Maybe the ER wouldn't be so crowded if 'planned parenthood', SPD, Sch'dy City Schools, etc and the 'politicos' would be leaders and not pacifiers.......My mistake,,,,,that would be the segregation at St.Clares......substandard is still substandard.....and dont think universal care will make a standard.....this hospital move is just a move in the game of chess......they will segregate based on money to show 'quick' service....then it will be too expensive to do that and EVERYONE will be at substandard---unless again,,,,those celebs/politicos/CEOs etc pay for the top spots of care.......it happens now and will happen then......
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
On July 8 I received an injury causing me to be taken by ambulance to the Ellis Hospital emergency room “fast track.” I would like everyone to know about the caring and compassionate service I received from start to finish. This being my first experience with the ER, I was quite frightened. The staff, from cleaning personnel to nurses and the physician assistant who took care of me, have my upmost respect and praise. They made my frightening experience a pleasant one. They work very hard to make you feel at ease and comfortable during your visit. Hats off to a fine group of caring professions. I thank them from the bottom of my heart. KATHY KOIVULA Glenville
Despite frustrations, Ellis remains committed to providing quality care
In response to recent letters to the Gazette concerning care at Ellis Hospital, I want to assure the community that our medical staff at Ellis takes very seriously any concerns that are presented to us. Our Quality Department as well as myself and other physicians personally take substantial time to review records and speak with the caregivers involved in complaints that are brought to us. In addition, we are conscientiously reviewing on a daily basis the increased volume of patients at both the main Ellis and Mc-Clellan emergency departments and the inpatient census in the hospital. We are always looking for ways to improve our delivery of care. In one recent letter the major concern had to do with efficiency and coordination of care rather than the quality of care. The patient’s reason for coming to the emergency department was thoroughly evaluated and the physicians did not send the patient home until that evaluation was complete. In some communities this alone would be considered a great treasure. The letter does remind us of our responsibility as providers to be clear and timely in our communications with our patients and their families, especially when everyone is busy with a multitude of changes. In this time of national shortage of all types of medical workers, let us be thankful that we have a wonderful medical team of nurses, doctors and technicians who can address our medical needs within our community instead of having to drive miles away. As I look over the happenings of the past year with the Berger Commission mandates, I occasionally succumb to frustration at those who underestimated the cost of closures as well as gave little acknowledgment of the human cost to health care workers and patients. As our medical community becomes accustomed to our new configuration of hospitals, I believe that we will have an even stronger health care system in our future. I appreciate all of the community members who have been patient and supportive of our new system. We want to hear your concerns and we look to you to help us respond to the increasing medical needs of our community. CAROLYN JONES-ASSINI Schenectady The writer is chair of the Internal Medicine Department at Ellis Hospital.
Carol also failed to articulate the fact that no matter how 'good' and 'dedicated' the medical staff is..there clearly are not enough of them. Carol should be very angry, being in a profession that is now at a sub-level for professional health care. Carol must agree that 8, 10, 13 hours is an exceptable amount of time to wait in an, understaffed, ill-equipped ER.
I see that this is just the start of our universal health care. They are slowly easing the people into what the future of health care will be like. Fewer hospitals Fewer services Longer wait times ....and fewer highly trained medical workers.
The line of people waiting in line at Ellis ER for medical care is no different then the pictures we see in third world countries who are also standing in line to be seen for medical conditions. The only difference is that in this country there is an actually building. And if you notice, they have already begun to prioritize who will actually get medical attention first. IF YOU HAVE CHEST PAIN...... Now that is fine but what about the person with a ruptured appendix? Broken bones? etc.... There was a day when ALL people were seen in a timely manner, no matter what was medically wrong with them.
This is just the beginning folks!!!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
The next step should be is to change the name from Ellis to Soylent Green because that's what universal health care will become, the hospitals will decide who falls into the category of who to save and who should just be sent home.
The next step should be is to change the name from Ellis to Soylent Green because that's what universal health care will become, the hospitals will decide who falls into the category of who to save and who should just be sent home.
Exactly!!!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
This letter is in response to previous letters regarding the consolidation of Ellis Hospital, McClellan Campus [formerly St. Clare’s Hospital] and Bellevue. The long-term plan, which includes better space and accommodations, takes time and money, neither of which was available by the time the transition occurred. The public needs to know we didn’t ask for this to happen. It was decided by the Berger Commission and the New York state Department of Health. Then Ellis Hospital was told to “make it happen.” As a member of the seasoned staff at Ellis Hospital, I would like to say how proud I am to see how everyone stepped up to the plate and pulled together to make this happen. I apologize for any recent unfavorable experience you might have encountered at any of the three sites. We strive to maintain the highest quality care standards possible. My hope is that you continue to choose Ellis Hospital for all your health care needs. JANICE PLUMMER Niskayuna The writer works in the admitting department.
Those aren't excuses, just bare facts of the results of shortsighted planning and longer range plans(universal health care).....we will reap what we sow.....the pendulum is beginning to swing in the other direction.....healthcare is not a right but a personal responsibility.....emergency treatment/bandaids etc are needed to assist in personal healthcare......
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
It is time for the residents of Schenectady County to stand up and be counted regarding the sneaky closing of St. Clare’s Hospital as we knew it. This hospital has a large modern obgyn facility that is in darkness. It has a fully equipped and staffed operating room that is not operating to capacity. There are horror stories coming out of this misguided closing. I would agree that, to cut costs and save money, the merging of Ellis and St. Clare’s hospitals under one administration was, and still is, a good idea. However, they were not merged; it was a hostile takeover. Also, the present CEO, James Connolly, is not the person to keep these hospitals running efficiently. He seems to make decisions as problems arise; there is no long-range plan in place. An article in the July 26 Gazette said that he intends to to submit to the state Health Department a plan to tear down two buildings on Rosa Road and build a new emergency room there, which might be ready by 2010. How much more money do we have to spend on modernizing Ellis’ ER when St. Clare’s has a fully equipped ER that is only onequarter used? Why not make full use of St. Clare’s emergency room and use those Rosa Road buildings for administrative space? This political decision must be reversed. We must join the grass-roots movement (Schenectady County Citizens for Hospital Choice, Connie Ciervo — ciervoca@verizon.net — spokesperson) and re-open St. Clare’s Hospital to its full capacity and close the antiquated Bellevue Hospital. ELAINE C. PYSZKOWSKI Schenectady
I am writing this as the spokeswoman for a grassroots movement called Schenectady County Citizens for Hospital Choice. I am outraged that James Connolly (Ellis Hospital CEO) and his Board of Directors made the decision to close St. Clare’s Hospital. They have done a grave disservice to the citizens of our community. We pay good money for health insurance and here in New York we pay through the nose for our taxes. We should have hospital choice. Not a hospital monopoly. Mr. Connolly and the Ellis Board of Directors took millions of dollars in taxpayer monies for a consolidation of hospital services and then abruptly closed St. Clares. As recently as late April we were told that St. Clare’s would remain open. To set the record straight the Berger Commission recommended keeping St. Clare’s and Ellis Hospitals open and separate with one administration. Their recommendation was to close Bellevue not St. Clare’s. Instead without any real input from the community and behind closed doors a handful of people made decisions that would impact and already are gravely impacting the entire community. Over the past several weeks anyone who has had the misfortune to need the services of a hospital emergency room has found out first hand that this move was ill conceived and poorly planned – RE: letter to the editor from Michelle Sausa-Gatta - June 20, 2008 “Ellis Hospital emergency service raises question”. She stated “the emergency room was understaffed, ill–equipped and disorganized’. This was not an isolated incident. Over the past several weeks I know of several family friends who needed emergency care and went to the emergency room at Ellis Hospital. These are just a few of their encounters. One woman had gone to the Ellis emergency room to be treated for shortness of breath. She also had a history of heart problems. She waited 7 hours before she was even brought into an exam room to be evaluated. Once her treatment was begun they ran out of oxygen. Incredible! Another friend of the family had gone to the Ellis emergency room on another day at noon time for severe back pain (post surgical) and never got into an exam room until 6:30 pm. These healthcare needs are everyday occurrences in a community our size. Waiting 6 to 8 hours for care is not and should not be the norm. I cannot imagine the gravity of the situation should our community find itself in a situation where a large-scale disaster were to occur. I am asking all concerned citizens to join our growing movement Schenectady County Citizens for Hospital Choice. This effects each and everyone of us. No one knows when he or she will need the services of a hospital. With the latest census bureau statistics indicating that Schenectady County is becoming the fastest growing county in the entire Northeast it doesn’t make sense to close a perfectly good hospital and try to service the healthcare needs of a community our size with just one hospital. We need to take action and make our voices and concerns heard; for our own well-being and that of our families and neighbors. Anyone who would like more information can contact me at ciervoca@verizon.net. or by phone 374-5365. This is a catastrophe waiting to happen.
Well folks...this seems to be the last chance we have at rectifying our hospital delema. We must all try to change the serious situation we are in. Perhaps some people here or a loved one have not had to go the the hospital er since this merger. And for that I'm sure you are grateful. But I don't think we should wait until that happens. We have heard the stories and should be doing something NOW to prevent them in the future.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
I know that we all do not have a lot of time to spare these days. I do feel that the issue with our county's hospital situation deserves at least some of our time. I have experienced first hand the inability for the Ellis ER to handle the influx of patients. We need to be pro-active where our health care is concerned.
I would strongly recommend emailing or phoning our concerns and offering any help we can give, with whatever time we have to spare, to the contact information given in "hospitalchoice's" post. ciervoca@verizon.net. or by phone 374-5365
Ellis Hospital Survey Results August 4, 2008 10:16 am – 10:16 am
Last week, we started an informal survey about the care you’ve received at Ellis Hospital since the acquisition/closure of St. Clare’s.
We’ve had an incredible number of people take the survey (over 160 unique respondents) , several sending in comments that they didn’t want posted, or public. Some were concerning care that relatives were currently receiving and they feared that their comments would interfere with the care their loved ones are receiving in the hospital. We can certainely understand fears of retribution and retailiation, and would never expose them to that type of harm, so the comments will not be published.
Here’s the results since July 26, 2008:
94% of respondents have visited the Ellis Hospital Nott Street Campus ER in the past 6 months. 4% of respondents visited the McClellan St. Campus, formerly St Clare’s in the past 6 months. 2% of respondents had visited neither campus in the past 6 months. Reasons for visiting included strokes, chest pain and falls as the most common reason for a visit.
When asked how much time your visit to the ER took (including waiting room, actual ER, lab work, doctor visit, x-rays, etc., the breakdown was as follows:
61% of respondents said: Admitted to the hospital from ER after 8 hours 28% of respondents said: 7 or more hours, not being admitted 9% of respondents said: 6-7 hours 1% of respondents said: 5-6 hours 1% no reply.
Overall, on a scale of 1 to 10, we asked how you’d rate your visit to the ER:
47% indicated: 1 - Horrible 44% indicated: 2 - Much worse than expected 8% indicated: 3 - Worse than expected 1% indicated: 6 - It was O.K.
We’re not going to “analyze” or dissect these results, they pretty much speak for themselves. We’re going to leave the survey open, if there’s a significant number of NEW responses at a later date, we may update the results.
Logged
