Summit Park - Taking Care Of Our Community

With negotiations now underway in the effort to transfer ownership of the Summit Park Hospital and Nursing Care Center, it's time we recognize the facility's dedicated staff.  Despite months of uncertainty and bad press, these highly-committed health professionals soldier on, providing an excellent level of care and support.  In fact, since taking the job as County Executive in January, I've heard from several families who've praised the Summit Park workforce for the compassion, kindness, dignity and respect being offered to their loved ones.

The ultimate purchase of the nursing home remains a critical element in the County’s economic turnaround. With lower reimbursement rates and increasing costs, the facility continues to lose money, with its future operating deficit expected to grow.  With Rockland County facing an unaudited budget gap of more than $140 million, my hope is that the Local Development Corporation formed to oversee the sale achieves its mission in the very near future.

In the meantime, good things are happening at Summit Park. The Joint Commission, the nation's leading accreditor of health care organizations and programs, recognized the hospital in April for its "Environment of Care" and "Emergency Management" committees. The Commission found that our staff routinely demonstrates a commitment to the highest level of care for the patients.  TJC also gave high marks to our well-practiced emergency procedures. Aside from strong "Lockdown" and "Active Shooter" policies, the hospital and nursing home are prepped to be self-sufficient for a minimum of 96 hours in a worst-case scenario.

Operations at both the hospital and nursing home remain at full throttle, even as the LDC seeks to transfer ownership. Inside the facility, it's "business as usual," with new patients arriving this month from Hackensack University and Holy Name Medical Centers in New Jersey and White Plains Hospital. We continue to make a significant investment in quality on a day-to-day basis from the top down.

Summit Park continues to be distinguished from other local hospitals by its coveted designation as a Long Term Acute Care Hospital. (LTACH). While a traditional hospital offers general services, such as emergency rooms and maternity wards, Summit Park is the only facility between New York City and the Finger Lakes Region specializing in treating chronically ill patients and others who can no longer stay at a regular hospital, but remain too weak to go home.

Because of the intensive LTACH medical services offered, the hospital is staffed with a salaried physician around the clock. Our in-house doctors not only offer a higher level of care to patients with serious medical problems, but provide 24/7 medical coverage to residents at the adjacent nursing home.  You will be hard-pressed to find other nursing homes with resident physicians.   

It's no secret: the Summit Park Hospital and Nursing Care Center suffers from an image problem. But, most local residents only know part of the story.  In the past few years, the facility has become known for safety, teamwork and collaboration in the delivery of clinical care while providing a patient experience that is compassionate and caring. As your County Executive, it's my job to make certain our residents know the facts.