State Sen. Zellnor Y. Myrie on Friday pressured that he was telling “the reality” concerning the proposed closure of SUNY Downstate Hospital in Central Brooklyn.
“You’ll have seen SUNY-Downstate within the information over the previous a number of weeks. I wished to take a second to ensure you have the details, and that you recognize precisely the place I stand,” mentioned Myrie, whose grandmother hailed from Jamaica, in a message to constituents in his 20th Senate District that encompasses SUNY Downstate Hospital.
“SUNY-Downstate Hospital is a full-service hospital that has served our neighborhood for generations. SUNY-Downstate is one in all solely two Regional Perinatal Facilities (RPCs) in Brooklyn, offering advanced look after high-risk pregnancies and deliveries. Downstate additionally has Brooklyn’s solely kidney transplant program,” added Myrie, who has been within the vanguard of protecting open the key hospital within the apex of the Caribbean neighborhood in Brooklyn.
“In January, the State introduced plans to shut SUNY-Downstate hospital and ship sufferers elsewhere for care. The governor and SUNY Chancellor have known as this their plan a ‘transformation,’ however we should be clear: their plan is to shutter the hospital,” he accentuated. “The governor has requested us to approve this plan by April 1, 2024. Meaning our neighborhood has barely two months to combat for a plan that actually serves our wants, as a substitute of 1 that can scale back entry to healthcare the place it’s wanted most.”
Myrie pointed to a current research by the State’s Division of Well being that states that Brooklyn’s security internet hospitals are at capability.
“But underneath the governor and SUNY’s plan, Downstate’s sufferers could be transferred to a different hospital that’s already bursting on the seams,” the State Senator mentioned. “What impression will this have on Central Brooklyn’s girls and youngsters, who already wrestle to obtain high-quality care?”
He mentioned whereas lots of his colleagues in authorities, together with the governor, have made a reason behind maternal healthcare and well being fairness, “what’s extra vital than our rhetoric is what we truly do.”
Myrie mentioned that, final 12 months, legislators handed a invoice within the State Senate, with bipartisan help, to construct a community-driven course of to create a sustainability plan for SUNY-Downstate. The invoice didn’t cross within the Meeting.
“I’ve persistently voted to extend Medicaid reimbursement charges, and sponsored laws to enhance the monetary standing of all our safety-net hospitals, together with Downstate,” Myrie mentioned. “In 2022, we wrote a legislation requiring a report on Downstate’s infrastructure wants. The State has not complied with that legislation, but they’re basing their complete plan to shut Downstate on its alleged ‘capital wants’”.
He famous that final Thursday Gov. Kathy Hochul confirmed that the State will assist Downstate financially— “however provided that the hospital closes.”
“I reject this plan, and I consider the neighborhood mustn’t have to barter our lives over the subsequent six weeks of the price range course of,” Myrie mentioned. “As a substitute, we have to heart our neighborhood’s wants and provide you with a plan that actually invests in Central Brooklyn with out decreasing care.”
“On Feb. 29, we’ll be holding a rally exterior of SUNY-Downstate to make our voices heard in opposition to the governor and SUNY’s plan,” he added. “Within the meantime, I encourage you to contact the governor and SUNY Chancellor to share your opinion on their plan to shut the hospital: Gov. Kathy Hochul, name (518) 474-8390; SUNY Chancellor John King, e-mail: [email protected], or name 518-320-1355.
“I need to guarantee you that I’ll by no means cease preventing for well being fairness in our neighborhood, and can proceed to oppose any plan that reduces care in Central Brooklyn,” Myrie vowed.
As protests heighten in urging Gov. Hochul and State College of New York (SUNY) Chancellor King to reverse course on the proposed closure of SUNY Downstate Hospital, State Assemblyman Brian Cunningham additionally vowed final week by no means to help closing the key hospital in Central Brooklyn.
“I need to tackle the current considerations relating to the way forward for Downstate Hospital. Let me be unequivocal: Closing SUNY Downstate is just not an possibility that’s on the desk or one which I’d ever help,” mentioned Cunningham, consultant for the 43rd Meeting District in Central Brooklyn, in a message to constituents on Friday.
“Nevertheless, it’s no secret that Downstate, like many hospitals throughout our borough and state, faces monetary challenges attributable to Medicare reimbursement charges set by the federal authorities,” added the son of a Jamaican immigrant mom. “Designating the hospital as a COVID-only hospital has solely exacerbated its monetary state of affairs by limiting the procedures carried out on the positioning.
“Final month, the governor and chancellor developed a plan they believed would each save the establishment and supply the standard care the neighborhood deserves. I’ve been clear that neighborhood enter and engagement should be on the forefront of the dialog,” Cunningham continued. “I’m dedicated to preserving the healthcare sources and jobs that the establishment offers.
“Whereas I’m open to a reimagining course of to make sure long-term stability and solvency, I can not and won’t stand for a course of that doesn’t put our communities’ wants first,” he mentioned, stating that he just lately launched laws with Sen. Kevin Parker, consultant for the 21st Senate District in Brooklyn, which might set up a SUNY Downstate Medical Assist Fund to supply monetary help for infrastructural upgrades and enlargement.
Cunningham mentioned this invoice will facilitate analysis and growth grants in medical and health-related fields, provide scholarships and monetary help, and help neighborhood well being initiatives and outreach packages.
As well as, he mentioned the Brooklyn Well being Care Fee could be established in analyzing the system of common hospitals, nursing houses, ambulatory and first care services, and medical college services in Kings County, and recommending modifications to that system.
“These two payments, coupled with A07546, authored by Sen. (Zellnor) Myrie and me, will develop a sustainability plan for the State College of New York’s Downstate Medical Middle,” Cunningham mentioned. “As the method continues, my fellow elected officers and I can be in shut contact with SUNY management and the general public.
“The work of governing is difficult, and requires the lively participation of its citizenry,” he added. “I’ll proceed to combat for the neighborhoods of Central Brooklyn, whereas I’m in Albany, and I sit up for making certain our priorities and values are mirrored in each my laws and the New York State Funds.”
Two Tuesdays in the past, Myrie joined colleagues, healthcare staff and labor leaders in a large rally in Albany in interesting to Hochul and King to halt the proposed closure of SUNY Downstate Hospital.
“Our neighborhood, our folks, walked previous fridges with useless folks in them; we had medical doctors who had coronary heart assaults; and you’ve got the temerity to inform us you need us to go; how pricey you!” Myrie advised the vociferous rally in Albany.
“’We would like you to serve’, and we serve; and, for that, we get a slap within the face,” added Myrie, flanked by colleagues, healthcare staff and labor leaders. “After I had COVID, Downstate saved my life, and also you inform us Downstate has to shut.
“We reject this plan!” he declared. “And don’t come to Central Brooklyn for votes as a result of that is an election cycle. You’ll hear from us till justice is completed.”
George Gresham, president of the labor union 1199SEIU, advised the rally: “We can not sit idle whereas New York’s hospitals fall like dominoes— Kingsbrook Jewish, Japanese Niagara, Mt. Sinai Beth Israel, and now SUNY Downstate.
“Hospital closures have dire penalties for our state, significantly in low-income communities and communities of colour, which have already got fewer hospital beds and face obtrusive healthcare inequities,” he warned. “With New York sitting on practically $50 billion in reserves, there may be merely no motive why we needs to be dealing with a healthcare emergency.
“Gov. Hochul should cross a price range that saves hospitals by ending the Medicaid underpayments which might be a root reason behind this disaster,” Gresham added.
United College Professions (UUP), the nation’s largest increased schooling union, which represents over 2, 300 staff at Downstate, mentioned SUNY’s plan to make drastic modifications within the construction and operation of SUNY Downstate Well being Sciences College “will as a substitute undermine the hospital’s central mission and the Brooklyn communities it serves.”
UUP President Frederick E. Kowal mentioned that SUNY’s plan would “primarily relegate the protection internet hospital to a wing in Kings County Hospital Middle; different well being care companies could be farmed out to neighboring hospitals.
“This can unequivocally end result within the closure of SUNY Downstate,” he mentioned. “SUNY is looking its imaginative and prescient for Downstate a metamorphosis, however it’s something however that. Let’s name this what it’s: SUNY is closing Downstate.”
In an e-letter, broadly circulated by the Motion Community and sponsored by the UUP, the UUP urges Gov. Kathy to “cease SUNY’s ill-conceived plan to close down the general public instructing hospital at SUNY Downstate Well being Sciences College in Brooklyn.
“SUNY’s plan would primarily relegate the protection internet hospital to a wing in Kings County Hospital Middle; different well being care companies could be farmed out to neighboring hospitals,” the letter cautions. “This can completely end result within the closure of SUNY Downstate.
“By sending this e-letter, you might be asking Gov. Hochul to work with the Legislature and all stakeholders to provide you with a sustainability plan for SUNY Downstate,” it provides.
On Wednesday, SUNY introduced that it’s going to launch a “community-driven visioning course of” to form its proposed $300 million capital funding “to construct a stronger SUNY Downstate.”
“SUNY will interact in a strong engagement course of, together with neighborhood surveys and 5 themed focus teams and stakeholder periods in February and March,” the assertion mentioned.
In mid-March, SUNY mentioned it can publish a report detailing findings and proposals.
“After in depth evaluation of neighborhood well being wants, hospital utilization within the Downstate service space, the perilous situation of the Downstate constructing, and historic and present patterns in Downstate’s capability, SUNY and the Government Chamber have established a set of ideas to information the trail ahead,” SUNY mentioned.
It mentioned the neighborhood survey and focus teams will interact Downstate college students, alumni, college, employees, and sufferers; Central Brooklyn residents; healthcare advocates; community-based organizations; and religion leaders.
SUNY mentioned the method will start with a wants evaluation “to higher perceive stakeholders’ perspective on the present state of affairs at SUNY Downstate’s well being sciences college and instructing hospital, adopted by a visioning course of to make sure that community-sourced concepts inform SUNY’s plan for a stronger Downstate in any respect ranges.”
SUNY mentioned the stakeholder workshops and focus teams will interact Downstate personnel and neighborhood members on their considerations and aspirations surrounding quite a lot of matters, together with the next themes: Wants Evaluation – tackling Well being Disparities in Central Brooklyn – assessing the sensible impression of systemic well being inequities on Downstate’s surrounding neighborhoods; Coaching the Healthcare Workforce of Tomorrow – partaking college students, college, and employees on the educational expertise at Downstate and producing concepts to modernize schooling, coaching, and analysis capabilities; and Constructing a Safe Future for Downstate Employees – listening to and addressing workforce considerations about how Downstate’s future will have an effect on them.
Working with neighborhood companions and stakeholders, SUNY mentioned it intends to place ahead a “daring plan to safe a stronger, extra secure future for Downstate’s college students, employees and college whereas enhancing the standard and amount of healthcare companies out there to Brooklyn residents.”
It mentioned the capital funding, which can be knowledgeable by stakeholder enter, is meant to: Proceed to supply main and specialty care and ambulatory surgical procedure and increase entry to pressing care; improve the educational expertise for college students, together with a brand new scholar heart to supply tutorial companies and helps; and construct a brand new Brooklyn Institute for Well being Fairness to do action-oriented analysis on well being disparities.”
As well as, SUNY mentioned Downstate’s present inpatient companies can be supplied by Downstate employees at different services in collaboration with different Brooklyn hospitals, together with by way of a SUNY Downstate “wing” at Kings County.
SUNY mentioned the dates for the workshop periods and surveys can be launched shortly.
To study extra concerning the plan growth and visioning course of, join updates at DownstateTransformed.org.
Meantime, the most recent UUP Retiree Information & Data. mentioned that final week UUP advocates joined with fellow New York State Union of Lecturers (NYSUT) Increased Educations members (CUNY & Group Faculties) “to advocate for our wants and had a particular ask to Save Downstate Med. in Brooklyn.”
“SUNY is pursuing a plan that can in the end shut SUNY Downstate Well being Sciences College Hospital (SUNY Downstate Hospital),” Kowal mentioned. “This plan is poor public coverage, which is able to scale back well being care in Brooklyn, undermine the hospital’s central mission, and hurt the Brooklyn communities it serves.
“Moreover, SUNY’s ‘transformation’ plan for Downstate will negatively impression medical schooling, which offers a pipeline of medical doctors and medical professionals to New York hospitals statewide,” he added. “Whereas it is a plan that immediately impacts our Downstate members, it can little question have a ripple impact on the well being care out there to all New Yorkers.
“Moreover, if SUNY have been to execute a plan that closes a significant facility within the system, many SUNY campuses may turn into weak to an identical final result,” Kowal additional warned. “UUP members work daily to enhance, help and defend the lives of sufferers at SUNY Downstate Hospital – and, collectively, we will remind New York State that an assault on one is an assault on all!”
The UUP president known as on members throughout the State to face collectively within the combat to cease the closure of SUNY Downstate.
“This hospital serves the distinctive wants of Brooklyn and New York Metropolis, will YOU stand together with your colleagues to cease the closure of SUNY Downstate Hospital?” he requested, urging members and the neighborhood to rally on Feb. 29, at 12:00 midday, in entrance of SUNY Downstate, 450 Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn.
Go to the Brooklyn Wants Downstate marketing campaign webpage for extra actions and data by going to: https://uupinfo.org/BrooklynNeedsDownstate/
