White Plains CitizeNetReporter - Westchester Medical Center to privatize mental unit. 150 employees affected

WPCNR County Clarion Ledger. Special to WPCNR. January 5, 2011: An informed source has told WPCNR, the Chief Executive Officer of Westchester County Medical Center, Michael Israel has announced the Behavioral Health Center (mental health unit) at the Medical Center will be privatized in the next two months. A total of 150 current employees are now being reported as affected and will be given the opportunity to apply for their old jobs with the new manager, Liberty Healthcare Corporation. The new arrangement was announced in this memo, obtained by WPCNR:

"Westchester Medical Center has begun a partnership with Liberty Healthcare Corporation to provide and manage direct patient care and treatment to the patients at our Behavioral Health Center, one of the region’s leading providers of comprehensive behavioral health services for adults and children. Psychiatric services in our country are being threatened by dramatic reductions in reimbursement and we must be strategic in our steps to preserve these programs for our region, while also focusing on continued improvement in the services and the quality of care we provide. Liberty Healthcare has a proven record in quality and safety, while bringing efficiencies and effectiveness to organizations around the nation. We are enthusiastic about this new partnership because engaging Liberty Healthcare will better position WMC to deal with a challenging fiscal situation caused by various factors, including reduced Medicaid and Medicare reimbursements. Established more than 25 years ago, Liberty Healthcare is a privately-owned health care delivery and management organization located just outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As a national company, Liberty has more than 700 doctors, nurses, psychiatrists, therapists and others working in 16 states and Bermuda offering medical, psychiatric, rehabilitative and behavioral services in public and private settings. We have posted additional information on iCare. The full transition with Liberty Healthcare will take approximately two months. Every staff member who is impacted by our partnership with Liberty Healthcare will have the opportunity to apply for a position with the new organization. While we recognize the transition period can be a concern for staff and patients alike, as professionals our responsibility is to provide the highest level of care and service to our patients, their families and our colleagues. I want to thank everyone for their professionalism, cooperation and support as we continue to work to improve Westchester Medical Center." Michael Israel President and CEO Westchester County Medical Center


Create an account		The White Plains Daily Internet Newspaper...Founded 2000 A.D....


			Designed and hosted by WestchesterInternet.com