Annual Report - Winthrop University Hospital

Winthrop-University Hospital 2011 Annual ReportA Message from the President & CEO and Chairman of the Board“Our promise is never to accept the status quo.”Charles M. Strain, Chairman of the BoardFor Winthrop-University Hospital, 2011 was another year ofgrowth and financial stability, an impressive accomplishmentduring these economically challenging times.We closed the year with an operating margin of 2.83%, demonstratingthe efficiency of our operation, which is driven toa great extent by our foresight in technology investment andthe efforts of our dedicated staff to provide superior care thatresults in reduced lengths of stay for patients. Our occupancyrates remained steady at 91.7%, slightly higher than the 91.1%reported for 2010.Our clinical achievements last year were impressive. For example,in 2011 our surgeons achieved a breakthrough in minimallyinvasive surgery techniques when they successfully performedesophageal surgery by inserting an endoscope through thepatient’s mouth, thereby avoiding an incision. Natural OrificeTransluminal Endoscopic Surgery (N.O.T.E.S.) holds great promise,and the accomplishment of our surgeons in using the techniqueto treat a condition of the esophagus, known as Achalasia,paves the way for further innovation.We remain among the top 5% of hospitals nationwideIt is not surprising then that HealthGrades, the nation’s mosttrusted source of healthcare provider information, has namedus a Distinguished Hospital for Clinical Excellence for thefourth consecutive year. This prestigious distinction placesWinthrop-University Hospital among the Top 5% of hospitalsnationwide for clinical performance.Our long-standing academic mission was strengthened in 2011when Winthrop became a Clinical Campus of the Stony BrookUniversity School of Medicine. As a teaching affiliate prior tothis new designation, Winthrop hosted medical student rotationsthrough various clinical departments. As a Clinical Campus,80 third- and fourth-year medical students will live and trainat Winthrop each year, making Winthrop the only Long Islandhospital training students under this model.To ensure our continued success, Winthrop’s board and administrativeteam this year adopted a long-term strategy that focuseson enhancing our research capabilities and on continuing toidentify operational efficiencies.Strengthening researchResearch is the cornerstone of progress in medicine, andWinthrop historically has had robust programs in basic, clinicaland health outcomes research. At present, these activities arespread throughout our campus. In 2011, the administrationand the board of directors, in collaboration with our clinicaland research faculty, adopted a plan to consolidate all ourresearch efforts into one new location to be known as TheResearch Institute.The Institute will reside in a new, four-floor, 95,000-squarefootbuilding that will include core laboratories, a clinical trialcenter and classrooms for medical students. To enhance ourbench-to-bedside research, the facility will include an in-patientarea for adult and pediatric endocrine patients. This will increaseJohn F. Collins, President and Chief Executive Officer, (left), Charles M. Strain, Chairman of the Board (right)2