| Q: Is there
explicit language in the new mission statement that reproductive
services will be continued to be offered and will be protected?
(2/6/08) |
|
A: There is language in the Master
Alignment Agreement (MAA) that reflects the requirements of the
Berger Commission. Abortion services, however, will not be
provided within the new corporate entity. The mission statement
ultimately developed for the parent entity will reflect the
intent of the MAA.
.................................................................................................................................. |
| Q: If the reproductive services are
to be offered at a proximate location, and if there were budget
cuts in the future that lead to the consolidation of resources,
what are the written guarantees you will put in place to insure
that these services will always be offered safely in our
community? (2/6/08) |
| A: The Berger Commission mandates
that the services continue to be offered.
.................................................................................................................................. |
| Q: Where does the respect for each
hospital’s mission and values begin, in writing? It is clear
that Kingston Hospital is willing to have Benedictine’s ERDs
force currently provided services off site. I heard references
to mutual respect of the hospitals core missions in the first
public forum and I am stuck on this point. (2/6/08) |
| A: Respect for each hospital’s
respective mission is codified in the Master Alignment Agreement
- a document that was reviewed and approved by the New York
State Department of Health. Both hospitals are comfortable that
their respective missions and values will be recognized and
respected under the new governance structure.
.................................................................................................................................. |
| Q: If there really were mutual
respect of the different missions and values, why does Kingston
Hospital have to move reproductive services, as well as other
ambulatory services, to another location? (2/6/08) |
|
A: Relocating reproductive services
to the new Foxhall Ambulatory Surgery Center meets the mandate
of the Berger Commission and does so while respecting the
missions of both hospitals.
.................................................................................................................................. |
| Q: Is the Women’s Imaging Center on
the ground floor considered a separate entity from Kingston
Hospital though it is still under the same roof? (2/6/08) |
| A: No. It is a department of The
Kingston Hospital.
.................................................................................................................................. |
| Q: Could a separate entity be
created for ambulatory surgery within the main building of The
Kingston Hospital? (2/6/08) |
|
A: The creation of a separate
ambulatory surgery center within The Kingston Hospital that
provides abortion services would not be allowed under the terms
of the hospitals agreed upon Master Alignment Agreement.
.................................................................................................................................. |
Q-
In answer to one of your FAQs you
say,
"- An ambulatory surgery center will be established in a
facility that is separate, but connected to The Kingston
Hospital. This facility will house certain reproductive
healthcare services as well as a host of other treatments and
services."
Your answer indicates that
"reproductive healthcare services" will be co-mingled with other
health care services, services which might currently be
available within the Kingston or Benedictine hospitals or, if
medically necessary and justified, would otherwise be offered
within the Kingston or Benedictine hospitals. Thus, it seems
that co-mingling "reproductive health care services" with other
services would be a violation of the agreement to keep
"reproductive health services" physically separated from the
Kingston Hospital. Your response would be
appreciated. (12/14/07) |
|
A-
Termination of pregnancy and elective tubal ligations will occur
in the newly constructed Ambulatory Surgery Center, not in
either hospital. Offering reproductive health services in a
facility that also offers other surgical services is not a
violation of any agreement that The Kingston Hospital and
Benedictine Hospital are parties to.
.................................................................................................................................. |
Q-
Re: Planned Parenthood and Kingston Hospital
One of your FAQs was the following:
Q- Regarding the Medical Arts
Building that has three ground-level entrances plus the covered
walkway and no security at present, specifically what provisions
are you making for security for the proposed Ambulatory Surgery
Unit? (5/21/07)
A- We are scheduling a review,
through Claire Coleman, the President of Planned Parenthood, of
the building by Planned Parenthood's security consultant for
sometime this summer.
Is it the plan of the Kingston Hospital that Planned Parenthood
will operate or otherwise be involved with its "reproductive
health services" in the new building?
(12/14/07) |
| A- At
this time, it would not be fair to rule out on the possibility
of any particular group being represented in the future on the
board or operationally with the Foxhall Ambulatory Surgery
Center.
.................................................................................................................................. |
Q-
The Berger Commission recommended "that Kingston and Benedictine
Hospitals be joined under a single unified governance structure,
provided that Kingston Hospital continues to provide access to
reproductive services currently offerred at such hospital at a
location proximate to Kingston Hospital." This was subsequently
enacted as law by default of the Legislature to act on it.
This can be interpreted in two ways:
1. The provision represented a compromise reconciling the
differences between the hospitals to a degree where they could
agree to merge but was not meant to end the Kingston Hospital's
freedom of choice in this matter; that is, the Kingston Hospital
(and the new higher level corporation) retains freedom to
modify, add or discontinue some part of the "reproductive
services" if it chooses to do so in the future.
2. The Kingston Hospital (and the new higher level corporation)
is required by law to continue to provide these "reproductive
services" indefinitely and unmodified; that is, the Kingston
Hospital (and the new higher level corporation) no longer have
the right to choose in this matter.
Which of these is correct?
(12/14/07) |
| A-
Neither your interpretations #1 or #2 are correct. Our
interpretation, which has been accepted by the NYS Department of
Health is that both hospitals have the right to provide
reproductive health services (i.e. Obstetric Services). Those
services that violate the Ethical and Religious Directives of
the Catholic Church (i.e. abortions and elective tubal ligations)
cannot take place within the new corporate structure of the two
hospitals. These services will take place at the Foxhall
Ambulatory Surgery Center.
.................................................................................................................................. |
Q-
You say you are going to great lengths to keep the community
informed of the progress you're making. It seems to me that
you're informing the community after you've made your decisions,
not including the community in the decision-making process. My
question is this: When will you let the community into the
process, so we can participate during the process, not just
comment afterward? (6/10/07) |
A- The community is
involved in the process. Although it would be possible for
the hospitals to simply announce the end product of the
realignment discussions, we have chosen instead to keep the
public informed of our efforts and solicit input along the
way. The public forums we have already held, along with
those we plan to have in the months ahead, are the most
appropriate venue for public input.
|
| Q-
Regarding the Medical
Arts Building that has three ground-level entrances plus the
covered walkway and no security at present, specifically what
provisions are you making for security for the proposed
Ambulatory Surgery Unit? (5/21/07) |
| A-
We
are scheduling a review, through Claire Coleman, the President
of Planned Parenthood, of the building by Planned Parenthood's
security consultant for sometime this summer. |
