Brooklyn's Progress
December 2006/January 2007

BY GENIA GOULD

New York State Governor George Pataki’s Commission on Health Care Facilities in the 21st Century released its highly anticipated and feared report of the state’s stressed health care system. The 240-page report was released by the 18-member panel, led by Stephen Berger, former New York State Social Services Commissioner, on Nov. 28. The recommendations by the panel, also known as the Berger Commission, suggests sweeping changes that includes closing six city hospitals, counting Victory Memorial Hospital (VMH) in Bay Ridge; and merging and reducing service at New York Methodist Hospital in Park Slope and New York Community Hospital in Midwood, resulting in a loss to the neighborhoods of 100 beds.
 
Without VMH, residents in the Bay Ridge area will have to choose between the closest remaining hospital, Lutheran Medical Center, which is ten minutes away, or Maimonides Medical Center which is 20 minutes away.
 
Days following the report, area politicians worried about the implications for the Bay Ridge community of closing VMH, voiced their concern at hearings in Albany.
 
“I will not support gratuitous health care cuts that jeopardize access to care and I will fight to keep Victory Memorial Hospital a functioning acute care hospital.  This community’s health depends on the medical capabilities and services offered at Victory Memorial,” said State Senator Martin Golden (R-Southwest Brooklyn). 
 
Senator Golden said Victory's attempts to remedy its fiscal problems had not impressed the Commission.  The hospital, which recently filed for bankruptcy, earlier approached Maimonides Medical Center about the possibility of taking over the management of the struggling hospital.
 
A plan presented, by both hospitals, to the Regional Advisory Committee was sent to the Commission within what was thought to be an acceptable time frame. But, according to Senator Golden, the proposal was not taken into consideration in the final vote.
 
Council Member Vincent J. Gentile (D-Bay Ridge) said he is pleased the report commended Victory Memorial Hospital’s skilled nursing home and advised it continue serving the community providing health care as a primary care center, but he said, “I am extremely disappointed by the recommendation calling for the closure of Victory Memorial Hospital’s acute care and emergency room departments which serves thousands of residents in Southwest Brooklyn.  I am concerned that the lack of emergency room services in Southwest Brooklyn will deny timely access to health care and endanger the health of residents in the area.”
 
A statement issued from Maimonides Medical Center regarding Victory Memorial Hospital read, “We remain concerned about the impact the commission’s recommendations could have on Brooklynites' ability to access the medical services they need, especially in key areas such as OB/ GYN, emergency and ambulatory care, and geriatrics.  Maimonides Medical Center will continue to work with and support Victory Memorial as it considers the next steps in its strategic restructuring effort.
 
The state legislature and the Governor are expected to decide on the report before the end of the year; if the decision is affirmative, the closing advisory will take effect January 1st.