What’s happening at San Vicente de Paúl?

 

We are transforming our healthcare ministry in the South Bronx to enable us to serve more seniors and equip us to offer a wider and more up-to-date array of healthcare services and programs than ever. These changes align our ministry with the realities of the current healthcare reimbursement environment and the increased demand from consumers for home and community based services.

 

Why does San Vicente de Paúl need to change?

 

San Vicente de Paúl must change because the healthcare environment in which we operate has changed. Government reimbursements for nursing home services continue to be slashed, while the cost of caring for seniors only increases. Existing funds are also being redistributed from institutionally based programs to home and community based services.  For not-for-profit entities such as ArchCare the financial pain has been especially severe.

 

At the same time, new care models such as PACE have emerged that allow nursing home-eligible seniors to maintain their independence by receiving the healthcare and other services they need at home with their families or in the community instead of in a much more costly inpatient setting. Our new PACE center will an important addition to our ministry and the community moving forward and enable us to serve more of our local elderly than ever before.

 

What is PACE?

 

PACE stands for Program for All-Inclusive Care of the Elderly. At the heart of the PACE concept is the belief that it is better for the well-being of seniors with chronic care needs and their families to be served in the community whenever possible. Our PACE center will offer a comprehensive array of healthcare and supportive services, including adult day care, medical care, prescription drugs, physical, occupational and recreational therapies, social services, counseling and other services.  
 

When will the PACE center open?

 

Construction of the PACE day center phase I is on schedule for completion in late spring 2011. We expect to receive final government approval to begin construction of the clinic portion of the PACE center Phase II shortly.

 

Will there be an Assisted Living Program at San Vicente de Paúl?

 

That is one of our goals. Our application to establish an assisted living program is in the final stages of review by the New York State Department of Health. The details of will ultimately depend on government approvals, space constraints, the number of skilled nursing beds that remain in our facility and other factors.

 

Are there plans to construct housing for seniors at San Vicente de Paúl?

Our future plans continue to include the construction of low-income supportive housing for seniors on the SVDP campus. This is a longer-term initiative that is highly dependent on the availability of government funding, which the US Department of Housing and Urban Development has not yet announced.

 

Is it true that San Vicente de Paúl is phasing out traditional nursing home care?

 

We remain steadfastly committed to providing traditional nursing home beds at San Vicente de Paúl. However, to align our ministry with the realities of the current reimbursement environment and enable us to provide more of the home and community based services that consumers are demanding, there will be fewer of them. We are limiting new admissions to achieve this goal, and it is our intention is that no current resident who wishes to remain with us will need to move.

 

Why do you have to reduce the number of nursing home beds?

 

First, we need to create room for the new services we are bringing to the community. But the more important reason is to respond to steep declines in government reimbursements for nursing home care and the steady diversion of Federal and state funding from institutional care to home and community based programs. For not-for-profit entities like ArchCare, the financial pain has been especially severe.

 

Are there plans to sell San Vicente de Paúl?

 

We are exploring various options for continuing to provide nursing home beds in the most financially responsible way while ensuring the best care possible for residents. An arrangement with another nursing home partner is just one of the options. No decisions have been reached, and we are continuing to evaluate all of the possibilities carefully and with the interests of the community and our elderly foremost in our minds.

 

If there will be fewer nursing home beds at San Vicente de Paúl, won’t some residents have to leave?

 

Our intention is that no current resident who wishes to remain with us will be required to move. 

 

How will residents be affected by the changes?

 

The health and well-being of our residents is always our top priority. Residents should experience no changes in the level and quality of care that they receive

 

How are employees of San Vicente de Paúl being affected by all the changes?

 

As we transform our healthcare ministry, the size and composition of our staff will change to reflect the wider range of services we are bringing to the community and the new ways they will be delivered. In February 2011 we gave approximately 88 full-time, part-time and per-diem employees 90 days notice that their positions would be eliminated. In addition to other assistance, affected employees have the opportunity to transfer to open positions for which they are qualified that may exist in other ArchCare facilities and programs.

 

Won’t it be harder for San Vicente de Paúl to provide the same high level of care with fewer staff?

 

Making sure our residents receive the best care possible is always our priority. Since we will have fewer nursing home beds and fewer residents, we will need fewer staff members to care for them. The number of staff members per resident will not change.