challenges including Medicare and Medicaid benefits and coverage issues and reduced health insurance reimbursement rates.
“There are major forces stacked up against hospitals,” Putnam explains. “Health systems are thinking about how to organize themselves to best deal with those issues.”
“The services provided will be a great benefit to the Brockport community and are based on needs identified for us by people in the community,” Putnam says.
Unity officials say the new facility will bring construction jobs, tax revenue and commerce to the Brockport community and create 14 new medical jobs over three years. The facility is scheduled to open in June 2012.
Officials at Lakeside Hospital see the expansion of Unity at Brockport very differently.
Lakeside Health System CEO James Wissler doesn’t agree that the community is in need of the services Unity Health will provide at its new Unity at Brockport facility.
Wissler says Lakeside and the community currently offers services such as primary care, physical therapy, radiology, lab and diabetes education. Lakeside also accesses additional specialists through its collaboration with URMC. He questions Unity’s motives for expanding.
“(Unity) is spending $3.1 million on a building to provide services already being provided and not currently needed,” he says. “Physicians agree this is not needed. Physicians are still accepting new patients which shows there isn’t a need. If there isn’t the capacity, why do you spend $3.1 million?”
Wissler notes there are three physical therapy practices in the community. “I’ve heard no complaint from anyone about getting in to see a physical therapist,” he says.
Wissler says the new Unity facility could result in an overall loss of jobs, may result in Lakeside being compromised and may also result in an overall loss of acute care services.
He cites the Health Association of New York State (HANYS) finding that there is currently an abundance of these services in the area.
“If you were any other business, do you go in where you don’t have a need?” Wissler asks. “Does an excess capacity (of services) help keep the cost of health care down?”
Back in 2003, Wissler says, Unity opposed URMC moving primary care physicians to their service area because it would de-stabilize Unity and pull market share from them.
“What’s the difference?” Wissler asks of Unity’s expansion in Brockport. “This will destabilize what we have here.” He calls the project “unconscionable.”
Lakeside is a valuable community asset, Wissler says. “Our quality of care scores at the top or near the top at a most cost effective rate,” he explains.
Lakeside employs 741 people with a $30 million payroll, Wissler adds. “The community economic impact is $60 million.”
According to the New York State Department of Health, the Certificate of Need (CON) process oversees the establishment, construction, renovation, and major medical equipment acquisitions of health care facilities including hospitals, nursing homes, home care agencies and diagnostic and treatment centers.
Information on the NYS Health Department website, www.health.ny.gov, states, “Through the CON process, the Department seeks to promote the delivery of high-quality health care services and to ensure that home care services and facility-based health care services are aligned with community health needs. The CON process also reins-in investments in excess facility capacity and unneeded medical equipment that drive up health care costs for everyone, without contributing materially to the health of our communities.”
