Community Service Plan - The Healthcare Association of

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M e m be r o f Cathol ic Health Se r vices of Long Isl and
5 0 Route 25A, S mi thtown , Ne w York 1 17 97
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Table of Contents
Letter from St. Catherine’s Executive Vice President
& Chief Administrative Officer
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Introduction and Background
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Mission Statement
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Catholic Health Ser vices of Long Island Affliates
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Catholic Health Ser vices of Long Island
Corporate Members, Off icers, Board of Directors &
St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center Board of Trustees
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Highlights of Clinical Ser vices
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St. Catherine of Siena Nursing Home
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Siena Village
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Public Participation in Progress and Public Notice
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Plan Development and Adoption
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Assessment of Community Health Needs and Goals
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Target Communities and Populations
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Projects to Address Identified Community Needs
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Public Health Priorities
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Charity Care Policy
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Self-Pay Policy
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St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center brings to its community some of
the most innovative programs and services. Investing in state-of-the-art
equipment and expanding our services ensures that all patients receive the
quality of care they deserve. Sharing our accomplishments gives us the
opportunity to reflect on our achievements and plan for the future.
Sharo n Kennish
Executive VP &
This year St. Catherine’s unveiled a new colorectal program which provides
a full range of consultative, diagnostic and therapeutic services involving
minimally invasive surgery for patients with diseases of the small bowel,
colon, rectum and anus. St. Catherine’s also welcomed new medical
leadership in its Emergency Department. Our new medical leadership
CAO
team oversees C-Port (primary coronary intervention) and stroke
programs. Patients experiencing heart attacks and strokes will have access to the
most advanced medical care right in their own neighborhood.
The construction of a new Women’s Health and Outpatient Diagnostic Center
continues and is scheduled to be completed in 2009. Upgrades and renovations to
our cardiac catheterization laboratory are also scheduled for completion in 2009.
State-of-the-art equipment will be installed, which will assist our experienced
cardiologists in providing the latest medical treatments available to fight heart disease,
including primary coronary angioplasty. St. Catherine’s is one of the few community
hospitals offering this procedure. Renovations of the interventional radiology room as
well as the construction of a new radiology multipurpose room have been completed.
With an emphasis on meeting the growing health care needs of our community,
St. Catherine’s participates in the Healthy Sunday Program. A team of health care
professionals visits local parishes, offering educational material and free health care
screenings for blood pressure, glucose, and cholesterol.
There is a bright future on the horizon for St. Catherine’s with plans under way to
open a new Diabetic and Wound Care Clinic and a commitment to renovate the
Maternal/Child Health Unit. Both will add significant value to the services offered to
our patients. Plans to construct an addition to our existing structure will house a new
OR/PACU, ICU and CCU equipped with the very latest in technological advances to
diagnose and treat our patients. Private and semi private rooms will also be integrated
in the addition.
St. Catherine’s Community Service Plan highlights our continuing commitment to
providing state-of-the-art services with a personal touch close to home.
Sincerely,
Sharon Kennish
Executive Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer
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About Us
St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center is located on 110 acres on the north shore of Long Island in
Smithtown, New York. Our campus is comprised of a 558-bed, not-for-profit hospital (including 240
nursing home beds), 298-unit senior housing facility, and a medical office building. On February 29,
2000, Catholic Health Services of Long Island, (CHS), purchased St. John’s Episcopal Hospital from
Episcopal Health Services. The Center was renamed St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center after
Catherine Benincasa of Siena of Italy, who was noted for her work as a nurse, mediator and spiritual
leader during the 14th century.
St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center is the owner and operator of St. Catherine of Siena Hospital and
St. Catherine of Siena Nursing Home, which are located on a single campus in Smithtown, New York.
The Medical Center is also the sole member of (i) Siena Village, Inc., which owns and operates a
298-unit, subsidized housing facility adjacent to the Medical Center Campus; (ii) Siena Medical Realty,
LLC, which is leased from the Medical Center pursuant to a long-term lease. This includes the medical
office building located on the Medical Center Campus: and (iii) Siena Retirement Community Realty,
LLC, which owns an undeveloped 35-acre parcel adjacent to the Medical Center campus. CHS and the
CHS hospitals are the foundation of an integrated delivery system organized to serve Nassau and Suffolk
counties under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre. In addition to the CHS
hospitals, the CHS integrated delivery system includes a number of related organizations representing a
full continuum of care throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties. With and through the CHS hospitals,
CHS has formed affiliations with Winthrop-South Nassau University Health System, Inc. and the Long
Island Health Network.
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Catholic Health Services of Long Island
MISSION STATEMENT
Catholic Health Services of Long Island,
as a ministry of the Catholic Church,
continues Christ’s healing mission,
promotes excellence in care, and
commits itself to those in need.
CHSLI affirms the sanctity of life,
advocates for the poor and underserved,
and serves the common good.
It conducts its healthcare practice,
business, education and innovation
with justice, integrity and
respect for the dignity of each person.
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Catholic Health Services of Long Island
St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center is a member of Catholic Health Services of Long
Island, which was formed in October 1997 and is comprised of the following entities:
H OS P IT A LS:
Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center
Mercy Medical Center
St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center
St. Charles Hospital
St. Francis Hospital – The Heart Center
N U R SI N G HO M E S:
Good Samaritan Nursing Home
Our Lady of Consolation Nursing Home
St. Catherine of Siena Nursing Home
C OM M U N I TY - B AS E D OR G AN I ZA T IO N S:
Maryhaven Center of Hope
Siena Village
H OM E C AR E O R GA N IZ AT I ON S:
Good Samaritan Home Care
Nursing Sisters Home Care
C AT H OL IC H OM E C AR E :
CHS at Home
H OM E S UP P OR T S E R V IC E S :
Home Medical Equipment
Pharmacy
L O N G - T E R M H O M E H E A L TH C A RE P R O G R A M S :
Good Samaritan
Our Lady of Consolation
H OS P IC E :
Good Shepherd Hospice
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MIS SI ON & MINIS TRY
COMMITTEE
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Catholic Health Services of Long Island
Msgr. Robert Brennan, Chair
Charles Bove
Sr. Marilyn Breen, OP
Joseph Conte
Patricia Deeley
S. Bernadette Downes
Sister Audrey Harsen
Louise Spadaro, M.D.
James Harden
William Allison
Dennis Verzi
Alan Guerci, M.D.
Lewis Grossman
Nancy Simmons
Sharon Kennish
Marianne Gillan
Jim O’Connor
Mary Ellen Polit
Mary T. O’Neill, Staff
FINANCE COMMITTEE
Thomas Christman, Chairperson
William Mullaney
Eugene Murphy
Kevin Murphy
Sal Sodano
Richard Schmidt
Joseph Tantillo
James Harden
Joseph Conte, Staff
Richard Sarli, Staff
Bill Mead, Staff
Frank Fox, Staff
Bill Armstrong, Staff
IN VE ST M E NT COM M IT T EE
Patrick J. Scollard, Chairperson
Thomas E. Christman
J. William Greve
Eugene Murphy
Peter Quick
Richard Sarli, Staff
Frank Fox, Staff
William Armstrong, Staff
PERSONNE L &
BE NEFITS COMMITTE E
S
Patricia Nazemetz, Chair
Thomas Edwards
James Harden
Joseph Conte
William Allison
Dennis Verzi
Patricia Garofalo
Richard Sarli, Staff
Alan Guerci, Staff
GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE
Sister Elaine Callahan, Chairperson
James Harden
Robert Iseman
Eugene Murphy
Richard J.J. Sullivan, Jr.
Patricia Garofalo, Esq.
EXE CUT IV E COMPEN SA T ION
C O MM I TT E E
Richard J.J. Sullivan, Chair
Sister Elaine Callahan, Vice Chair
Thomas Christman
Eugene Murphy
Patricia Nazemetz
Robert Iseman
Jim Harden, ex-officio
INSURANCE COMMITTEE
Richard J.J. Sullivan, Jr., Chair
William C. Armstrong
William Chapin
Patricia Hajnosz, Esq.
Dick Meyer
Pat Garofalo, Esq.
Fred Landon
Joseph Conte
RVC I NS URANCE COMPANY
James Harden
Joseph Conte
Richard J.J. Sullivan
Richard Meyer
Patricia Garofalo, Staff
Richard Sarli, Staff
PE RF O RM A NC E I M PRO V E M ENT
C O MM I TT E E
Thomas Dowling, M.D., Chairperson
Lionel Barrau, M.D.
Phil Bruno, SCSMC
Ann Cella, SFH
Joseph Conte, CHS
Gara Edelstein, SCSMC
Nicki Fiore-Lopez, SCH
Francis Gleason, SCSNH
Patricia Hogan, GSMC
Sharon Kennish, SCSMC
Renee Mauriello, MMC
James O’Connor, SCH
John Reilly, M.D., MMC
Nancy Simmons, MMC
Craig Smestad, MD., SCH
Jack Soterakis, M.D., SFH
David Suskind, OLC
Jerome Weiner, M.D.
PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT
COMMITTEE STAFF MEMBERS
Joel Yohai, M.D.
Anna ten Napel
Anna Baracchini, SFH
Barbara Blair-Reade, MMC
Pam Kelly, OLC
Melena Bowling, Maryhaven
Sr. Marilyn Breen, OLC
Chris Cardinal, GSNH
Helen Carroll, CHC
Susan Dries, Good Sam
Mary Graf, SCSNC
Mary Guararra., CHS
Ellen Judson, Hospice
Jennifer James, GSNH
Dante Latorre, SCH
Catherine Magone, MMC
Pegeen McGowan, CHS
Mary Ellen Polit, CHC
Michael Quartararo, SCSNH
Theresa Rosenthal, OLC
Amanda Ryan, CHS
Marie Thayer, SCSMC
Corrinne Tramontana, SCH
PL AN NING
COMMITTEE
Richard J.J. Sullivan, Jr., Chair
James Harden
Lionel Barrau, M.D.
Msgr. Robert Brennan
Sr. Elaine Callahan
Thomas Christman
Bernadette Curry, Ph.D.
Dan Denihan
Thomas Dowling, M.D.
Joe Tantillo
Sal Sodano
Charles Falkner
Staff
Joseph Conte
Joe Loiacono
Jessica Wyman
C O MP L I AN C E & AU D I T C O M M I T T EE
Sister Margaret John Kelly, Chair
Ken Daley
Frank Kurre
Patricia Nazemetz
Ben Pollio, Esq.
Glen Reed
Eugene Souther, Esq.
Paul Vitale
Joseph Conte
Richard Sarli
Pegeen McGowan
Bob Iseman, Esq.
AGEND A COMMITTEE
Richard J.J. Sullivan, Jr.
James Harden
Sister Elaine Callahan
S. Margaret John Kelly
Patricia Garofalo, Esq.
Bob Iseman
EX ECUTIVE
COMMITTEE
Richard J.J Sullivan, Jr., Chair
Sister Elaine Callahan
Thomas Christman
Eugene Murphy
James Harden
C HS B OAR D
OF
D IRE CTO R S
Richard J.J. Sullivan, Jr., Chair
James Harden, President
Lionel Barrau, M.D.
Msgr. Robert Brennan
Sister Elaine Callahan, OP
Thomas E. Christman
Sister Bernardette Downes, CIJ
Thomas Dowling, Jr., M.D.
Sister Audrey Harsen
Sister Margaret John Kelly, DC
Richard Meyer
Eugene Murphy
Patricia Nazemetz
Joseph Tantillo
Staff
Alan Guerci, M.D.
Dennis Verzi
William Allison
Joseph Conte
Patricia Garofalo, Esq.
Joel Yohai, M.D.
Richard Sarli
Pegeen McGowan
Bob Iseman, Esq.
CHS COR PORATE MEMBE RS
Most Rev. William Murphy
Msgr. Robert Brennan
Most Rev. Peter Libasci, D.D.
Most Rev. Paul Walsh, D.D.
Sister Ann Gray, D.W.
Sister Bernadette Downes, C.I.J.
Most Rev. John C. Dunne, D.D.
Sister Lois Ann Pereira, FMM
CHS OFFIC ERS
Richard J.J. Sullivan, Jr., Chair
Sister Elaine Callahan, Vice-Chair
Eugene Murphy, Secretary
Thomas E. Christman, Treasurer
James Harden, President & CEO
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Catholic Health Services of Long Island
COR PORAT E M EM BERS
Most Reverend William F. Murphy
Bishop of Rockville Centre
Monsignor Robert J. Brennan
Most Reverand Peter Libasci, D.D.
Most Reverend Paul Walsh, D.D.
Sister Ann Gray, D.W.
Sister Bernadette Downes, C.I.J.
Most Reverend John, C. Dunne, D.D.
Sister Lois Ann Pereira, F.M.M.
OFFICERS
Richard J.J. Sullivan, Jr., Chair
Sister Elaine Callahan, O.P., Vice-Chair
Eugene F. Murphy, Secretary
Thomas E. Christman, Treasurer
James Harden, President & Chief Executive Officer
Richard J.J. Sullivan, Jr., Chair
James Harden, President
& Chief Executive Office
Lionel Barrau, M.D.
Monsignor Robert J. Brennan
ST. CATHERINE
BOARD
OF
DI RECT ORS
Sister Elaine Callahan, O.P .
Thomas E. Christman
Sister Bernadette Downes, C.I.J.
Thomas Dowling, Jr., M.D.
Sister Audrey Harsen, O.P.
OF
Sister Margaret John Kelly, D.C.
Richard Meyer
Eugene F. Murphy
Patricia Nazemetz
Joseph Tantillo, Jr.
SI ENA M EDI CAL CENT ER BOA RD
OF
TR UST EES
Reverend Monsignor John Rowan, Chairman
Mr. Joseph Tantillo, Jr., Vice Chair
Mr. Salvatore F. Sodano, Treasurer
Mr. Thomas Reilly, Secretary
Mr. William Allison, President & Chief Executive Officer
Raymond Borsella, C.P.A.
Sylvia Diaz
James Dilts
Honorable Jeanne Garant
Sister Anne Gray, D.W.
J. William Greve
J. Robert Gross, D.C .
John Halleron, III, Esq.
Michael C. Lambert, Esq.
William A. Mullaney
David Paul, M.D.
Mr. Jerome Poller
Mr. George Rice, Esq.
Henry C. Schreiber, Jr.
James Umbdenstock
John F. Van Bourgondien
Matthew Verdone, D.O.
Rev. Monsignor James Vlaun
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Ambulatory Surgery Unit (ASU)
The ASU is designed for patients requiring a one-day stay for surgical procedures. Patients are admitted
directly to our private, dedicated unit. Surgery is performed in the hospital operating room. Following
surgery, patients recover in the postanesthesia area or are brought back to the ASU. Free, private parking
is provided for patients’ convenience.
Behavioral Health Psychiatry Department
The service consists of 42 adult, inpatient OMH
certified beds. A highly qualified and experienced
staff provide expert care, with an emphasis on
wellness self management. A cognitive behavioral
orientation by a interdisciplinary team offers a
structured and protected environment that
encourages trust and open communication. Patients
are given the opportunity to enhance their
interpersonal skills, obtain education about their
disorder, gain support from staff, family and peers,
and build on their strengths. Each patient receives
an individual treatment plan. The program focuses
on short-term crisis intervention, with the goal of stabilizing the patient and making appropriate referrals
to ongoing outpatient treatment or long-term residential treatment if necessary. Patients are approached
with kindness, concern and compassion.
Cancer Care Unit (Oncology)
The Oncology Unit provides compassionate care by highly skilled and experienced registered nurses. Our newly
renovated unit is private and discreet. Videotapes providing entertainment and education are available at the bedside.
Cardiac Catheterization Lab
The Cardiac Catheterization Lab offers a wide range of critical cardiac procedures, caring for the
cardiovascular needs of the community we serve. Diagnostic cardiac catheterization examines the coronary
arteries supplying blood to the heart muscle, evaluates the function of the heart muscle and measures
pressure within the chambers of the heart to assess the valves controlling blood flow through the heart and
lungs. Electrophysiology studies test the conduction system of the heart, evaluating slower and faster than
normal rhythms and the possibility of a life-threatening arrhythmia, sudden cardiac death. Treatment
provided in the Cath Lab includes interventions such as ablation, cardioversion and placing of pacemaker
and internal cardioverter defibrillators to maintain normal cardiac rhythms.
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PRIMARY CORON ARY ANGIOPLASTY :
L A N
Our Cardiac Cath Lab is one of a select few in the state of New York permitted to perform Primary
Coronary Intervention, providing immediate treatment to patients experiencing chest pain and preserving
heart function with the proven intervention of balloon angioplasty and stent placement. Patients arriving
at St. Catherine’s with chest pain are promptly evaluated in the ED and are transferred to the Cath Lab
for intervention, in less than 90 minutes. Board certified interventional cardiologists and experienced
nursing and technical staff is available 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week, in a soon to be renovated Cardiac
Catheterization Lab with state-of-the-art cardiac imaging
and hemodynamic acquisition and analysis equipment.
Cardiac Services Unit
The Cardiac Services Unit provides optimal intermediate
cardiac care. Recent expansion and renovation of the Cardiac
Services Unit (CSU) includes the Te l e m e t r y Com p u t e r i z e d
S y s t em for precise reading and immediate transmission of
results. CSU has a room specifically dedicated to
echocardiography, transesophogeal echocardiography and
electrocardiograms (EKG). The unit’s upgraded facilities
reflect 21st century efficiency and comfort.
Care Management / Performance Improvement
Registered Nurses and Certified Social Workers assist patients and their families with post acute
discharge planning and crisis counseling. Assistance with transition into skilled nursing, rehabilitation,
assisted living, or subacute facilities is provided. Home care services including nursing care, home medical
equipment and respiratory care needs are arranged. Patient Review Instruments (PRIs) are completed in the
hospital to determine the appropriate level of post-discharge care for each patient.
Colorectal Program
St. Catherine’s provides the latest in colorectal surgery using laparoscopic and colonoscopy procedures.
Laparoscopic surgery offers more advantages when compared to traditional surgical methods, including less
post-surgical pain, less need for pain medication, shorter hospital stays (one to four days on average), quicker
recovery times (one to four weeks earlier), fewer small bowel blockages, fewer wound infections and
improved cosmetic results. Laparoscopic surgery is used to treat the following: anal, colon and rectal cancer,
bleeding, constipation, crohn’s disease, diverticular disease, inflammatory colitis (ulcerative colitis), ostomy
(creation of colostomy or ileostomy), polyps of the colon and rectum, rectal prolapse, rectocele and volvulus,
to name a few. St. Catherine’s recognizes that problems with a patient ’s colon, rectum and anus can cause
immense discomfort, which is why the program has been created and is easily accessible to the surrounding
communities. Our specialized physicians diagnose and treat patients in a caring, compassionate and
confident environment.
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Dialysis Unit
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Outpatient dialysis services includes a 12-chair Hemodialysis Unit and a Home Training Peritoneal
Dialysis Program. Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis and automated peritoneal dialysis are
offered at the center’s ambulatory unit for eligible patients. A multidisciplinary team, including staff from
medicine, nursing, social service, and dietary, provides care for the young adult, adult and geriatric patient
diagnosed with end stage renal failure.
Emergency Department (ED)
Each year, 35,000 community members turn to St. Catherine’s Emergency Department (ED) for care.
The ED provides a fast track center for minor injuries. The ED consists of cardiac and trauma rooms, a
negative pressure room for airborne infections and a private room with bathroom for obstetrics and
gynecology patients. St. Catherine’s is a New York State Designated Stroke Center. The ED staff includes
highly credentialed board certified emergency physicians, skilled and experienced registered nurses who are
certified in advanced cardiac life support and pediatric advanced life support. A team approach decreases
waiting time for medical evaluations and ensures that patients move smoothly through their course of
treatment. Our ED has a “fast track” area that provides quick and efficient service for treatment of
work-related injuries, cuts, sprains, sports injuries and minor medical problems.
Endoscopy
The Endoscopy Unit is equipped with advanced video imaging systems, providing physicians with
endoscopic evaluation and treatment. The video technology boasts superior optics resulting in high
performance imaging quality. Caring professionals staff the suite, which contains five procedure rooms,
a postprocedure area and a comfortable waiting room.
Hospitalist Service
At St. Catherine’s, hospitalists (board certified physicians), perform a variety of functions. For patients
admitted without a personal physician, hospitalists act as the primary care physician during their stay in the
hospital. Hospitalists may also provide consultations and medical clearance for patients undergoing
surgery. In addition, hospitalists are trained to respond to life-threatening medical emergencies and in this
capacity may assist with providing emergency care and/or resuscitation to critically ill patients in the
Intensive Care Unit.
Infection Control
The Department of Infection Control encourages patients and visitors to be mindful of hand hygiene, to
decrease the spread of bacteria and germs. Because doctors, nurses and other health care providers routinely
come into contact with bacteria and viruses, they will wash their hands before they treat each patient. We
offer and recommend immunizations for certain diseases, such as influenza and pneumonia, to our admitted
patients who fall within certain high risk criteria.
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St. Catherine’s is making strides in the fight to prevent infections. In 2005, St. Catherine’s joined with the
Greater New York Hospital Association and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement in a collaborative to
decrease the risk of infections in patients who had central lines placed in them. Due to our success, the
Greater New York Hospital Association and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement asked St. Catherine’s
to be a Mentor Hospital for all hospitals, not only in New York State but also across the country.
Intensive Care Units (ICU / CCU)
Intensive Care Units provide a high level of specialized care for patients whose conditions merit closer than
normal attention and supervision. These units are staffed by specially trained nurses and are equipped with
advanced monitoring equipment.
Laboratory &Pathology
The Departments of Laboratory and
Pathology at St. Catherine’s are accredited
by both the NYS Department of Health
and JCAHO every two years. The
departments offer a full range of clinical
laboratory and anatomic pathology services.
The vast majority of testing is performed
on site with results being available the same
day. These services include: clinical
pathology: hematology: coagulation
testing and urinalysis; chemistry: clinical
chemistry, therapeutic drug testing and
endocrinology; blood bank and
transfusion services; diagnostic
immunology microbiology: bacteriology,
parasitology, mycology; and
mycobacteriology anatomic pathology: surgical pathology and cytopathology.
New York Weight Management Programs
The New York Weight Management Programs of St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center was established to
provide a comprehensive weight loss center, offering the essential elements for individuals seeking long-term
successful weight loss. The two types of weight loss surgery performed at St. Catherine’s are gastric bypass
and gastric banding.
The program was developed by a multidisciplinary team, which provides extensive education to the
nursing staff regarding pre- and post-operative care, bariatric procedures and sensitivity training. All
patients receive a “patient-friendly” clinical pathway which explains their daily regimen. On-site support
groups provide nursing, social work and nutritional services as well as community resources for the bariatric
patient.
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Palliative Care Services
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The goal of palliative care at St. Catherine’s is to provide the
highest quality of life possible, and to reduce the severity of
symptoms for seriously ill patients and to support the patients and
their families during treatment, at any stage of their disease. It is
offered in conjunction with all other forms of medical treatment.
Palliative care patients are given the information they need to
address the difficult issues facing them, and have their questions
answered by specially trained palliative care health professionals.
Members of the expert team include: professionals from medicine,
nursing, social work, pastoral care, nutrition, rehabilitation, care
management, pharmacy, home care, hospice and others.
Palliative care information and support is available to all patients
and community members.
Parkinson’s Outpatient Program
Parkinson’s Disease is a progressive, neurological disorder of the
brain. Parkinson’s Disease affects 1.5 million Americans.
St. Catherine’s hosts the American Parkinson’s Disease Information
and Referral Center (APDA) of Suffolk County. APDA’s goal is to
promote a better quality of life for the Parkinson's community and is
actualized through its network of information and referral centers, which respond to the needs of those
affected by Parkinson’s Disease.
The APDA I&R Center educates patients, families and caregivers afflicted with Parkinson’s Disease. The
I&R Center offers free literature and referrals regarding the disease. The APDA I&R Center also runs
ongoing support groups for people with Parkinson’s Disease, their families and caregivers along with
educational lectures and symposia.
Perioperative Services
St. Catherine’s surgical services include: bariatric
surgery, neurosurgery,orthopedic, gynecology,
urology, general, podiatry, oral surgery, plastic and
reconstructive, vascular, thoracic, ophthalmology,
pediatric surgery and colon and rectal surgery.
Our dedicated team staffs nine operating room
suites and performs more than 10,000 surgeries
each year. Our surgeons are highly skilled and
offer the latest innovations in health care and
surgery.
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As an example, our orthopedic spine surgeons provide endoscopic discectomies and spinal fusions, which are
minimally invasive and require less sedation than traditional spine surgeries. Our plastic surgeons perform
concise reconstructive surgery in the safety of the hospital setting.
Patients can typically return home the next day. Our neurosurgeons provide image-guided brain surgery,
transphenoidal brain tumor removal, and craniotomies. Our team of pain management specialists offer a
range of techniques to provide effective pain relief with the least amount of sedation.
Physical Therapy
The Physical Therapy Department provides daily treatment to inpatients at the bedside or within the
department. Physical therapists and physical therapy assistants are available seven days a week. This full
service department also offers speech therapy, occupational therapy, and a
certified orthotic technician.
Radiology / Imaging Services
The Radiology Department includes a new, state-of-the-art, MRI,
MRI breast coil and MRI breast biopsy system, bone densitometry,
digital mammography, stereotactic breast biopsy unit, 64-slice CT
scanner. Digital X-ray equipment as well as a new angiography/
interventional radiology suite. Radiology result reporting has been
improved by a fully integrated Picture Archiving Computer System
(PACS). PACS has eliminated the need to provide X-ray films and
provides immediate access to radiology images throughout the
hospital and to referring physicians at various locations, and has
eliminated repeat images. The acquisition of powerscribe, a voice recognition transcription system, has led to
real-time radiology results reporting and
improved test turnaround time.
Sleep Disorders Center
St. Catherine’s Sleep Disorders Center provides
comprehensive, individualized evaluation and testing for the
diagnosis and treatment of clinical disorders related to sleep.
The outpatient facility is in operation 24-hours-a-day,
Monday through Saturday. Patients who are undergoing
testing, sleep in one of four specially designed bedrooms in
the Center. The bedrooms are accessible to the physically
challenged and are comfortably equipped with overhead
television sets and reading lamps, to help simulate a
home-like environment.
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Women’s Breast Health Services
St. Catherine's provides the latest medical treatment and procedures for breast cancer patients. Experienced
surgeons, radiologists and oncologists, who are on staff at St. Catherine's offer all the recommended tests
and treatments for breast cancer and breast health. The new digital mammography unit and MRI breast coil,
offers the most recent advances in detecting breast cancers. From diagnosis to treatment, we provide
compassionate care for our patients.
Women & Child Care Center
St. Catherine of Siena's Women & Child Care Center provides
comprehensive family-centered care for growing families. The serene
décor of the unit offers a peaceful and beautiful setting to welcome
family and friends visiting the new baby and mother.
St. Catherine’s is a “Safe Haven” for newborns as a part of New York
State’s Safe Haven network of hospitals. Under the Safe Haven law, a
parent, guardian or other legallyresponsible person may surrender a
newborn anonymously. Anyone wishing to bring a baby to
St. Catherine’s is requested to come to the emergency room.
NEO NAT AL IN TEN SIVE CARE U NIT , LEVEL I I
In the Special Care Nursery, advanced technology is in place to care for
infants with medical complications, such as premature birth and low
birth weight. Designed to provide the most comprehensive care and
support for the entire family, the center offers an intimate, home-like
environment combining privacy with uncompromised care.
THE OB STETR ICAL SUITE
This suite consists of five birthing rooms where experienced staff
assists patients in the birthing process from labor to delivery and
through the immediate recovery period. Fathers are welcome to
participate in the birthing process and two coaches (friends or
family members) may help support the new mother and her baby
in the initial bonding phase. Registered nurses staff the
postpartum unit and offer new parents their years of
experience and knowledge.
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St. Catherine of Siena Nursing Home
O M M U N I T Y
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St. Catherine of Siena Nursing Home is a 240-bed, skilled,
hospital-based, nursing facility specializing in long-term
residential care, short-term subacute care, and rehabilitation.
The Nursing Home has the unique ability to deliver a very
home-like environment, and also offers our residents all of the
resources of an entire medical center. The Nursing Home
provides a state-of-the-art Alzheimer’s/Dementia Care Unit,
hemodialysis, hospice care, pain management, respiratory care,
physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and case
management.
Therapeutic recreation services coordinates social gatherings,
group activities, special trips, (Foxwoods Casino, Yankee
Stadium, Concerts in the Park, trips to the winery, etc.), daily
entertainment and individual bedsidetherapy. In our gala room,
residents celebrate birthdays,anniversaries and special
occasions.
Individualized and special diets are prepared by our culinary trained staff, including kosher foods, enteral
feedings and end stage renal disease diets. Dentistry, podiatry, ophthalmology, psychiatric and psychological
services are also provided on the premises. Pastoral care and interfaith religious services are offered to all
residents. We are also one of the only nursing homes in Suffolk County that provides New York State
Department of Health on-site Certified Nursing Assistant Training for our community members who are
interested in obtaining a career in health care delivery. In addition, we are the only nursing home on Long
Island that has partnered
with Suffolk County
Community College for
Licensed Practical
Nursing and Registered
Nursing Programs
dedicated for the
advancement and training
of the employees of the
facility. Our staff believes
family members are a
vital part of the caring
team.
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Siena Village
Siena Village is a subsidized
senior apartment complex
providing affordable housing to
low-income seniors and younger
disabled adults. Siena Village
consists of 298 garden
apartments situated on 30 lush
acres in suburban Smithtown,
New York. It offers its residents
secure and affordable housing in
a supportive environment.
Siena Village includes a spacious community center with auditorium, lounge, library, card and crafts rooms.
Residents are provided access to computers with Internet services. Regularly scheduled programs encourage
healthful activities and fosters community spirit. Siena Village owns and operates a resident bus for weekday
shopping and other trips. Its maintenance staff manages routine repairs and care of buildings and grounds,
including repainting apartments and snow removal.
Siena Village does not offer direct assistance for activities of daily living. However, many residents
utilize the services of home care agencies to assist in maintaining their independence within their
apartment. In addition, the social work personnel offer information and referral resources, crisis
intervention and short-term counseling. Siena Village is federally subsidized under the United States
Department of Housing and Urban Development ’s Housing Assistance Program (HUD).
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Public Participation in Progress & Public Notice
In order to make the information readily accessible to the public a copy of St. Catherine of
Siena Medical Center’s Community Service Plan will be posted on the hospital’s website
www.stcatherinemedicalcenter.org after submission to the New York State Department of
Health.
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Plan Development & Adoption
St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center prides itself in identifying the needs
of its community through participation with organizations, and through
ongoing dialogue with our patients, their families, our medical staff, our
employees, our management team and key individuals in our community.
Information gathered and data collected includes market area over views and
environmental factors. These are evaluated and used to enable
St. Catherine’s to address the needs of the community.
Add i t i o nal se r vi c e s f o r t h e u pc o m i ng ye ar i nc l u de :
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Implementation of new Diabetic and Wound Care Clinic
Modernization Plan: A brand new tower with new OR/PACU, ICU/CCU
and private and semi-private Rooms
Renovation of the Maternal/Child Departments
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Assesment of Community Needs and Goals
St. Catherine’s provides high quality care with compassion and respect for each patient
regardless of age, religion, race, gender or ability to pay. The standard of care is equal for all
patients. St. Catherine’s is continuously evaluating the service area needs by reviewing
patient surveys, community feedback, demographic data, community health indicators and
patient care trends to develop and refine its scope of services and delivery of care.
St. Catherine’s is proud of the fact that its year-end, 2008 patient satisfaction scores were
among the best scores that St. Catherine’s has ever had. Measuring patient satisfaction and
using patient feedback is at the heart of St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center’s strategic plan
for improving programs and services.
St. Catherine’s provides high quality care with compassion and respect for each patient,
regardless of age, religion, race, gender or ability to pay. St. Catherine’s is continuously
evaluating the service area needs by evaluating patient surveys, community feedback,
demographic data, community health indicators and patient care trends to develop and
refine its scope of service and delivery of care.
St. Catherine’s solicited comments about the quality of service from 50% of our inpatients
utilizing the Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Survey. These results are reviewed on a monthly
basis and quality improvements are implemented when a need is identified. Patient priorities
are carefully reviewed; opportunities to improve quality of care and services are then identified
and implemented.
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Target Communities and Populations
St. Catherine’s service area consists of 21 communities located in western Suffolk County.
St. Catherine’s primary catchment area has a population of approximately 248,000 and
includes: Smithtown, St. James, Hauppauge, Kings Park, Commack, Nesconset, Northport
and East Northport. These communities represent approximately 53% of total admissions.
Our secondary service area has a population of more than 245,000 and accounts for 3.5%
of the Medical Center’s total admissions. The secondary service area comprises, Lake Grove,
Centerport, Greenlawn, Huntington Station, Huntington and Cold Spring Harbor.
Although the overall service area population is projected to have a small increase from 2004 to
2009, there will be significant increases in the 45-64 and 65+ age groups. The projected 2006
average income levels for households in the service area are largely comparable to the average
of $99,889 for Suffolk County as a whole. The population is projected to become more
racially and ethnically diverse.
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Projects to Address Identified Community Needs
S t . C a ther ine of S iena Medic al C e n t e r o f f e r s a w i d e a n d
c o m p rehensive ar r ay of commu n i t y s e r v i c e p ro g r a m s t h a t ad d re s s
c r i t i c a l health issues to a dive r s i t y o f p a t i e n t s , i n c l u d i n g :
Annual Community Health Fair: St. Catherine’s Annual Community
Health Fair is a pivotal education portal for the community. The health
fair is the primal place where community members can receive free
health care education and screenings of the vast scope of services
provided by the Medical Center.
Auxiliary Volunteer Department: The Auxiliary and volunteers of
St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center are a group of dedicated and
generous individuals, who offer their time, talent and services to
patients and staff on a daily basis. The Auxiliary also donate funds
to support the mission of the Medical Center, fundraising activities
include: fashion shows, managing the hospital gift shop, plants
sales and special events.
Charity Care Program: The Charity Care Program is a
free or subsidized hospital-based health services
provided to low income individuals who are without
other means of insurance coverage and are unable to pay
for services rendered. In order to apply for charity care,
an individual must demonstrate that payment of hospital
bills would be a hardship and must apply for Medicaid.
Community Blood Drives: St. Catherine’s host three
blood drives annually in collaboration with Long Island
Blood Services, a division of New York Blood Center.
Community Newsletter: St. Catherine’s publishes a quarterly newsletter,
The Voice. The Voice is a primary component of educating the community
about health-related issues and keeping them inform of upcoming events
and hospital services.
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Emergency Response Appreciation Dinners: Emergency response personnel are at the forefront of the
medical process. They provide immediate medical service and work collaboratively to offer timely care.
St. Catherine’s recognizes this fact and has implemented a quarterly emergency response appreciation
dinner for local emergency response personnel. The appreciation dinners were implemented in 2008,
and have become a highlight for St. Catherine’s and local emergency response teams. Each dinner acts as a
reminder of how grateful the hospital is for promptness and efficiency in the field. The dinners offer a
forum for special educational programs and an opportunity for emergency response personnel to gain
education credits.
FACE to FACE: St. Catherine’s is now a partner of
FACE TO FACE. FACE TO FACE is a
humanitarian program conducted under the auspices of the
Educational and Research Foundation for the American
Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
(AAFPRS Foundation). The Foundation offers pro-bono
consultations and surgeries to victims of domestic violence
to enhance their self-esteem and assist in the tremendous
effort to rebuild their lives. St. Catherine’s has successfully
performed one surgery under this program in 2008.
Healthy Sunday Series: The Healthy Sunday Program
manifests the commitment of Catholic Health Services of
Long Island by proactively helping underserved communities
by providing educational seminars and preventive screenings that may be otherwise unavailable. The program
reaches out into communities of need to help bridge the gap between the individual and the health provider
to provide quality, accessible services to the underserved, ultimately building a link for the coordination of
care. Healthy Sundays provides a safe avenue to improve access to vital primary care services.
Maternity Education: You and Your Baby Education Series
The Maternity Department offers a variety of fee and non-fee support groups and workshops for new
mothers and family members as follows: Breast-feeding Support Groups, Childbirth Education, Early
Pregnancy Classes, Family and Friends CPR: Infant Only, Grandparents Classes, Infant Care Classes,
Prenatal Breast-feeding Classes and Sibling Classes.
Medical Community Education: St. Catherine’s is dedicated to educating the community and proudly offers
free lectures and presentations on a variety of health and wellness topics to help educate and raise awareness.
With the combination of lectures and presentations offered, St. Catherine’s hopes to improve the quality of
life, promote wellness and healthy living for all those who live and work in the community.
Pastoral Care: Pastoral care service is available for patients for all denominations during their hospital stay.
We provide spiritual resources, counsel and prayer, and assist patients with integrating their spiritual beliefs
into their healing process. Pastoral care is often called upon for ethical advice with advance directives in
collaboration with the patient advocate.
Support Groups offered to the Community
Bariatric Support Groups
Cardiac device Support Groups
Diabetes Club (GLAD)
Green Seminar
Parkinson’s Disease Support Groups
Bereavement Support Groups
St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center offers use of its facility conference space,
upon request, and availability to community-based support Uncompensated Care.
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P U B L I C H E A LT H P R I O R I T I E S
In keeping with New York State’s mission to improve the health of all New Yorkers, St. Catherine’s joined a
collaborative partnership with the Suffolk County Department of Health, the Nassau-Suffolk Hospital
Council and other Suffolk County hospitals (hereafter referred to as the Partnership).
The goal of the Partnership was to choose two health initiatives that integrate traditional medical services
with public health interventions resulting in positive behavioral changes that ultimately improve the health
status of the residents in Suffolk County. The two initiatives chosen by the Partnership are tobacco use and
unintentional injury.
T O B AC C O U S E
Smoking kills 25,500 individuals and secondhand smoke kills 2,500 individuals in New York state each year
and almost 570,000 New Yorkers are diagnosed each year with a serious illness that is caused by smoking.
The statistics are dire, compelling the local health department and Suffolk County hospitals to initiate a
county-wide smoking cessation program. The collaborative process of the Partnership resulted in short-term
and long-term goals as follows:
Short-Term Goals
• Develop a comprehensive tobacco policy using the template developed by the Tobacco Cessation
Working Group as a guide.
• Provide educational programs for staff, patients, and the community.
• Provide tobacco education and cessation programs and resources for patients, staff, and community.
• Incorporate into the comprehensive policy the use of resources available through the Suffolk County
Department of Health Services, the Center for Tobacco Control and community partners.
Long-Term Goals (three-year plan)
•
•
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•
Improve the health of Suffolk County residents
Reduce the prevalence of tobacco use in Suffolk County
Work toward creating a culture of safety by eliminating exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS)
Reduce health care costs associated with tobacco use and exposure to ETS
The short-term and long-term goals are a product of the collaborative partnership with the Suffolk County
Department of Health and the following:
• Good Samaritan Hospital
• St. Charles Hospital
• Stony Brook University Medical Center
• Eastern Long Island Hospital
• North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System
• John T. Mather Hospital
• Southampton Hospital
• Southside Hospital
• Huntington Hospital
• Eastern Suffolk BOCES
• Tobacco Action Coalition of Long Island
• St. Catherine of Siena
• Suffolk County Department of Health Services
• Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council, Inc.
• Brookhaven National Laboratory
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Steps in Place
St. Catherine has long had a focus on smoking cessation and prevention. It has the following programs/steps
in place:
• Effective January 1, 2009, the 110-acre campus, St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center, Nursing Home,
and Siena Village, went 100% smoke-free, including all indoor and outdoor areas. Although the
buildings have been smoke-free, we have permitted smoking in designated areas outside the facilities.
These smoking areas were eliminated as of January 1, 2009.
• All inpatients identified during assessment as smokers at St. Catherine’s receive education on smoking
cessation, receive brochures for community education and counseling resources, and are offered
medication patches for symptom relief.
• St. Catherine’s has participated with the Long Island Health Network in the development of a
comprehensive smoking cessation program for patients and community members.
• Smoking cessation brochures with community resource lists are available in all outpatient waiting
areas.
• St. Catherine’s social workers participate in community and school health fairs to offer smoking
cessation counseling to the community.
• The Social Work Department receives and responds to calls from the community for counseling
resources in smoking cessation.
• Social Work team members and community educators represent St. Catherine’s on the Suffolk County
DOH collaborative partnership.
U N I N T E N T I O N A L I N J U RY P R E V E N T I O N
Accidents are the fifth leading cause of death in older adults with 30% of the elderly population falling at
least once a year. One third of all patients presenting to an emergency department for falls are hospitalized
and one half of hospitalized fall patients die within a year. The US cost to care for hospitalizations as a result
of a fall totaled $20 billion in 2000 and is projected to increase to $32 billion by 2020.
The Suffolk County Department of Health, Suffolk County hospitals and other related organizations agreed
to move ahead on the important initiative regarding prevention of unintentional injuries, with a focus on the
elderly population, through the establishment of a data subcommittee that will accumulate and analyze data
in areas related to unintentional injury. These include:
• Geographic distribution
• Age-specific factors
• Co-morbidities
• Racial/ethnic distribution
• Relationship between emergency department visits and hospital-specific catchment areas
Strategies that will factor into an unintentional injury prevention program include:
• Risk factors for falls in the elderly population
• Medication-related risks
• Effective health education strategies
• Motivating factors for target population
• Necessary behavior reinforcement
• Health literacy
• Functional issues
• Cost benefit analysis to be presented to health insurers
Education will be provided to the targeted elderly population through:
• Senior housings facilities
• Physicians’ offices
• Senior centers
• Hospitals
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Home visits by home care nurses and physical therapists
Meals on Wheels
Peer education
Caregiver support groups
Pharmacies
Public awareness and public relations campaigns
The Unintentional Injury Committee included:
• Suffolk County Department of Health Services
• AARP
• Dominican Sisters Family Health Service
• Eastern Long Island Hospital
• John T. Mather Memorial Hospital
• North Shore-LIJ Health System
• Pharmacist Judy Beizer, Pharm. D., St. John’s University
• St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center
• St. Charles Hospital
• Good Samaritan Hospital
• St. Joseph’s College
• Stony Brook University Medical Center
• Suffolk County Office for Aging
Steps in Place
• New initiatives will be put in place to achieve these goals as follows: changing the time vital signs are
routinely taken, improving communication between staff regarding particular patient risks, practicing
peer pressure to maintain hourly rounds, maintaining a sensitive environment and looking for potential
obstacles, encouraging night staff to use nightlights, and aiming to decrease the clutter in patient rooms.
• Design and develop health education materials designed to prevent falls among the elderly that:
Include ideas from both the target population and from experts and community members; Incorporate
strategies known to be effective for those with low literacy skills; Companion booklet, poster, and
calendar with prevention strategies outlined each month of calendar).
• All patients registering for Joint Replacement surgery receive pre-admission education on falls
prevention and safety at home by care managers and physical therapists.
• Patients using the St. Catherine’s community hemodialysis programs receive education and physical
therapy support.
• The Voice, St. Catherine’s community newsletter will include safety recommendations on a variety of
topics, including falls prevention.
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Charity Care Policy
I. OBJECTIVE:
Consistent with St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center’s (the Medical Center) mission of providing care
to needy persons and underserved persons in a manner that preserves the dignity of the individual, this
Charity Care Policy (the Policy) describes the policies and procedures relating to the provision of charity
care to persons who are unable to pay for all or a portion of their bill. No individual will be denied
medically necessary hospital services based on a demonstrated inability to pay for those services.
II. PURP OSE:
To describe the Medical Center’s policy related to the provision of charity care to persons who are
unable to pay for all or a portion of their bill. No person will be denied medically necessary hospital
services based on a demonstrated inability to pay for those services. It is not the intention of the Medical
Center to collect amounts that exceed an individual’s ability to pay, as set out in the St. Catherine of
Siena Medical Center’s Self-Pay Collection Policy, a copy of which is attached and incorporated herein
by reference.
III. POLICY:
1. General: The Medical Center offers as part of its mission, medically necessary care to those
individuals not covered under a third party insurer or government program or who do not have
resources to pay all or a portion of their bills.
2. Charity Care Services: Emergency services are always provided without regard to the patient’s ability
to pay. In addition, all non-emergent healthcare services, inpatient and outpatient, shall be available to
all individuals under this policy, except as outlined in number 3 below.
3. Specific Exclusions: Charity care will not be available to patients for services that are not medically
necessary, including, but not limited to, implants, cosmetic surgery, orthodontics and lens
ocular implants. Procedures inconsistent with the Ethical and Religious Directives as interpreted and
applied by the Bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Centre are specifically excluded from the Medical
Center’s Charity Care Policy. In addition, non-essential services and services that are not appropriate to
a hospital setting may also be excluded from this policy.
4. Family Income: Family income includes earnings, unemployment compensation, workers’
compensation, Social Security, supplemental security income, public assistance, veterans’ payments,
survivor benefits, pension or retirement income, interest, dividends, rents, royalties, income from
estates, trusts, educational assistance, alimony, child support, assistance from outside the household, and
other miscellaneous sources. Non-cash benefits (such as food stamps and housing subsidies) do not
count. Family income is calculated before taxes and excludes capital gains or losses.
5. Patients qualify for 100% charity care if their family income is at or below 300% of the Federal
poverty guidelines. (Attached)
6. Patients are responsible for 20% to 80% of their bill if their family income is between 301% and 400%
of the Federal poverty guidelines. Please refer to the current charity care income guidelines (attached)
for sliding scale eligibility percentages.
7. Except as provided in the next sentence, in cases in which a person is uninsured, not eligible for
Medicaid and otherwise qualified for charity care under this Policy, the discounts described in items 5
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and 6 above will be applied to the table of rates from the Medical Center’s lowest paying third party
insurer payable. The applicable rates for emergency-related services will be those of the Medical
Center’s lowest table of rates of the managed care company. For purposes of this paragraph 7, a person
will be deemed to be uninsured to the extent that the person (a) has exhausted his or her insurance
benefit, (b) is fully responsible for payment of their bill, and (c) qualifies for charity care under this
Policy. This paragraph 7 will not apply to co-payment obligations in cases in which a person is insured.
IV. PROCEDU RES:
A. Ge nera l :
1. Confidentiality: The need for charity care may be a sensitive and deeply personal issue for recipients.
Confidentiality of information and preservation of individual dignity shall be maintained for all who
seek charitable services. Orientation of staff and the selection of personnel who will implement this
policy and procedure should be guided by these values. No information obtained in the patient’s charity
care application may be released unless the patient gives expressed permission for such release, except to
bona fide governmental agencies requesting aggregate data.
B . P a t i en t N o ti f i c a ti o n :
1. Since it is the duty of the Medical Center to ensure that every patient is made aware of the existence
of its Charity Care Policy, all employees in the scheduling, patient access, patient financial services and
emergency departments will be fully versed in the Charity Care Policy, have access to the charity care
application forms, and be able to direct questions to the appropriate Medical Center representatives.
2. The Medical Center shall post multilingual notices as to any policies on charity care in several
prominent locations within the Medical Center including, but not limited to, the emergency department,
billing office, waiting rooms for purposes of admissions, and the inpatient and outpatient registration
area. Said notices shall be published in at least the following languages: English and Spanish, and shall
be clearly visible to the public from the location at which they are posted.
3. The Medical Center shall provide patients, in a timely manner, a summary of its Charity Care Policy
upon request. The summary, at a minimum shall provide specific information as to income levels used to
determine eligibility and the means of applying for assistance. This summary shall be written at or
below a sixth grade reading level.
4. The Medical Center shall post its Charity Care Policy summary on their Internet website.
5. The Medical Center shall provide all patients interpreters to assist them in understanding its Charity
Care Program in the language spoken by the patient during any pre-admission, admission, and discharge
process.
6. On all bills and statements sent to patients, a statement will be included regarding the availability of
various financial assistance programs, including charity care, and a contact number to call to obtain
further information. This information will be available at or below a sixth grade reading level.
C . A p p l i ca t i on f or F i n a n c ia l As s i s t a n ce :
1. Patients requesting financial relief from their bill will be provided with an application for charity
care. Application materials shall include a notice to patients that upon submission of a completed
application, including any information or documentation needed to determine eligibility, the patient
may disregard any bills until the Medical Center has rendered a decision on the application.
2. Completed charity care applications with supporting documentation will be returned to the Medical
Center’s patient access department for verification. Applications for inpatient services should be
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accompanied with a Medicaid denial. Renewal applications for dental and other outpatient recurring
services should also be accompanied with a Medicaid denial.
3. Patients who do not provide the requested information necessary to completely and accurately assess
their financial situation in a timely manner and/or who do not cooperate with efforts to secure
governmental healthcare coverage may not be eligible for charity care.
4. Charity care eligibility will be determined by the attached guidelines and reviewed by the Medical
Center’s Chief Financial Officer or other designated individual.
5. The Medical Center may provide discounts for patients who are unable to pay, but the criteria used
will apply equally to all patients regardless of payor. However, applications that do not meet all of the
established criteria may be approved based upon extraordinary circumstances with the documented
approval of the Medical Center’s Chief Financial Officer.
6. The Medical Center will notify the patient of its determination in writing within thirty (30) days of
receipt of the application.
7. If the patient has applied and obtained charity care within the last twelve (12) months and the
patient’s financial circumstances have not changed, the patient shall be deemed eligible for charity care
without having to submit a new charity care application.
8. All applications shall be maintained on file by the Medical Center.
D . P a ym e n t o f O u ts t a n d i n g B a l an c e s :
1. Please refer to the attached Medical Center’s Self-Pay Collections Policy for specific policies and
procedures regarding acceptable collection practices for self-pay accounts, including but not limited to
the upfront collection of deposits and/or co-payments, the establishment of reasonable payment terms,
annual collection limits, specific prohibitions and third party collection agent standards.
E . A n n u a l R e v ie w , M o n i to r i n g a n d Re p o r ti n g :
1. The Catholic Health Services (CHS) Board of Directors’ Mission & Ministry Committee, as part of an
annual mission report, shall review its Charity Care Policy annually and the CHS Board of Directors
shall approve all revisions.
2. The Medical Center shall develop a mechanism to measure its compliance with this Policy.
3. Compliance with these policies will be monitored semi-annually by the Medical Center’s Compliance
and Audit Committee, and be reported to the CHS Compliance and Audit Committee.
4. The St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center Charity Care Policy shall be provided to the Suffolk
County Department of Health Services upon request.
5. The Medical Center shall comply with all governmental reporting requirements.
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Charity Care Income Guidelines (2007)
The above income levels refer to family income. Family income includes earnings, unemployment
compensation, workers’ compensation, Social Security, supplemental security income, public assistance,
veterans’ payments, survivor benefits, pension or retirement income, interest, dividends, rents, royalties,
income from estates, trusts, educational assistance, alimony, child support, assistance from outside the
household, and other miscellaneous sources. Non-cash benefits (such as food stamps and housing
subsidies) do not count. Family income is calculated before taxes and excludes capital gains or losses.
O t h e r A s s e t E x e m p t i o n s : Available assets shall be converted to income for comparison to poverty
guidelines, on a dollar for dollar basis, but will exclude from consideration the following assets in
considering whether the patient meets the charity care financial criteria: savings accounts and other
liquid assets with balances of less than six months of income, assets held in a tax-deferred or comparable
retirement savings account, college savings accounts, all personal property, including, but not limited to,
household goods, wedding/engagement rings and medical equipment, available business equity below
$50,000, automobiles used regularly by a patient or immediate family members, and other assets at our
discretion that we may believe are in the patient's best interest to exempt.
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Self-Pay Collection Policy
I. OBJECTIVE:
Consistent with St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center’s (the Medical Center) mission of providing care
to needy persons and underserved persons in a manner that preserves the dignity of the individual, this
Self-Pay Collections Policy (the Policy) describes the policies and procedures relating to the collection
activities of the Medical Center. It is not the Medical Center’s intention to collect amounts that exceed
an individual’s ability to pay, as set out in the St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center Charity Care Policy,
a copy of which is attached and incorporated herein by reference. It is, however, the intention of the
Medical Center to perform collection activities that reflect the highest standards of Christian duty,
ethics and integrity, and be consistent with the mission of the Medical Center with respect to the dignity
of each individual.
I I . PO L I CY :
A. E l ig ib il i t y :
The Medical Center’s Charity Care Policy describes the policies and procedures relating to the provision
of charity care to persons who are unable to pay for all or a portion of their bill. No individual will be
denied medically necessary hospital services based on a demonstrated inability to pay for those services.
In addition, upon applying for charity care, each patient and patient guarantor’s ability to pay will be
assessed.
B . S el f - P a y C ol l ec t io n P r a c t ic e s :
1. Collection Practices: All patient and patient guarantor accounts shall be pursued fairly
2. Ethics and Integrity: All collection activities shall consistently reflect the highest standards of ethics
and integrity, and be consistent with the mission of the Medical Center with respect to the dignity of
each individual.
3. Reasonable Payment Terms: Reasonable payment schedules (installments) and terms (no interest is
assessed) shall be offered to each patient and patient guarantor with self-pay balances.
4. Eligibility for Assistance: A reasonable review shall be performed prior to turning an account over to
a third-party collection agent and prior to instituting any legal action for non-payment, to assure that
the patient and patient guarantor are not eligible for any assistance program (i.e. Medicaid) and do not
qualify for coverage through the Medical Center’s Charity Care Policy. After having been turned over to
a third-party collection agent, any account that subsequently is determined to meet the charity care
criteria shall be returned immediately by the third-party collection agent for appropriate follow-up.
C . T h i r d -P ar t y C ol l e c t i on A g e n ts :
Third-party collection agents are to follow the following practices:
1. Standards and Scope of Practices: Third-party collection agents shall follow the same standards as the
Medical Center’s patient financial services department.
2. Approval Policy: The Medical Center’s Chief Financial Officer shall consider and must first approve
any legal actions (i.e. garnishments, liens, etc.) that may be pursued by the third-party collection agent.
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Such approvals shall be reported to the System Chief Financial Officer.
3. Financial Assistance: The third-party collection agent shall advise the patient/guarantor of the
Medical Center’s Charity Care Policy and return the account immediately if it is determined that the
qualifications are met.
4. 210-Day Limit: Unsettled accounts shall be returned to the Medical Center as uncollectible after 210
days. Under certain circumstances (i.e., when or if a payment or resolution is expected within 60 days),
a third-party collection agent may manage an account beyond 210 days from the date assigned to the
third-party collection agent.
5. Annual Collection Limits: Annual amounts collected from an uninsured individual shall not exceed
ten percent (10%) of that patient’s family income.
6. Annual Adherence Attestation: Each third-party collection agent shall be reviewed at least annually
for adherence to these standards. (i.e. rate of success and compliance with these terms and conditions).
The patient financial services department shall send the current Self-Pay Collection Policy, and an
attestation to each collection agent for them to sign that they will act in compliance with this Policy.
D . S p e ci f i c P r o h i b i t io n s :
1. Unemployed Without Significant Income/Assets: No legal action shall be pursued for non-payment of
any bills against any patient or patient guarantor who is unemployed and without other significant
income or assets.
2. Principal Residence: No legal action against any patient or patient guarantor by seeking a remedy
that would involve foreclosing upon the principle residence of a patient or patient guarantor, or taking
any other action that could result in the involuntary sale or transfer of such residence or informing any
patient or patient guarantor that he/she may be subject to any such action.
3. Other Asset Exemptions: The Medical Center shall convert available assets to income for comparison
to poverty guidelines, on a dollar for dollar basis, but will exclude from consideration the following
assets in considering whether the patient meets the charity care financial criteria:
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savings accounts and other liquid assets with balances of less than six months of income,
assets held in a tax-deferred or comparable retirement savings account,
college savings accounts,
all personal property, including, but not limited to, household goods, wedding/engagement rings
and medical equipment,
• available business equity below $50,000,
• automobiles used regularly by a patient or immediate family members, and
• other assets at our discretion that we may believe are in the patient’s best interest to exempt.
4. Cooperating Efforts: No unpaid self-pay account shall be sent to a third-party collection agent as long
as the patient and patient guarantor are cooperating to settle the account balance.
5. Collection Tactics: Tactics such as charging interest, requiring patients or patient guarantors to incur
debt or loans with recourse to the patient’s or guarantor’s personal or real property assets (recourse
indebtedness), or so called ‘body attachments’ (i.e. the arrest or jailing of patients in default on their
accounts, such as for missed court appearances) are strictly prohibited.
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I I I . P R O C E D U R E F O R AS S E S S M E N T O F S E L F P A Y BA L A N C E S :
A. M e d i ca l C e n t e r P at i e n t A c ce s s / Fi n a n c i al C ou n s e l or s :
1. All employees in the scheduling, patient access, patient financial services and emergency departments
will be fully versed in the Medical Center’s Charity Care Policy, have access to the charity care
application forms, and be able to direct questions to the appropriate Medical Center representatives.
2. Patient access personnel and financial counselors shall review payment arrangements prior to service
for insured patients, self-pay patients and those who have a co-payment/deductible portion that their
insurance does not recompense.
3. For elective and scheduled non-urgent services, the Medical Center shall request payment of fifty to
one hundred percent (50-100%) of the amount due prior to date of service. Such deposits must
be included as part of any financial aid consideration.
4. The Medical Center shall request payment of self-pay portion of service, including co-payments, at
time of service.
5. When appropriate, the Medical Center shall establish reasonable payment arrangements with the
guarantor on the account. No interest shall be assessed on installment plans.
6. Patient access personnel and financial counselors shall review the Medical Center’s Charity Care
Policy and/or other financial assistance available with patient and/or guarantor (outside services are
available to assist with the inpatient application process for NYS Medicaid). The Medical Center’s
Charity Care Policy describes the policies and procedures related to the provision of charity care,
including but not limited to eligibility requirements and the communication and application processes.
B . T he P a ti e n t Fi n a n c i al S er v ic e s D ep a r t me n t:
1. After discharge, all primary and secondary insurances shall be billed for covered services.
2. Once all third-party payor transactions are settled, self-pay bills for total charges, deductibles and/or
co-payments shall be mailed to the guarantor on the account.
3. All bills and statements sent to patients shall include a statement regarding the availability of various
financial assistance programs, including charity care, and a contact number to call to obtain further
information. This information will be available at or below a sixth grade reading level.
4. According to the Medical Center’s Charity Care Policy, upon submission of a completed charity care
application, including any information or documentation needed to determine eligibility, the patient
may disregard any bills until the Medical Center has rendered a decision on the application.
5. A series of two (2) internal data mailers shall be sent thirty (30) days apart, telephone calls shall be
made to patients/guarantors for accounts over $500.00 and then a series of three (3) overdue notices shall
be sent.
6. After sixty (60) days, if the account is not paid in full or an acceptable payment plan has been
arranged, the account will qualify for bad debt.
7. After a reasonable review, delinquent accounts shall be considered bad debts and shall be referred to
a third-party collection agent for collection, which shall follow the collection practices described above.
8. Patients shall be notified thirty (30) days before their account is sent to a third-party collection agent.
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