Dan's Papers - July 18, 2008 - SH Hospital Suffers a Casualty, Forges Ahead

While the final design for the future of Southampton Hospital remains to be chosen, officials say things are moving forward. Be it a change in location or significant renovation, planning has begun for possible construction and the liquidation of current assets to raise funds.

President and CEO Robert Chaloner has made public the cost of a new facility: close to $225 million - an amount that includes construction, debt repayment and land purchases. Needless to say, fundraising is a necessary certainty, and the methods employed will take many forms.

One example is the sale of the building that houses the medical center's thrift store that has been at 79 Main Street since 1971. Although it currently brings in about $100,000 yearly, its sale should net the hospital a very important $5 million. Meanwhile, the shop will relocate elsewhere in the village, and continue to generate money.

Unfortunately, the fundraising hit a potential snag when the president of the Southampton Hospital Foundation, Darren J. Farlow, resigned on June 18, only 5 1/2 months into his tenure. Until the position is refilled, Farlow's responsibilities will be absorbed by Chaloner.

Chaloner, an experienced president who previously held the same responsibilities at Cabrini Medical Center, a 310-bed acute care teaching hospital in Manhattan, has his work cut out for him. He took a moment to correspond with Dan's Papers about what he - as well as the hospital itself - will be facing in the future.

With the departure of Darren Farlow, you'll be adopting his role and workload. Will you become the main fundraising force?

The hospital will soon begin a search for Farlow's replacement, but I will continue to play a significant role in fundraising even after a new Foundation President is in place. In the meantime, our funding initiatives are ongoing and the Foundation staff and board will continue to implement the Foundation's fundraising plans in support of hospital services.

How far along are you in the fundraising? Is there a finite timeline that must be met?

A capital campaign will be launched when the hospital is ready to move forward with one.

You've expressed the need to also upgrade the current ER - a section that causes the most significant financial losses. Does the acquisition of donations for the emergency room serve as a speed bump to the new project?

I don't see our efforts to improve our current facility as a deterrent to raising funds for a new hospital, if that is the direction we take. The move to a new facility would not take place for at least seven years, possibly more, and in the meantime, our existing hospital must serve the healthcare needs of our community. Actually, we are undertaking several critical capital projects to expand and enhance patient services. With more than 25,000 patient visits to our Emergency Room annually, expansion of this department on one floor will greatly improve accessibility and efficiency. A NYS-designated Stroke Center, with Board-certified physicians onsite 24/7, and the most sophisticated, non-invasive cardiac diagnostic and monitoring technology available, our ER is a critical mainstay of healthcare on the South Fork. Other initiatives include expansion of the Breast Health Center, which will enable us to serve more patients in a more efficient, private environment. We are fundraising for completion of our new Kathleen D. Allen Maternity Center, Phase I of which was completed in 2007. Recognizing that integrative medicine plays an important role in treating illness and advancing recovery, we are also making plans for a Wellness Center to provide stress management and educational programs that will give valuable support to patients faced with chronic and life-threatening medical conditions. We are also responding to the critical need for more physicians in our area, and have successfully recruited highly qualified doctors in Breast Surgery, Geriatrics, Infectious Disease, Internal Medicine, Family Practice and Nephrology, as well as Hospitalists who provide care for hospitalized patients.

Is it an absolute that the hospital will be moving to a new location, or is there a chance it could stay on Meeting House Lane?

A special committee of hospital board members has been formed to review our options and make a recommendation. We expect that a decision will be made by year-end or early in 2009.