BREAKING NEWS: Peninsula Hospital Shut Down

Source: "All Employees Will Be Officially Terminated March 30"

Far Rockaway, NY - A an employee of Peninsula Hospital Center, which has been plagued with fiscal problems and was undergoing a "reconstruction" to keep the facility open, has informed From The G-Man that the beleaguered hospital was shut down today and that security has been posted at the front and rear entrances.

The source also stated that a notice was posted at the front entrance instructing employees to enter through the back of the hospital to find out the details surrounding the abrupt closure.

Employees protested the closing by conducting a sit-in on the front lawn of the hospital, while others spoke to various broadcast media outlets.

"I'm in complete shock. This came completely out of left field, and I just don't understand how they can do this to people," said the employee, who chose not to have their name disclosed. 

From The G-Man was also informed that a special meeting was held and that a decision had been made to officially terminate all employees on March 30.

"I feel confident in saying that unless there is a last-minute miracle, Peninsula Hospital will no longer exist as of March 30," said the source.  

Attempts were made to contact Liz Sulik, Director, External Affairs & Development at Peninsula Hospital Center, to confirm the pending terminations and obtain more detailed information on the situation, but an assistant noted the representative was unavailable for comment.    

"As far as I know, Sulik was probably let go already, which is why you were told she's unavailable. I suspect her name was on the list of employees that were laid off a couple of weeks ago," the source stated. 

From The G-Man began covering this story back in 2011 after various inside sources contacted this site and revealed details regarding the hospital's dire financial state.

The following articles offer a timeline of events leading up to the facility's closure.

http://fromthegman.blogspot.com/2011/07/peninsula-hospital-center-targeted-for.html

http://fromthegman.blogspot.com/2011/08/medisys-pulls-out-of-peninsula-hospital.html

http://fromthegman.blogspot.com/2011/08/peninsula-hospital-center-resumes-er.html

http://fromthegman.blogspot.com/2011/09/peninsula-hospital-on-road-to-recovery.html 

http://fromthegman.blogspot.com/2012/03/peninsula-hospital-center-consents-to.html

Peninsula Hospital Center Resumes ER Services

Decision Allows Investors More Time to Come Up with Rescue Plan

According to a statement by Peninsula Hospital Center's spokeswoman, Liz Sulik, the financially-troubled hospital's emergency room will continue to render services to the Far Rockaway community while potential investors seeks ways to acquire the facility.

According to Sulik, it will continue to accept walk-ins, and current patients would be not transferred to St. John's Episcopal Hospital as originally scheduled.

The hospital was slated to close its emergency room at 11 p.m. on August 24. From The G-Man will continue to monitor this story closely and provide details as they become available.

The Writing's on the Wall

Efforts to Save Peninsula Hospital Center Fall Short

Sources inside Peninsula Hospital Center provided From The G-Man with an exclusive photo that indicates efforts to save the financially-distressed, Far Rockaway facility have proved unsuccessful.

Last week, New York's WPIX Channel 11 reported that secret investors were scheduled to meet with members of Peninsula's Board of Directors to try and negotiate a deal to keep the hospital from shutting down. The New York State Department of Health had given hospital officials until August 19 to submit documents indicating that an agreement had been reached between the two parties. However, many hospital employees are unclear as to if the meeting actually took place.

"Based on signs that have been placed on practically every door of the hospital, it appears that no meeting took place. If it did, it's pretty clear to me that it didn't go too well," said a five-year employee of the hospital. The employee spoke to From The G-Man under the condition that their name would not be revealed.

"I have no idea what will happen next. Many of us don't. Now that MediSys has pulled out, everyone is worried if they will have a paycheck come payday. The hospital has no money, so who's going to make sure we get paid -- and how can we be sure that paychecks won't bounce when we deposit them into our accounts? People are scared. We have families to feed and bills to pay. It's like no one gives a damn about the employees, and it's just wrong."

From The G-Man placed a call the hospital emergency room, and an employee confirmed, with great sadness, that the ER would no longer be serving members of the community as of August 24.

On August 16, From The G-Man reported that hospital employees were at a loss to explain why more was not being done to save the financially-distressed facility, especially in the wake of a Consumer Report Health report that stated that Peninsula Hospital Center is the only hospital in the entire metropolitan area to successfully prevent patients from acquiring an infection while in the hospital, particularly a bloodstream infection -- a problem faced by many facilities across the country. .

http://fromthegman.blogspot.com/2011/08/medisys-pulls-out-of-peninsula-hospital.html

In addition, on August 9, a key source inside Peninsula Hospital Center expressed grave concerns regarding the validity of the contract and/or deal between MediSys and Peninsula Hospital Center.

The source also stated that many employees, including emergency room staff, were unclear as to whether or not the hospital was still allowing patients to be admitted into the emergency room. From The G-Man spoke to an emergency room staff member to find out if patients were still being admitted and if a mandate had been issued to shut its doors.

"As far as I know, we're still admitting them. Now, if we're supposed to be admitting them, that is a really good question," said the staff member, who chose to remain anonymous.

"We have been demonstrating every night at seven o’clock in front of Peninsula Hospital. We are going to be there until it closes, and if and when it closes, we are going to be there demanding an investigation," said John Baxter, a well-known activist and life-long resident of the Rockaway area.

"Peninsula is not like any other community. In the last census, the population in New York State went down enough for the state to loose two Congressmen. In Rockaway Beach, the population is increasing at an alarming rate, and when the development of Arverne by the Sea is complete, thousands of new residents will be added. We will be fighting until the last dog dies," concluded Baxter.

MediSys Pulls Out of Peninsula Hospital Deal

Peninsula Hospital Center in Far Rockaway, New York

Key Hospital Source Tells 'From The G-Man' Contract May Not Have Been Valid

A FROM THE G-MAN EXCLUSIVE

On July 27, 2011, From The G-Man reported that the management of Peninsula Hospital Center (PHC) and the MediSys Health Network Inc. have been working with the New York State Department of Health and other parties to try and find a workable solution to the deep financial crisis facing Peninsula Hospital Center.

Peninsula has been struggling financially for several years prior to its sponsorship by MediSys, the Queens and Brooklyn based network that has attempted to make Peninsula financially viable in the current difficult economic market.

A series of meetings were held recently that included discussions with St. John’s Episcopal Hospital, Local 1199, and State officials, among others, to develop approaches to meet the health care needs of the Rockaway communities. Without a long-term solution that puts Peninsula Hospital Center on the path to fiscal recovery, an organized closure may be the only option.

"Everything possible is being done in the best interest of the communities’ healthcare needs and we will continue to work with the State DOH and other parties during this process," said Ole W. Pedersen, Vice President of Public Affairs for Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. Jamaica Hospital Medical Center is a part of the MediSys Health Network.

According to information cited on the MediSys website, a recent Consumer Reports Health (CRH) report stated that Peninsula Hospital Center is the only hospital in the entire metropolitan area to successfully prevent patients from acquiring an infection while in the hospital, particularly a bloodstream infection, which is a problem faced by many facilities across the country.

Hospital employees contacted From The G-Man to note that they were at a loss to explain why more was not being done to save the financially-distressed facility, especially in the wake of the CRH report. Moreover, on August 9, a key source inside Peninsula Hospital Center expressed grave concerns regarding the validity of the contract and/or deal between MediSys and PHC.

The source also stated that many employees, including emergency room staff, were unclear as to whether or not the hospital was still allowing patients to be admitted into the emergency room. From The G-Man spoke to an emergency room staff member about whether or not patients were still being admitted or if a mandate had been issued to shut its doors.

"As far as I know, we're still admitting them. Now, if we're supposed to be admitting them, that's a really good question," said the staff member, who chose to remain anonymous.

In effort to obtain clarity, the following email was sent to the Jamaica Hospital Medical Center's (JHMC) public relations department, which is listed as the primary contact on the MediSys website.

from Gary Toms fromthegman@gmail.com to NATIFIA GAINES date Wed, Aug 10, 2011 at 11:38 AM subject Re: Jamaica Hospital the Only Facility in Queens to Offer New Asthma Treatment mailed-by gmail.com Images from this sender are always displayed. Don't display from now on.

hide details Aug 10 (4 days ago)

Got it! (Smiles) I'll post this on my news site today and send you think link to share with executives and staff.

Now, having said that, I need you to do something for me. I received a call from a trusted source inside Peninsula Hospital Center, which as you know is slated to close. The source informed me of two things:

1. Members of the hospital's staff and Board feel blindsided by the closure because none of them were privy to the contract with Medisys or the fact that the agreement was officially signed by the hospital and Medisys executives.

Therefore, many in the hospital are unclear as to who actually runs it. Can you comment on who runs the facility and whether or not everyone on the Peninsula Hospital Board was made aware of the contract stipulations?

2. Reports within the hospital claim patients are not being admitted, but one doctor is vowing to keep admitting them as long as they're coming in. Has a directive actually been issued? If so, who gave the order to stop admitting patients to the ER?

If at all possible, please provide comments by 5 pm today. If you will need more time, please email me indicating so.

Thanks!

From The G-Man was informed, by two different PHC sources -- that an emergency meeting took place between MediSys and PHC Board of Directors on Thursday, August 11. According to the sources, a PHC Board member emerged from the meeting and stated that MediSys would no longer be involved with the PHC deal.

On Friday, August 12, From The G-Man placed calls to the JHMC/MediSys public relations department and the CEO of Peninsula Hospital, Robert Levine, to confirm the MediSys deal had been terminated and to obtain an explanation for the decision. Calls were not returned by Levine, but Ole W. Pedersen, Vice President of Public Affairs for JHMC/Medisys submitted the following statement shortly before this article was published.

"The Peninsula Hospital Center Board held a special meeting on Tuesday, August 9, 2011. During that meeting they voted to rescind their original letter to the New York State Department of Health, which had informed them of the hospital's closure. As a result of this decision by the Peninsula Board, The MediSys Health Network convened on emergency meeting on Wednesday, August 10th and approved the following actions: Effective 5:00 p.m. Monday, August 22, the MediSys Health Network will withdraw as the sole corporate sponsor of Peninsula Hospital Center and its affiliated nursing home. In addition, MediSys will terminate, as of that date, the provision of all administrative and shared services. MediSys will continue to work with the New York State Department of Health and all other concerned parties throughout this process."

In March of 2011, Crain's New York and other news outlets reported that MediSys had fired its CEO, David Rosen, over bribery and corruption charges involving the late New York State Assemblyman Anthony Seminerio. State Senator Carl Kruger and Assemblyman William Boyland, Jr. were indicted in the case.

Read the story here:
http://www.nonprofitquarterly.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10611:medisys-board-finally-fires-ceo-who-was-charged-with-bribery-in-2008&catid=155:nonprofit-newswire&Itemid=986

In an unrelated story, but one that has a MediSys link, several shots were fired at the vehicle of Assemblyman Boyland on the evening of August 10, the same day that From The G-Man sent its email to MediSys.

The New York Times reported the following:

"The shooting occurred about 6 p.m. while Mr. Boyland, who was returning from a barber shop, was driving near the intersection of Saratoga and Sutter Avenues in Brownsville, the authorities said. After hearing several shots ring out, Mr. Boyland pulled over and called the police, Inspector Royster said, adding that initially, Mr. Boyland, 40, did not know that the vehicle he was driving, a 2009 G.M.C., had been struck."

Read the story here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/12/nyregion/boylands-suv-was-hit-by-random-shot-police-think.html?_r=1

Peninsula Hospital Center Targeted for Closure

Rockaway-Based Hospital Recently Received Perfect Score from Consumer Reports Health

Far Rockaway, New York - The management of Peninsula Hospital Center and the MediSys Health Network Inc. have been working with the New York State Department of Health and other parties to try and find a workable solution to the deep financial crisis facing Peninsula Hospital Center.

Peninsula has been struggling financially for several years prior to its sponsorship by MediSys, the Queens and Brooklyn based network that has attempted to make Peninsula financially viable in the current difficult economic market.

A series of meetings were held recently that included discussions with St. John’s Episcopal Hospital, Local 1199, and State officials, among others, to develop approaches to meet the health care needs of the Rockaway communities. Without a long-term solution that puts Peninsula Hospital Center on the path to fiscal recovery, an organized closure may be the only option.

"Everything possible is being done in the best interest of the communities’ healthcare needs and we will continue to work with the State DOH and other parties during this process," said Ole W. Pedersen, Vice President of Public Affairs for Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. Jamaica Hospital Medical Center is a part of the MediSys Health Network.

According to information cited on the MediSys website, a recent Consumer Reports Health (CRH) report stated that Peninsula Hospital Center is the only hospital in the entire metropolitan area to successfully prevent patients from acquiring an infection while in the hospital, particularly a bloodstream infection, which is a problem faced by many facilities across the country.

"Several years ago, Peninsula Hospital Center made a concerted effort to cut our hospital-acquired, critical care bloodstream infection rate to zero by instituting new standards of practice in critical care where central line bloodstream infections are most often acquired," said Eunmi Kim, RN, Director, Critical Care Units at Peninsula Hospital.

"Hospitals report their own statistics, which is then verified by the New York State Department of Health. In our case, the investigators were here for two days going through charts and medical records thoroughly to validate and verify our results before releasing them to the public."

CRH compared the infection rates for 1,119 U.S. hospitals, 178 were in New York. Most New York City hospitals received an "average" rating, while a few others received "worse than average" rating. According to the report, the most deadly bloodstream infections are most commonly associated with central line catheters inserted directly into a large vein. These type of infections kill 90,000 Americans every year.

Peter A. Galvin, M.D., the Hospital Center's Chief Medical Officer, was quick to point out the commitment of the hospital's nursing staff.

"They took it upon themselves to set a goal of a zero central-line infection rate. They educated themselves as well as the attending and resident physicians and the results are a reflection of their diligence and dedication to excellent patient care. As evidenced by the statistics reported by Consumer Reports Health, Peninsula Hospital Center achieved a goal that none of the larger, well-known and well-endowed hospitals throughout the City of New York could achieve. That speaks directly to the commitment and expertise of our staff, as well as our commitment to patient safety."

From The G-Man contacted the offices of New York State Senator Malcolm Smith and Assemblywoman Michelle Titus -- who represent the district where the ill-fated facility is located -- for comments regarding the hospital's closure. No comments were provided by the elected officials.

Image courtesy of http://medisys.typepad.com.