All Parkway Hospital Told To Close Without Given Appropriate Time To Restructure, New York State

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 25 Sep 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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One of the only two proprietary acute care hospitals in New York, providing a complete array of services to the largest block of senior citizens in Queens, is being forced to close by the New York State Department of Health without being given an appropriate amount of time to restructure.

All Parkway Hospital is asking for is an extension to properly execute a restructuring plan without leaving a vacuum in the already fragile Queens healthcare network. The New York State Department of Health is insisting that the facility close in (5) five days, on September 30th. This will not allow the institution enough time to adequately transition its approximately 600 employees, 75% of whom live, locally, in Queens and are union members.

Not to speak of the disruption of services to the over 600 physicians that currently are affiliated with the hospital. To make matters worse, this will also cause the loss of a thirty-million dollar tax base. All currently scheduled surgical procedures and inpatient services will cease abruptly.

To be physically removed, in a cavalier fashion, by the NYSDOH is unacceptable and unfair to the residents of Queens. For this reason, a petition has been filed with the Queens Supreme Court which asks for an opportunity for the hospital and the community to be heard.

The purpose of the hearing is to allow for continuity of care for the community while the hospital transitions into a different kind of healthcare institution.

Frederick Stewart
Vice President
Marketing & New Business Development
The New Parkway Hospital
70-44 Grand Central Parkway
Forest Hills, New York 11375
http://www.parkwayhospital.org

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