WMC lost accreditation from ACS

[Jybehofd 85]

I was watching New 12 when it came up. I really couldn't belive it but they have lost there American College of Surgeons accredidation as a cancer center and biatrics center too. But if you read on it seems that they have also lost there Level 1 status too.

Westchester Medical Center lets accreditations lapse

By MELISSA KLEIN

THE JOURNAL NEWS

(Original publication: March 18, 2007)

VALHALLA - Westchester Medical Center, which used to crow about the accreditation of its trauma center and cancer programs, no longer has those endorsements, which lapsed in the midst of its financial crisis.

The lapse makes the hospital the only local one with a cancer center that is not accredited by the American College of Surgeons. Additionally, the hospital's bariatric, or weight loss, surgery program cannot accept Medicare patients because it is not accredited.

While the hospital as a whole is accredited by a national organization called The Joint Commission, having the accreditation of its speciality program means the hospital is meeting certain, often tough, standards and also gives it bragging rights.

When the trauma program was reaccredited in 2002, the medical center sent out a press release saying that the program was the only one in New York to receive the designation. It similarly boasted about the backing received by the bone marrow transplant program in 2003 calling it a "prestigious accreditation."

Michael Israel, the president of the medical center, said he did not believe the lapse in accreditations had an effect on patient care and the hospital was now seeking to have most of the programs accredited again.

"Seals of approval are great," Israel said. "Anywhere we can get it, I believe that we should. The question you ask yourself is, 'Does the accreditation have an impact on patient care and secondarily does the accreditation have a direct impact on reimbursement?'"

While the accreditation process is not necessarily costly, it does take up staff time during what is often a rigorous evaluation process. Israel said the hospital had to put its resources elsewhere as it battled a financial crisis.

"As the administrative and managerial ranks shrunk, there was less time to do these kind of things," he said.

The medical center, which lost more than $200 million from 2002 to 2005, is expected to operate with a surplus this year.

The hospital did keep the accreditation of its burn center by the American Burn Association.

It is now seeking to have its trauma center accredited again by the American College of Surgeons. The hospital remains certified by the state as a Level 1 trauma center.

The American College of Surgeons, which describes itself as a scientific and educational association with more than 70,000 members, also accredited the hospital's cancer program.

Cory Petty, a spokeswoman for the organization, said the program was no longer approved by the college's Commission on Cancer, adding that a confidentiality agreement with the medical center precluded her from speaking further.

Kara Bennorth, a medical center spokesman, said the hospital knew of no such agreement and that it had simply let its accreditation lapse.

Bennorth said the hospital was not seeking reverification of the program now, choosing to focus on accrediting its bone marrow transplant program. That accreditation lapsed in 2005, according to the Foundation of the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy.

Bennorth said the medical center had been notified this week that its bariatric program had received provisional accreditation from the American College of Surgeons. She said patients with Medicare, the government's health insurance program for senior citizens, were generally a small part of those seeking bariatric surgery so there was not a big impact to the hospital from the lack of accreditation.

Petty said she could not confirm the provisional accreditation.

Jon Schandler, the president of White Plains Hospital Center, said he was an advocate of having accreditation. He said his hospital worked hard to get its cancer program backed by the American College of Surgeons.

The college accredits 68 cancer programs in New York including those at major teaching hospitals in Manhattan and at six community hospitals in Westchester and Rockland counties.

"I think the public's better served by having outside agencies take a look at what you're doing," Schandler said.

Reach Melissa Klein at mklein@lohud.com or 914-694-5063.

Article

[Porsha911gt3 8]

But if you read on it seems that they have also lost there Level 1 status too.

The hospital remains certified by the state as a Level 1 trauma center.

[Guest partyrock]

There is a big difference between accredidation being allowed to lapse and being stripped of it. The level of care is likely unchanged. The hospital has just not applied for accrediation. The only people this really affects is people who's insurance prevents them from choosing unaccredited programs for their treatment. It should not however affect anyone who was under treatment all ready.