d'mensions the d'youville college Journal summer 2oo7

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system is as grim as suggested in the Berger report. A report by the NewYork Health Plan Association indicates that in recent years, 62% ofNew York hospitals have shown profits, while 37% have reported eitherbudget neutrality or losses. 2 Moreover, not everyone is convinced thatclosing hospitals and nursing homes will result in decreased health carespending. Some even postulate that we can expect health care costs to risesubsequent to health care restructuring. 5Researchers for Boston University School of Public Health note thatexcess bed capacity is not the most important contributor to high healthcare costs in New York state. Futhermore, their analysis of past efforts tocut costs by decreasing beds shows that hospitals that tend to be closed aretypically those whose costs are lower than the surviving hospitals. Finally,fewer hospital and nursing home beds will create increased demand, oneof the market conditions associated with rising costs, according to thismodel. 2I promised that things are not simple….Interestingly, a federal project, The Federal-State Health ReformPartnership (FSHRP) seems to be closely linked to the closure of NewYork hospital beds. The FSHRP is a collaborative demonstration projectthat provides financial incentives to New York state for implementinghealth care reforms. In order for New York to receive $1.5 billion overa period of five years, the state must demonstrate decreased Medicaidspending on three parameters: spending decrements derived from movingdesignated groups into managed care, spending cuts achieved by decreasingthe number of Medicaid hospital discharges and accruals from increasedMedicaid fraud recoveries. 6 Of particular import is the formula that isused to determine whether or not the state is achieving these milestones.Ultimately, closing hospitals becomes an attractive alternative in order tomeet the federal requirements to cut Medicaid spending.And now things become downright complicated….The plan for hospital restructuring has been critiqued and pronouncedproblematic because it unfairly places the burden of decreased access onvulnerable populations. The New York Lawyers for the Public Interestdescribe the Berger Commission as undemocratic and its study processas closed to stakeholder scrutiny and feedback. Furthermore, they suggestthat the commission’s recommendations are in direct conflict with federallaw, which prohibits discrimination in health care.Have you ever tugged at a loose thread and found yourself missing a buttonon your coat? Well, my story has unraveled. It is not so much about ruralWestern New York; it turns out, it is about how complex our society is.It is about the criss-crossing components and the unanticipated effects ofdecisions that are made at local, state and federal levels. The restructuringplan promulgated by the Berger Commission is law. It is being challengedin courts across the state. In the meantime, Lundine, who also happensto be executive director of the Chautauqua County Health Network, isworking to implement the plan, fully aware that unanticipated effects canbe opportunities for productive and meaningful change.Ours is a complex and dynamic society. The problems we face areparticularly challenging because it is impossible to change one elementof society without having an effect–possibly undesirable; rarely, if ever,predictable–on all other aspects of the day-to-day functioning of its peopleand institutions. The solutions we generate are all too often complicated,one-size-fits-all packages that target theoretically isolated elements of oursociety. We need to become better at understanding the interconnectedelements comprising the problems we are attempting to solve. We need torecognize that our health care system is a system which is an element in alarger system. Reframed in that context, things may be simpler.Endnotes1 Lundine, Stanley. Personal interview. May 4, 2007.2 Sager, A & Socolar, D. (2006) Closing Hospitals in New York State Won’t Save Moneybut will harm access to care. retrieved 5/14/2007 sager%20Hospital%20Closings%20Short%20Report%2020Nov06.pdf3 http://www.ny.gov/governor/press/0423071.html retrieved 5/14/20074 http://www.nyhealthcarecommission.org/docs/ retrieved 5/14/20075 New York Health Plan Association. Dispelling the myths: New York state hospitalsfinances: Another view – 2007 www.nyhpa.org retrieved 5/14/20076 Lee, JH & Hughes P. (2006) Memo from New York Lawyers for the Public Interest toCommunity Partners. www.nylpi.org retrieved 5/14/2007http://www.nyslocalgov.org./reports.asp•28
New Alumni BoardTakes ShapeAt the May meeting of the Alumni Association board of directors, threeofficers and eight new members were elected to guide the organization in2007-2008.Chosen for leadership positions for 2007 through 2010 were presidentThomas M. DeLuca ’76, vice-president Rose Grierson St. Pierre ’83,and treasurer Claudia T. Krawczyk ’90. Corresponding secretary SarahHilborn Pawlak ’98 and recording secretaryRoberta Rozek Evans ’62 will continue in theirpositions through 2009.Having a love for D’Youville and an interestin staying connected and giving back to theCollege, the newest board members bring awealth of experience as teachers, students,health care providers and volunteers in severalareas of the community.Elected to terms that run from 2007 to 2010 werethe following: Genevieve McNeil Dobmeier’52, returning for a second membership onthe board, Mary Carol Kelleher Herwood ’52,Carmelina Manta Misercola ’53, AngelineBrucklier Padula ’55, ’78, Michele A. Cook,MD, ’75, Josephine Glorioso Palumbo ’84,Nathan E. Phillips ’85 and Bertram (Hank)Morgan ’05.Continuing board members include thefollowing: Susan Jablonski Fiden ’69, NancyA. Vanderlinde ’69, Eileen Hanley Noworyta’78, Karen Rogers Ziemianski ’83, BridgetLynch Herod ’84, Patricia Kelly Losito ’85,Michelle D. Swygert ’98, Courtney Charleson-Smith ’99, Carol A. Milazzo ’00, Julie BrancatoMarinaccio ’04 and Theresa DiLuca Vallone’04.Student Association president Austin Houldingand student representative, Samantha Miller,along with ex officio members Ryan R. Miller’05, coordinator, alumni activities and PatriciaMarino Smyton ’65, director, alumni relations,complete the board’s membership.Each year, the board members chair and inviteother alums to participate in various events. Fund-raising efforts supportthe Sister Mary Charlotte Barton Alumni Kinship Scholarships and theAlumni Endowed Scholarship.The by-laws state: “The purpose of the association shall be to promotefellowship among the alumni and to assist in advancing the best interestsof D’Youville College.”alumniassociationThomas J. DeLuca ’76, incoming president of the Alumni Association,presents Dolores Gaeta Prezyna ’70, outgoing president, with thank you giftsas Sister Denise Roche looks on (in the foreground).29
Page 1: D’MENSIONS The D’Youville Colle
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Page 36 and 37: obituariesArlene Redmond ’31Arlen
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