Adirondack Medical Center Testifies on Behalf of AMC to Rightsizing Commission

SARANAC LAKE – On Wednesday, March 1^st, Tri-Lakes community leaders testified on behalf of Adirondack Medical Center at the Northern Region public hearing for the Commission on Health Care Facilities in the 21^st Century, i.e. the hospital rightsizing commission. Chandler Ralph, President & CEO, Adirondack Medical Center; Jeffery Byrne, Vice President, Olympic Regional Development Authority; and Bradford Stephens, M.D., Orthopedic Surgeon for Lake Placid Sports Medicine, traveled to CVPH in Plattsburgh to testify to the strengths of AMC and the need for the hospital to be left untouched by the Commission’s possible downsizing mandates.

Each of the three testimonies emphasized the importance of AMC to the community and why it is so vital to keep AMC strong in size in order to maintain the specialized and comprehensive care that the Medical Center provides for year-round residents and visitors. “AMC is the only acute care hospital within a 50 mile radius of the Tri-Lakes Region,” said Ralph at the afternoon hearing. “We serve our population as the sole healthcare provider and a community safety net.” Jeffery Byrne discussed the need for a facility like AMC in order to continue hosting world class and international sporting events. “Just last year, ORDA staff called 87 ambulances and advised over 260 people to seek medical attention from AMC at our Whiteface Mountain ski venue,” said Byrne. “Without a strong medical center such as AMC, we cannot provide the comprehensive services our athletes and visitors need.”

Dr. Brad Stephens discussed the specialties of the physicians that work with and for AMC. He summarized his testimony by mentioning the range of specialties available in the northeastern region of New York State and how impressive the services are in this rural area. He continued by remarking on how the caliber of Adirondack Medical Center enables the physicians of this area to live up to the long tradition of quality healthcare in the Tri-Lakes region and enables them to continue to give impressive and specialized medical attention to their patients.

The three testimonies on behalf of AMC addressed the six major criteria the commission is using to develop its closure and downsizing methodology:  vulnerable populations, availability of services, quality of care, utilization, viability and economic impact. “We all testified today because we work in healthcare and are committed to improving the system,” said Ralph in her closing statement to the Regional Advisory Committee on Wednesday. “Combined with the strengths of other North Country hospitals, AMC is uniquely positioned to provide the best, most comprehensive care possible for our patients, who are often family members, friends and neighbors.”

Each New York State region has a Regional Advisory Committee (RAC) to ensure that the particular needs of each region will be fully considered. Each RAC is responsible for conducting formal, public hearings in order to solicit input from local stakeholders, i.e. hospitals and those testifying on behalf of them. Each RAC will use the information they learn in the regional testimonies to develop recommendations for the possible reconfiguration of the number and location of its region’s hospital and nursing home beds in accordance with the regional and local needs.

            The Commission on Health Care Facilities in the 21^st Century is a panel created by Governor Pataki and the New York State Legislature to address and review healthcare capacity and resources within the state. This Commission was created to ensure that the regional and local supply of hospital and nursing home facilities is best configured to respond to its communities’ needs. Some hospital’s will be downsized, some closed, and others untouched.

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	Adirondack Medical Center's Bariatric Program and Dr. Michael Hill have been designated as a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Bariatric Surgery.