Closure of St Vincent's Midtown Hospital - Reader comments at The New York Sun

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Reader comment on:
Closing Six Hospitals To Be Sought in the City
in response to reader comment: Saint Vincent's Midtown Hospital Must Stay Open

Submitted by David M Burke MD, Dec 4, 2006 20:11

I was former President of the Medical Staff at St. Vincent's' Midtown hospital previously called St. Clare's Hospital.

It is a tragedy and obviously a politically motivated decision to close St. Vincent's Midtown Hospital (2 catholic hospital with Cabrini) in order to satisfy the precarious finance of Roosevelt Hospital who could not compete fairly with St Vincent's Mid Town. St Vincent's Midtown is a financially sound hospital who recently obtained a grant from the State of NY who also thought that the financial of the hospital was sound as well. I had the opportunity to write letter to the editor to the NY Times when they wrote inaccurate reports about the financial state of the hospital.

St. Vincent's Midtown hospital was the first AIDS center in New York City, in a time where no one wanted to touch these patients,(in the 80's, ) Cardinal O'Connor used to come on some evening to volunteer taking care of these patients without trying to get any credit for it in a truly compassionate fashion.

It is also one of the only hospital where a real operator answers the phone and you are not prompted to dial any digits to reach an interested party. They treat you with respect like a human being.

This institution had a state of the art Dental Clinic for HIV patients and state of the art HIV center to take care of these difficult patients.

This is a true community hospital who take care of the unique population of the Clinton (formely called Hell's Kitchen), and the theater district with a strong following.

I cannot speak enough of the medical staff and the Nursing staff as well, their dedication to all of the difficult situations presented to them over the years where they have stepped up to the plate at every instance. Including the initial World Trade Bombing and with Sept 11 01. The Joint Commission of Accreditation of Hospital consistenlhy graded this institution with very high scores over the year.

This institution underwent a complete pysical renovation with a state of the art Operating Room directed by a prominent surgeon, and the Department of Medicine chaired by a world famous physician Dr. Paul Marino the author of the popular "The ICU Book"

It is a shame to see the demise of such a wonderful institution.

I remember that Carnegie Hall was planned to go under the wrecking ball if it was not for the fight from a few celebrities.

I certainly hope that the community will fight for this good cause to keep this wonderful institution open.

Dr. Burke

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Other reader comments on this article

Comment	By	Date
Upon further investigation I do not believe I would be interested in purchasing your equipment & furnishings..Thank you! [MORE]	gary lunsford	Mar 4, 2008 12:04
I have read different views of Westchester Square Hospital in the Bronx. I don't see how anyone would think its... [MORE]	Barbara	Mar 2, 2008 22:26
I feel each one of us living in Hells Kitchen will be gaining by the closure of this hospital. We... [MORE]	JIm	Aug 31, 2007 20:42
Those on the inside know it's about the money and income. Very little Healthcare going on here. ER has become... [MORE]	Antoine LaBlatte	Mar 11, 2008 10:10
Saint Vincent Hospital has to close because of the low census of patients. The hospital cannot operate with more workers... [MORE]	Anonymous	Aug 6, 2007 21:16
I was sent from New Jersey by my doctor to Cabrini for surgery and received the very best of care... [MORE]	Linda McCaffrey	Jul 9, 2007 11:29
I am currently the Medical Staff Coordinator at St. Vincent's Midtown Hospital and I can only echo the other positive... [MORE]	Doris Lederman, CPCS	Jan 2, 2007 14:55
Yesterday, we said goobye to St. Vincent's Midtown, "The Little Hospital That Could". I work for FDNY EMS, stationed at... [MORE]	D. Campanelli	Sep 1, 2007 11:15
I was a surgical patient at St. Vincent's Midtown in September, as I was ten years ago at St. Vincent's... [MORE]	Mark D. Fields	Dec 18, 2006 19:32
The Ryan White Program is a perfect example of how people with Aids are treated at Saint Vincent's Midtown Hospital... [MORE]	Douglas Chin	Nov 30, 2006 02:19
I was former President of the Medical Staff at St. Vincent's' Midtown hospital previously called St. Clare's Hospital. It is a...	David M Burke MD	Dec 4, 2006 20:11
St. Vincent's Midtown, formerly St. Clare's was the first hospital on the East Coast of the USA to open it's... [MORE]	Tom Coughlan	Dec 24, 2006 18:48
Dr. Burke reports correctly the history of this hospital. I was the Medical Staff Coordinator for 15 years at this... [MORE]	Phyllys Agatstein, MA, CPMSM	Dec 29, 2006 12:42
Dear Sir(s), I would like you to consider some of the unpublished effects of the Berger Commission's Prescription for Disaster. While... [MORE]	don cressy	Dec 29, 2006 19:27
I am on the medical staff at St. Vincent's Midtown and disgusted with the arrogant, unilateral decision that has been... [MORE]	Patricio G. Bruno, D.O.	Dec 29, 2006 23:14
My wife and I had an absolutely terrible experience with this hospital. There are much better emergency care and hospital... [MORE]	Matt	Feb 2, 2007 07:49
parkway hospital is the nearest hospital (time) from la guardia airport. the airport and the hospital are both located at... [MORE]	rolf . niebergall	Feb 19, 2007 23:38
The hospital should close. The empolyees at the hospital have been working over two years with NO HEALTH INSURANCE AND... [MORE]	t	Jul 27, 2007 08:57
I recently had 2 surgeries at St. Vincents Midtown Hospital, and I must say I receieved such wonderful care. The... [MORE]	Dr. Forrest R. Leone	Jul 28, 2007 08:22
As an employee of the hospital and a service to the community on the NYC EMS 911 Ambulance which had... [MORE]	Ms. S. Bologna	Sep 2, 2007 22:17
the Rotunda.............Dublin............... [MORE]	N.Collins	Mar 9, 2008 15:32
THE CURRENT PATAKI ADMINISTRATION, WHICH HAS FAILED TO IMPLIMENT ANY TYPE OFSUBSTANCIALY SIGNIFICANT HEALTHCARE REFORM IN ALL THE YEARS IN... [MORE]	ANTHONY CARFANO	Nov 29, 2006 21:56
this hosp has a lot of history , the ony hosp that opened it ares for all the pts that... [MORE]	emmad marji	Nov 29, 2006 09:30
i have lived in the are for 25 years, closing the hospital would significantly impact the are, and that would... [MORE]	alfonso pesce	Nov 28, 2006 11:29
Can't New York afford one really good specialty hospital? With all the artists and graphic designers in NYC, don't we... [MORE]	Ann Agranoff	Nov 28, 2006 08:56
I write to inform you that this hospital is a great hospital. I staff members and doctors are the best.... [MORE]	Blanca Esponda	Nov 27, 2006 12:05
The answer to the health issue crisis is not to close hospitals, but rather support them. In the event this... [MORE]	Linda E	Nov 27, 2006 18:25
This hospital let both my parents die. They are incapable of taking care of people with heart conditions and cancer... [MORE]	M Murray	Nov 28, 2006 10:54
I am sorry things did not work out for your parents. However, I must differ in your assessment of Westchester... [MORE]	a paladino	Nov 28, 2006 12:29
I am sorry for the lost of your parents, however to discriminate against the hospital because of your personal loss... [MORE]	Joseph	Nov 28, 2006 22:30
Now it's extended to the hospitals? People forget fast that Cabrini played a major in 9/11, given it's location adjacent... [MORE]	Marie Tudisco	Dec 8, 2006 10:20
very well said! [MORE]	maria	Dec 12, 2006 20:14
This does not address the real issues of soaring health care costs and will have no impact on the problem.... [MORE]	janet moore	Nov 22, 2006 17:07
The primary problem is health care cost which is due to 1)increasing insurance premium secondary to injury lawer, 2)more people... [MORE]	Steven	Nov 29, 2006 15:59
DEAR MR. GERSHMAN: AS A PHYSICIAN WORKING AT PENINSULA HOSPITAL(QUEENS, NY) I'M CONCERNED WHETHER THIS LIST IS COMPLETE OR IF... [MORE]	DR. STANLEY SPRECHER	Nov 22, 2006 12:09