UC CHAMBER SAYS "CUT & RUN"

Leaders of Ulster County’s business community have come out in favor of County Executive Michael Hein’s plan to privatize the Golden Hill Health Care Center.

Yup., that's all we needed to hear. The Chamber, just like the League of Women Voters, were well aware that the Executive had his LDC plan in place for over a year, finally comes out with a high-five in favor of privatization. Surprize there!

Ironically, when I pulled this article up on the Freeman website, I was first confronted with a push bubble asking which of the Republican candidates for President I would chose. I was like, I have to see these faces this early in the morning?
How would I know that I was going to read about another one in just a few seconds.

For people who actually think that government and especially healthcare, should be run like a business, it comes as no shock to anyone that the Chamber would go this route. In this aspect, they are no different than the National Chamber in their pursuit of "Cut and Run" budget management.

 

The press release said the chamber’s Government Affairs Committee has been meeting for the past several months with the Hein administration, county Legislature representatives and residents and employees of Golden Hill to understand the benefits of privatizing the nursing home.
 
The benefits of privatizing would be limited to whom ever owns the facility and/or the stock holders. Understandably, Hein welcomed the chamber board’s vote.
 
Exec Hein said: “I am pleased to see the growing support within the community for this plan that both keeps Golden Hill open and moves it into private ownership, there is no question these decisions are difficult, but my commitment is to both protect taxpayers and make sure services get delivered.” At this point, I half expected to hear him say he found WMDs in Iraq as well.
 
Hein has appointed three members of his administration to sit on the corporation’s board. Those three members will draft bylaws detailing the final composition of the board and the rules under which it will operate. If this LDC is to happen, the Legislature should hold a majority of seats on that board. I don't see how the needs of the facility's clients will be addressed otherwise. It's bad enough that we are disturbing an entity that works, let alone hand it over to an unaffiliated private operator who's sole directive is profit. Sounds right for the Chamber.
 
One factor that escapes most people is that the $8Million that the LDC is poised to borrow isn't for the upkeep or past debt of Golden Hill. It's for the general revenue shortcomings in the 2012 budget. With a million dollars in annual pay-checks coming out of the Executive's office, we can't reform departments like DSS, and trimming upper management? Sheesh!
And you wonder why the middle class has taken to the streets across America.

HEALTH OF GOLDEN HILL COMMITTEE

Anyone who passed the Ulster County office Building on Fair Street Tuesday evening, would have seen quite the gathering of people along the sidewalk. Those people were the tireless supporters of Golden Hill Nursing Home and advocates of keeping the facility county operated.

 

Numbers reaching up to 150 according to authorities, they held signs and banners while chanting the expected "Save Our Nursing Home" and "Seniors Are Not For Sale" slogans. Everyone was smiling and the sun was holding back the chill on that not-so-spring day.

Inside however, Ulster County legislators assembled for the committee meeting scheduled for just this issue. Its no secret that many legislators are beginning to line up in favor of "Build New-Keep It County" for the nursing home. 
 
As noted in the Freeman: Mary Sheeley (D-Ellenville) said "The county has “a moral obligation to take care of those who can no longer care for themselves.” Followed by Frank Fellicello (R-Marlboro) who said: “I firmly believe we should own (a) facility, and we should make it better than what exists now." I couldn't have said it better myself. 

 
Let me say that I have seen a different side of some of my colleagues as this issue has developed. To see members who I suspected in opposition come forward and advocate for the continued stellar service the County provides at Golden Hill actually alters the broad strokes we create when painting the political opposition. I think it's a good thing. 
It reminds us that we all come from our life experiences through different paths and the labels we share are merely generalities. Each issue that comes our way, brings a new window to how each of us thinks. 

At the meeting, the voices joining the chorus for "Keeping it County" were not only Sheeley & Fellicello, but Provenzano, Parete, Harris, Maloney, Wadnola, Belfiglio and Briggs. Both Ronk and Mayo were present. Neither indicated any similar support that I heard. Gregorius stated he felt rushed and didn't feel satisfied with the process or the limited amount of information we've been offered. I think Hayes feels the same way.  
 

As noted: The Health and Human Services Committee, which will make a final recommendation to the full Legislature about the future of the 280-bed nursing home, is giving other lawmakers until April 15 to weigh in on the issue. I will be lending my support to "Keep It County" as well. 
Building new could offer the option of splitting the facility into two locations to better serve the county. Rob Parete's outline to include rehab enhancing services within any future campus is genious. 
 
The committee expects to vote on its final recommendation by its July meeting.
Building a new facility would cost about $71 million and take about two years to complete. With a restructured state reimbursement, added revenues on-site and possibly shedding other vacated buildings, a new Golden Hill just might operate in the black. Either way, it still befuddles me that the Legislature of the past was more than willing to spend what they did on criminals and now we hesitate to do even less for the elderly. 

Note: There will be a Tea Party rally at the same location April 4th at 4:30 in favor of selling the Licence to a private firm.

GOLDEN HILL IN COMPLIANCE

After years of reports of a crumbling structure and physical risk to clients and staff, the State Health Department informs the public that Golden Hill is not falling down around our residents.

 

Yes, we have financial issues facing us. The facility is over 40 years old and has built-in deterrents to modernization upgrades, but that doesn't mean evacuation under emergency status is looming. 

 

While attending meetings in an office building atmosphere may be informative and convenient, I knew we would all read about it the next day. I however made the unexpected visit a few evenings ago and took some pictures. Although obviously dated, the place was maintained, clean and hardly distinguishable from other "For-Profit" facilities I've been in recently. 

 

I caught the 'Activities Team' [pictured above] still planning the next day's events in their small corner at the end of one hallway. All expressed their concerns about the future of Golden Hill while remaining focused on what they were going to do the next day to engage the residents.

 
While the speakers told the Legislature that “The residents are absolutely safe.” We cant help but reflect on the anomaly in health safety we experienced last year. Understanding that such a tragic loss like that could happen anywhere there are extended piping systems and non-flushed water lines doesn't shake the fact that Golden Hill is old, out dated and exposed to health risks. 

 

 

Still, I need only cross the river and visit some friends at Ferncliff Nursing Home to hear stories about their care. For fear of being sued, I wont repeat them here. 

It's a "For-Profit" facility that operates much the same way anything private is run. Minimal expense, minimal staff and ever increasing cost to the client. I wont talk about the "ClenliFactor" either.

Oddly, the state reimburses such facilities at a much higher rate per bed than they do County run facilities such as Golden Hill. Go figure.

 

A cynical person would suggest the private firms have a good lobby in Albany, pushing for the continued decrease in funding so as to push local government funded homes to the breaking point. I can see how someone would come to that conclusion. 

 

In recent months, I have heard numerous times how the Legislature knew Golden Hill was in a predicament for many years and didn't act when it could have cost a whole lot less than it does now. Why municipalities ALWAYS do this is beyond me. Both parties have had control of the Legislature during this time of inquiry. Now the choices are limited.

 
I lean toward building a new county run facility with a higher number of beds if possible. Close to the current building would be preferable. The future of the current building would be a fight for another time. 

The other option I am open to would be two smaller facilities with one located at the southern end of Ulster County. Either way, the county would have to negotiate a more equitable reimbursement policy with the state. 

GOLDEN HILL AND OUR HEALTH

Most of us are aware of the incidence of Legionnaires' disease at the Golden Hill Nursing facility in Kingston. In the last several days, the authorities and health officials have gone through the building and grounds to look for the source and the means to eradicate the bacteria.

I attended the quickly called meeting of the Health & Human Services Committee (HHS) a few days ago and left with a renewed sense of confidence in our health staff and diminished fears of what the future hold for the current residents.

You've heard about the hot-water flush they have done to the domestic water pipes. It was one of very few options to achieve this goal, it's also the least threatening to the water system that is already well past it's prime. Because of the weak pipes throughout the building, Lowe Plumbing was called in to have personnel stationed with equipment on the ready to shut down any leaks that may occur when the flush is done.

We know 17 of the 32 samples taken from locations throughout the facility revealed evidence of the bacteria. But we were also informed at the meeting, that Legionella is not that uncommon in New York State. Anywhere that water is transported through long distance pipes at mild temperatures is susceptible to contaminants. Hot water pipes in at Golden Hill travel as far as 400 feet from the water heater. Legionella, like other forms of Pneumonia, take hold and cause harm in persons with compromised health immunities.

The name of the disease stems from the original cases in the 70's where the American Legion Hall was frequented by the elderly and thus fertile ground to cause an epidemic. The situation is similar here in that clients at Golden Hill are more susceptible than the general public. Persons with compromised health situations anywhere are more susceptible to complications from exposure.

One client at Golden Hill passed away recently and, although not the cause of death, Legionella was present in the client's system. Thus, tests were done on anyone with respiratory ailments and another was discovered. I understand that when only one person is afflicted with Legionella at any one location, it usually goes unannounced throughout the state. Only when there are two or more, does the New York State officials get involved at this level.

I should also point out that not only have the Golden Hill staff been terrific in their handling of this issue, but the fact that Health Director La Mar Hasbrouck is an actual MD which provided such a wealth of insight and training during what could have been a bigger disaster.

The City of Kingston Water Department does monthly testing of the water at the facility, taken at several random locations during the year, but they do no have the ability to test for Legionella. This too will change. Only hours after the incident was confirmed, KWD offered as solution to the problem. A little late I'd say. Other means will be instituted for the continued testing of the water.

This will no doubt spur the conversation once again about what the county should do about it's ancient Health Care Campus and whether the county should be in the health care business at all. The service is high quality, but the cost to the taxpayer will continue to increase until the federal government provides a clearer message as to where funding sources and insurance payments will come from.

What struck me was at one point someone said: "We are going to flush the new wing first". The age of the new wing? Early 70's.
It's still called the new wing! Good grief.