Catskill Regional Medical Center hires turnaround specialist

By FRITZ MAYER

HARRIS, NY — The only hospital in Sullivan County is trying to reverse its fortunes. Last week, the board of Catskill Regional Medical Center (CRMC) announced it had selected Navigant Consulting of Chicago, IL to develop “a financial and strategic turnaround plan.”

The announcement came just a day after the hospital issued a release saying the hospital had completed an initial review of a report by the New York Department of Health (DOH) that found several violations of the state hospital code, as well as violations of the hospital’s own bylaws. Among the violations were: three instances when doctors did not provide enough information on medical charts when prescribing medication; three instances when procedures regarding consultations and on-call doctors were not strictly followed; three instances when patients did not receive all the medications prescribed by doctors; three instances when nurses determined the “time and frequency of medications” administered to patients rather than a doctor; two instances of obstetric patients not receiving anesthesia services in a timely manner; and three instance where the hospital pharmacy had “failed to ensure that medications were prescribed and administered in accordance with accepted medical standards.” There was one instance when a physician was not available to operate within 30 minutes “after an infant developed fetal distress and the decision was made to perform a caesarian section.” The physician was available after 36 minutes.

Acting chief executive officer Lawrence P. Cafasso said that many of the issues cited in the report had been addressed by the staff, and that “a corrective plan of action will be filed with the Department of Health by October 6,” to outline how the hospital will deal with the remaining issues.

The survey by the DOH was sparked by complaints filed in May by Dr. Hal Tietlebaum, the managing partner of Crystal Run Healthcare. Tietlebaum filed the complaints during a bitter public dispute between him and the then-CEO of CRMC, Arthur Brien. Teitlebaum accused CRMC of providing substandard care, and accused Brien specifically of refusing to make needed changes in order to protect an “old boys network.” Brien, in turn, accused Tietlebaum of wanting to gain control of the hospital.

At Tietlebaum’s direction, 62 doctors at Crystal Run Health Care stopped referring patients to CRMC on June 1, a move that could cost CRMC up to $7 million per year.

Brien left the hospital just days before the DOH report was released.

Asked if the DOH report proved that Tietlebaum was essentially correct in his charges against the hospital, Cafasso said, “We really can’t address that; we’re addressing the specific issues involved with the DOH.”

Tietelbaum has told reporters that he feels vindicated by the report. Both Tietlebaum and Cafasso have said they look forward to moving beyond the dispute. Cafasso said, “We’re trying to work out a joint press release. It’s difficult because there are lawyers involved.”

He added that one main change that has taken place at the hospital since Brien left is that the physicians are playing a greater role in policy decisions. In the past, there had been lack of communication between the board, the hospital administration and the doctors. He said that is changing and there’s a “good feeling of moving this place forward.”