| St. Luke’s Cornwall seeks to consolidate emergency department services | |
NEWBURGH – St. Luke’s Cornwall hospital has asked the State Health Department for permission to reduce the hours of operation of its emergency department at its Cornwall campus to 12 hours per day. Over the last 18 months, only 600 patents received care at the Cornwall campus ER between the hours of 10 p.m. and 10 a.m. The Newburgh campus serves over 60,000 patients per year in its ER, which is open 24/7/365. The hospital has asked the state for permission to close the Cornwall emergency department during those overnight hours and care for patients at Newburgh, which is only 5 ½ miles away. Hospital officials said the consolidation is one of many steps taken to ensure the fiscal viability of the health system while continuing to serve the more than 250,000 residents in its service area. Consolidating the ER care will allow St. Luke’s Cornwall to maintain its 24/7 emergency care while lowering the overall cost of care. Like many hospitals in the state, SLCH has sustained operating losses for seven years. “St. Luke’s Cornwall is committed to providing the highest quality care at the most reasonable expense,” said Hospital President Robert Ross. “Health care delivery is evolving and SLCH will continue to develop creative approaches to achieve our mission of providing care for our community.” |
Mid-Hudson News Network
