"Speak Out" with Assemblywoman Sandy Galef

Assemblywoman Sandy Galef speaks with cardiologist Dr. Richard Becker, Vice President- Physician Administrator, Phelps Memorial Hospital, about the many rapid, dramatic, and confusing changes that are being made in the way health care is delivered in New York. He talks first about the shift in doctors’ practices where small independent practitioners are becoming a thing of the past in favor of large practices and doctors working as specialists employed by hospitals. While the reasons for the change are largely economic there is much to be said for the improvements in care and flexibility in doctors’ lifestyle that has come with the change. He goes on to explain the consolidation in hospital organization that is likely to end up giving us large consortiums. Phelps for example is now one of 25 hospitals under North Shore Long Island Jewish Hospital and Hudson Valley is part of Columbia University. He again explains the reasons for this and comes up with an optimistic assessment of the results.

Galef asks him for his assessment of other big changes like the Affordable Care Act, the digitalization of medical records, and the funding of research. Dr. Becker sees improvements in most areas while acknowledging that the delivery of medicine is a work in progress likely to be adjusted as conditions change. The trend towards consolidation is the way the industry is going now and we’ll see how far it takes us.

“It is reassuring to see the rationale behind so much that is changing in the delivery of medical services,” comments Galef. “While change is often confusing and disconcerting, it is much easier to accept when you understand the reasons for it and the good that it is delivering.”

Tune in to cable television on the following days and times to learn more.

“Speak Out: Changing Health Care” airs as follows:

Cablevision

Airs: October 28, November 4, 11 and 18

Ossining and Peekskill airs on Channel 15: Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m.

(Briarcliff, Ossining, Scarborough, Buchanan, Cortlandt, Croton, Garrison, Montrose, Peekskill, Philipstown South, Verplanck)

Wappingers Falls airs on Channel 21: Wednesdays at 8:30 p.m.

(Cold Spring, Philipstown North)

Comcast

Airs: October 28, November 4 and 11

Carmel and Kent Channel 8: Wednesdays at 7:30