Hospitals to be a part of data study to look at gaps in service [Watertown Daily Times, N.Y.]

Nov. 29--Prevention is the buzzword at north country hospitals.

Samaritan Medical Center; Carthage Area Hospital; E.J. Noble Hospital, Gouverneur; Lewis County General Hospital, Lowville; Clifton-Fine Hospital, Star Lake, and River Hospital, Alexandria Bay, are teaming up to be part of a data study to determine gaps in services so hospitals can focus on creating healthier communities.

Robert P. Kimmes, CEO of Clifton-Fine Hospital, said hospitals are aware of a new trend from insurance companies and Medicare and Medicaid to prevent hospital readmissions, therefore saving money and creating healthier communities. He said hospitals want to be able to identify medical conditions that are prevalent in their communities.

"If we can identify the main disease states in our communities, we can help assure that the appropriate care is provided for these people," he said. "The study will help us determine the health care services that are really needed in our communities."

While it's still early in the process, Mr. Kimmes said, he and the other hospital CEOs are excited to collaborate on prevention.

River Hospital CEO Ben Moore III said the group, known as the western section of the Northern New York Health Care Association, will meet Wednesday at Samaritan Medical Center to discuss data study details.

"This is to give us a start at looking at health care issues in the region," said Mr. Moore, who serves as the group's spokesman.

Representatives from the Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency, Rochester, will be at Wednesday's meeting at Samaritan.

"The thing I feel pretty confident we'll get is what potential health care deficits we have as a delivery system," Mr. Moore said. "As a minimum, we'll get that. I also expect to get health care indices. I'm hoping data would be able to tell us that. For our specific hospital, I'd like to see those."

E.J. Noble Administrator Charles P. Conole said that as the group heads into the initial planning stages of the data study, administrators already are anxious to learn how to assess the data once the study is completed.

A call seeking comment from the marketing team at Lewis County General Hospital was not immediately returned Monday. Samaritan spokeswoman Krista A. Kittle referred comment to Mr. Moore, and a call to Carthage Area Hospital Chief Operating Officer Richard A. Duvall was not returned. Since former Carthage Area Hospital CEO Walter S. Becker announced his retirement last week, Mr. Moore said, Mr. Duvall will take his place at Wednesday's meeting.

Mr. Moore said he hopes the data study will begin early next year.

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