Peninsula Hospital Center Consents to Appointment of Trustee

Remedial Actions Taken to Re-Open Hospital Laboratory Within Two Weeks

Far Rockaway, NY - Today, Peninsula Hospital announced that it has consented, along with the official committee of unsecured creditors and its lender, Revival Funding, LLC, to the appointment of an Operating Trustee in the Bankruptcy case in order to assist Peninsula towards a reopening of the hospital following the NYSDOH's order to suspend operations on February 23, 2012 due to deficiencies in its laboratory.

At this time Peninsula is working with the union, SEIU 1199, and is instituting short term layoffs to conserve cash while the hospital is on diversion.

A source who is employed at Peninsula Hospital contacted From The G-Man on the morning of March 2 and indicated that a total of 238 employees are expected to be laid off between March 2 and March 5. The source also noted that they personally read a listing of all employees expected to be laid off. 

"Unfortunately, my name is on the list. I got to see the list of names, so the blow was somewhat cushioned. Imagine what the reaction will be for employees that have no idea their name is on the list," said the employee, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

"I feel blindsided, and I know many other employees will also. SEIU 1199 has been missing in action on this, and I don't understand it. The union leadership has said nothing to its members during this entire process, and I suspect a lot of 1199 members at Peninsula are going to want answers in the days and weeks to come," the source concluded.

Management of Peninsula has been working closely with NYSDOH to rectify the laboratory deficiencies and reopen the hospital as soon as possible and has been working around the clock with experts in the field to essentially build a new lab from the ground up.

At the time of the DOH orders, Peninsula had successfully negotiated with its creditors, and all parties in interest have agreed to a term sheet which would allow Peninsula to exit bankruptcy in the spring. Currently, Peninsula’s counsel still anticipates an exit from bankruptcy in mid-May.

Laboratory Status

According to Peninsula Hospital’s CEO Todd Miller, “At the end of December 2011, the hospital began the process of addressing the  necessary lab improvements through a remediation action plan, including revising and updating policies and  procedures, ordering upgrades to equipment and maintenance routines and upgrades to staffing.  It’s a big job but we are working around the clock to get all of the necessary changes completed.”

“All elements in the Department of Health’s Survey of the Lab are expected to be addressed by the hospital by week’s end.  Once these initiatives are complete, the hospital is hopeful that the Department of Health will quickly lift the diversion of the hospital through a satisfactory review of our corrective action plan.”

More information on the hospital shutdown is available in the following New York Daily News article: State Shutdown of Peninsula Hospital

Staff Infections: Medical Professionals Speak Out

A From The G-Man source submitted this exclusive photo to confirm what three medical industry insiders describe as "a dangerous practice" that hospitals and state officials must address.

(Click on photo to enlarge image.)

Say Dirty Scrubs, Lab Coats Worn by Doctors and Staff Place Public's Health at Risk

A FROM THE G-MAN EXCLUSIVE

On August 2, an accomplished and respected member of the medical community contacted From The G-Man and stated his colleagues -- doctors, nurses and various medical personnel -- are jeopardizing public health and safety by continuing to enter and exit hospitals in scrubs and lab coats, which he says is an issue that needs to be seriously addressed by the New York State Health Department and related agencies.

"My medical title is radiology technologist and I've been employed in the field for almost 15 years. I've worked with hospitals that maintained strict policies in relation to scrubs and lab coats being worn outdoors. It was something that you just didn't do, but fewer and fewer hospitals seem to care," said the tech, who asked to be identified only as "MC".

"Some hospitals enforce it, but most don't. The place where the abuse of the lab coat rule is most prevalent, from my experience, is New York Presbyterian - Columbia University Medical Center on 168th Street in Manhattan. St. Luke’s is another offender that I have witnessed, but not as bad," MC stated.

The technician went on the note that he believes this common practice is being completely ignored by hospital administrators and creating extremely unsanitary conditions that can lead to Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and staph infections. The following link provides more information on MRSA infections.

http://www.medicinenet.com/mrsa_infection/article.htm.

From The G-Man spoke with two other sources from the medical community that are equally concerned and in complete agreement with MC’s assessment.

“Susan”, a retired Registered Nurse and Nursing Supervisor who asked that her name be changed to protect her identity, worked for 30 years at a well-known Queens-based hospital.

“I was the most hated person on my floor, without a doubt, because I always challenged nurses and interns for not adhering to quality-care practices and standards,” said Susan.

“I got into the habit of carrying my uniform in a clothing bag when I had to go in, and I would change back to my street clothes when my shift was over. Others would come into work with dirty uniforms, and I would lay into them because they knew better. Many of the doctors and techs were no better. I couldn’t believe how they would walk around in scrubs and lab coats with pen markings or other stains on them. It was supposed to be a sterile environment, for God’s sake!” continued Susan.

“The only reason why they got away with it is because hospital officials, as well as the New York State Department of Health, never said anything. Trust me; there are plenty of other hospitals doing it now.”

In another example of how patient safety may have been compromised, Susan explained that a number of nurses she worked with would wear two or three pairs of latex gloves at a time while treating patients and simply remove one pair as they treated each patient.

“They did that to avoid washing their hands after every patient, which is mandatory for nurses and all medical staff. I fought with so many of them over that,” Susan concluded.

“Trisha”, a medical assistant that has worked for a Washington Heights-based, multi-service clinic for the last five years, was very direct when asked about scrubs, lab coats and – in her specific case – medical assistant uniforms being worn outdoors.

“I think it’s disgusting. I see it on the train all the time when I go into work. During my training, my instructors drilled it into ours heads that we should never wear our uniforms openly because of the threat of contagions or germs,” said Trisha.

“The subway has to be the dirtiest place in New York City, and I’ve seen people do some really nasty things on the train -- from sneezing onto their uniforms to coughing in their hand and then wiping it on their uniform. I don’t put on my uniform until I get to the office, and I take it off before I leave work. Quite frankly, I think the state needs to create a rule and enforce it.”

The 30-year-old medical assistant's claim about subway filth and germs has been substantiated in several published reports that are available online. In 2010, a special report by WABC-TV's Eyewitness News investigative team also revealed that many of the subway cars were not being cleaned properly, or not being cleaned at all, by Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) employees. The segment can be viewed via the following link.

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/investigators&id=7694670

From The G-Man visited New York Presbyterian - Columbia University Medical Center, stood out front for an hour, and watched staff members enter and exit the facility in scrubs, lab coats and other medical attire. Many were also standing or seated out front having lunch or taking "smoke breaks". Upon leaving the area, two hospital workers were seen emerging from a nearby #1 subway station in medical attire that was clearly wrinkled and dirty.

New York Presbyterian - Columbia University Medical Center's Community Affairs and Media Relations representatives were contacted in order to allow the institution an opportunity to present its side of the story regarding this issue. A grace period was given, but comments were not provided by the time this story was posted. From The G-Man will post any and all comments from the hospital representatives as they become available.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta was contacted to find out what the policy is regarding scrubs and lab coats worn outside of medical facilities, and Dr. Michael Bell, Deputy Director of CDC’s Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, addressed the issue.

“Scrubs or any garments that become grossly covered in blood or body fluids such as during childbirth, surgery, etc., should be changed promptly to protect patients and the wearer,” stated Bell.

“The majority of scrubs currently worn in healthcare facilities are equivalent to street clothes in terms of infection control, thus gowns and hand hygiene used as part of standard precautions should be implemented regardless of attire,” Bell added.

“There is currently no indication for all personnel -- as well as deliverymen and visitors, presumably -- entering a healthcare facility to change into special garments and remove them before leaving. The rest of your inquiry would be best suited for the New York State Department of Health, the doctor concluded.”

The New York State Department of Health was also contacted in order to acquire a detailed explanation of the guidelines involving medical attire being worn outside of hospitals and clinics. Jeffrey Hammond, spokesman for the Public Affairs Group, in conjunction with the New York State Department of Health, issued the following statement.

“There are no state rules or regulations about wearing hospital scrubs outside of a facility. There are no scientific data indicating that scrub apparel worn home has been responsible for the transmission of infections of any kind. The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. (APIC) has produced a report related to this issue entitled, “Use of Scrubs and Related Apparel in Health Care Facilities”. A copy of this report is attached for your reference.”

In the interest of the public and all healthcare professionals, From The G-Man has provided the link to the full APIC report below. The report was issued in 1997.

http://www.apic.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=State_of_the_Art_Reports&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=579

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.