community initiatives
Bon Secours Health System is committed to creating communities of health, hope and well-being. This commitment is founded in Catholic social tradition, which teaches that each person is not only sacred but also social. How society is organized – in terms of economics and politics – directly affects the capacity of a person to grow and develop. There are many things that need to come together to create a healthy community, including access to quality health care, functional and affordable housing, education, employment, public safety, and recreational and cultural opportunities.
Bon Secours Health System is developing long term, collaborative relationships with the people who live and work in selected neighborhoods in the communities it serves and with other local organizations so that together priorities to improve the quality of life and health can be identified and addressed.
community service plan
Each year, as required by the Health Care Reform Act of 1996 as well as New York State Public Law section 2803-1, the governing body of each voluntary, non-profit general hospital in New York State is required to issue a statement regarding how that hospital meets the healthcare needs of the community it serves.
Bon Secours Charity Health System is proud to submit this document which demonstrates how we are working collaboratively with our local health departments and community partners to ensure that the services provided by all three hospital members of the Health System: Bon Secours Community Hospital, Good Samaritan Hospital, and St. Anthony Community Hospital continue to meet the needs of our community, and how we plan to meet the needs of our community over the next several years.
Bon Secours Charity Health System is committed to trying to meet the health care needs of the communities in its service area. This is accomplished through several means such as providing charity care services; improving access to health care services especially for the underserved population; and offering various public health care forums.
I. Mission Statement
The Mission Statement of the Bon Secours Charity Health System (BSCHS) remains the same as submitted in our September 2008 Community Service Plan document. The Mission of Bon Secours Charity Health System is to be a caring community called together to make visible God’s love and compassion.
As a Catholic ministry, we work with others embracing the challenge of making wise and just decisions to foster an environment of healing for our patients, residents, staff, partners and communities.
Recognizing the dignity of each human being, we relentlessly seek healing and wholeness for all peoples, especially those who are vulnerable, poor or dying.
Bon Secours Charity Health System Vision
Bon Secours Charity Health System will be distinguished as the leading provider of quality, community-based health care services in the Hudson-Delaware Valley.
We will design our care processes to provide health care that is compassionate, safe and high quality. Consistent with the needs of our communities, we will develop selected System-wide centers of excellence and grow our ambulatory services and community-based services for the elderly.
Statement of Values
We are committed to those values, which we believe reflect those of the people and the communities we serve. These values guide our daily actions and decisions.
Respect
Respect is our commitment to treat all people well. It is based on our belief that each person has equal dignity because each individual “is made in the image and likeness of God.” We promote self-respect and mutual respect and trust among all the members of the Bon Secours team.
Justice
Justice is the value that supports and protects the rights of all people. It characterizes what we desire in our relationship to those we serve and our co-workers. It promotes the right to have needs met and in a manner consistent with human dignity; and it supports and protects the right of the individual in decision making regarding their care.
Integrity
Integrity implies a highly-developed sense of ethical behavior, consistent with that expected of an individual or organization with great moral character. Integrity is having our actions in harmony with our thoughts, feelings and values. This integration of behavior with thoughts, feelings and values applies to each of us as individuals as well as collectively as an organization.
Stewardship
Stewardship is the responsible use of all our resources for which they are intended to support, promote, expand, and preserve our mission and ministry. It is the use of good business principles. It is the balanced and right relationship of quality and value with cost and financial return.
Compassion
Compassion means experiencing empathy with another’s life situation. Compassion is being with another as well as doing for them. This “being with” is done in such a way that the person experiences acceptance, concern, hopefulness, and sensitivity.
Quality
Quality is the excellence we strive to reach in the delivery of our health services. If is done in a fashion to meet or exceed clearly established internal and external standards. We will design or modify the ways we do our work seeking to constantly improve what we do so that the right things are done the right way.
Growth
Growth is developing and improving our services and promoting self-renewal and progressive development programs for those with whom we work, our organization and our community. It implies expansion, embracing change and seeking new opportunities as an organizational way of life.
Innovation
Innovation is the process of creating or managing new ideas, methods, and technologies, to vitalize existing services and to develop new ones. Innovation is stimulated by a strong awareness of the needs of those we serve and thrives in an organization that promotes new approaches to health care delivery. The innovative organization commits resources necessary for research and development and for change, while recognizing that not all new efforts will succeed.
II. Service Area
Bon Secours Charity Health System (BSCHS) is made up of three hospitals: Good Samaritan Hospital of Suffern (Rockland County), St. Anthony Community Hospital (Orange County) and Bon Secours Community Hospital (Orange County). We have defined a service area by zip code within Orange and Rockland Counties based on the volume of inpatients receiving care at our acute care facilities in order to assist us in the development of our Community Service Plan (CSP). The table below lists the zip codes and towns used for our CSP planning purposes:
III. Public Participation
Bon Secours Charity Health System’s Community Service Plan is shaped by a continuous process of strategic planning and participation with both the Rockland County Department of Health and the Orange County Department of Health in assessing community health needs as part of their Community Health Assessment report(s).
As part of this participation with the local Health Departments, BSCHS has been involved in discussions with other participants including but not limited to, other hospital providers, community health centers, physician groups, and other health care agencies.
In addition, BSCHS hosted two (2) public forums with the Orange County Department of Health for public input for both the Orange County Community Health Assessment as well as our Community Service Plan. Invitations were sent out to all local service organizations and physicians in the service area inviting them to these forums.
The first forum was held in Warwick, NY at St. Anthony Community Hospital on July 8, 2009 and the second forum was held in Port Jervis, NY on July 9, 2009.
The participants at both of these public forums cited the following barriers to care and/or gaps in service:
- Lack of insurance resulting in delays in accessing care;
- Shortage of specialty physicians (i.e. endocrinology, neurology) resulting in time lag/waits for appointments;
- Lack of awareness of available health care services and community programs
- Aging out of primary care providers – physicians not accepting new patients
We also continually invite the public to participate in its assessment process by means of surveys, focus groups, and e-mail comments submitted through our comprehensive internet site. Throughout the year input from staff, the public, and members of our various boards are utilized in determining and shaping the System’s response to the health care needs of the community.
Recent studies used for the purpose of assessing our market’s health status include:
Patient Satisfaction Survey scores and comments (ongoing)
BSCHS sponsors primary market research studies, including Consumer Assessment Studies conducted by Professional Research Consultants, Inc.
Thomson MedStat
BSCHS subscribes to software from Thomson MedStat, a national healthcare data software company, called Market Expert which contains a Health Status Profiler module. Various studies and planning activities call on this resource throughout the year.
Other primary market research studies conducted by BSCHS to better understand its various customers include physician and employee satisfaction surveys. Qualitative surveys and focus groups are also done as a way to capture consumer feedback primarily on new programs under development
IV. Assessment of Public Health Priorities
Working with the Rockland County Department of Health, the Orange County Department of Health, and other health care providers in the community, we gathered and analyzed the following information in selecting the public health priorities to be focused on in our community service plan:
- Demographics of the population we serve;
- Health status of the population;
- Availability, accessibility, and acceptability of needed resources; and,
- Studies and surveys of local health issues
The framework/criteria we used in choosing the public health care priorities included:
- Alignment with the health care priorities in the New York State Prevention Agenda
- Alignment with the local health priorities and concerns identified in interaction with key health care partners/providers, community leaders, organizations and interested residents in the communities we serve; and
- Opportunity to develop plans and programs to improve the health status of our community as well as access to care.
Based on the above, Bon Secours Charity Health Care Systems has identified the following two Prevention Agenda priorities as our focus for the next three (3) years:
Access to Quality Health Care:
This is an existing initiative/program of BSCHS that we will supplement and expand with input and support from community partners to enhance access to care for the uninsured and underinsured population; and
Chronic Disease and Cancer:
- Heart Disease: This is an existing focus of ours that we will supplement and expand with input and support from community partners and providers to increase awareness of heart disease prevention as well as improving access to cardiac services throughout the communities we serve.
- Cancer: This is an existing program that we will expand with input and support from community partners and providers to increase awareness of cancer prevention, increase cancer screening availability, as well as improving access to cancer services throughout the communities we serve.
We are also going to continue to provide other community educational classes and services on an ongoing basis for other health care priorities.
These classes and services include:
- Diabetes Self Management education
- Maternity Consultant services
- Women’s Health Consultant services
- Caring Caller program (daily phone calls made to home-bound or at-risk community members)
- Stroke Up-Close
- Women’s Parenting luncheon
- Peri-menopause and Menopause
- Cervical Cancer and the cervical cancer vaccine
- Breast Health
- Pre-natal education
- Pre-natal yoga
- Parenting classes
- Lactation consultant services
- Grandparent classes
- Sibling classes
- Prevention of household poisoning in children
- Doula training
- Reiki provider training
- Blood donor centers
- American Heart Association BLS, ACLS and PALS courses
- Infant CPR
- Colorectal cancer screening programs
- Asthma screenings
- Blood pressure screenings
- Smoking cessation programs
- Yoga classes
- Bike Rodeo and free bike helmet distribution
- Nutritional display at local grocery stores
- “Ladies Night Out” health education series launched
V. Three Year Plan of Action – Strategies for Selected Priorities
Access to Care:
Access to Care is an existing priority.
Addressing the priority:
BSCHS covers a large geographical area whose population is very diverse both economically and culturally. The service area encompasses a large population of seasonal workers, many of whom do not speak English and have no health care coverage.
There are an increasing number of undocumented laborers throughout the area. In addition to these financially-challenged groups, the communities have a high percentage of the “working poor”. Small business owners frequently do not offer health insurance to their employees and many self-employed people cannot afford to purchase private health insurance.
To combat this problem, BSCHS has made a commitment to help people obtain health insurance. BSCHS partners with the New York State Division of Social Services and managed care companies to enroll eligible applicants in Medicaid, Child Health Plus and Family Health Plus insurance. Dedicated space in two of our hospitals for counseling and assistance with applications is utilized on a weekly basis to enroll both adults and children in need of health care coverage.
All three BSCHS hospitals have partnered with local Federally Qualified Health Centers to increase public awareness of the available services that are either free of charge or based on a sliding scale payment. We are also partnering with these FQHC to identify and meet needs for additional services as well as enhancing access to care.
The overall goal is to increase the number of people and families who have health insurance coverage, thereby increasing their access to medical care.
It is expected that the number of uninsured community members will decrease. Specifically, hospital emergency department and case management staff will be given listings of the local Federally Qualified Health Centers to use as a referral tool for community members.
As changes in the structure of governmental medical insurance occurs, BSCHS will be responsive to those changes by partnering with the DSS and other government agencies to adapt the way in which people enroll in and obtain medical insurance. We will also maintain current listings of the Federally Qualified Health Centers and the services they provide.
Chronic Disease and Cancer:
Heart Disease:
Heart disease is an existing priority.
Addressing the need:
Bon Secours Charity Health System (BSCHS) has a full time Community Education Coordinator and Cardiac Liaison whose main role is to educate the community about heart disease.
This is accomplished in several ways:
- Free educational lectures are given several times each month at various locations throughout the entire BSCHS service area. These lectures are presented by the BSCHS Community Education Coordinator, members of the health system’s medical staff, local Department of Health staff, and other community health partners.
- Free blood pressure screenings are held at each hospital and numerous other community locations within the BSCHS service area. These screenings are conducted by BSCHS nurses, trained hospital volunteers and retired nurse volunteers from the community.
- A new Mended Hearts Program has recently begun at Good Samaritan Hospital. This program will have monthly education and support sessions throughout the year. A trained volunteer visitor program is a part of Mended Hearts and offers encouragement and support for cardiac surgery patients and their families. This program is coordinated by Good Samaritan Hospital staff and is a partnership that includes cardiac surgeons, Mended Hearts staff and trained community volunteers.
- Bon Secours Charity Health System is working with existing Cardiology groups to recruit additional cardiologists into the area to meet the need for additional physicians and to enhance access to care:
- The overall goal of these strategies is to increase the public’s awareness of the risk factors for heart disease and to give them information on how to diminish their risk.
The goal of increased public awareness will be measured by subjective data collection. Currently, approximately 75% of the people in any audience are unaware of their risk for heart disease. By 2012, BSCHS aims to reduce that number to 25%. The goal of increasing cardiology providers will be to bring 2 new cardiologists into Orange County by 2012 for the Warwick and Port Jervis communities. - As BSCHS continues to educate the community about heart disease, we will work closely with each community partner to adapt the above mentioned strategies to achieve the stated goals.
Cancer:
Cancer is an existing priority.
BSCHS has two cancer treatment programs, one located at Good Samaritan Hospital and one at Bon Secours Community Hospital. Both programs are accredited by the Commission on Cancer by the American College of Surgeons and Good Samaritan Hospital’s Radiation Oncology Services are accredited by the American College of Radiology. BSCHS leadership and cancer program staff work diligently to maintain these accreditations to ensure that the community is receiving the best care available.
Additionally, there are plans to continue and enhance current partnerships with the American Cancer Society to develop new community screening programs and to improve patient support offerings.
The goals of these strategies are to provide the community with excellent cancer treatment and to develop additional screening and support opportunities.
Through closer partnerships with BSCHS staff and the local American Cancer Societies, it is expected that by 2012, new screening programs will be established in the communities served by Bon Secours Community Hospital and Good Samaritan Hospital.
As BSCHS partners with the American Cancer Society and the local Departments of Health, program planning and evaluation will be a shared responsibility with all partners working towards the goals of improved education, screenings and support.
VI. Financial Aid Program
The Bon Secours Charity Health System Financial Assistance Program aids uninsured patients who do not qualify for government sponsored health insurance and who communicate their inability to pay for their medical care. Insured patients who face financial difficulty in paying the un-reimbursed portion of their health care may also qualify for the Bon Secours Financial Assistance Program depending upon family income, family size, and medical needs.
The program provides 100 percent financial assistance for families that fall at or below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG). For those above 200 percent of the FPG, the program takes into account each patient’s unique financial resources to determine a maximum annual payment obligation that is consistent with the patient’s household income.
The program uses data from the Tax Foundation to limit a family’s out-of-pocket expense. By establishing a maximum annual family liability, BSCHS provides peace of mind to patients who might otherwise worry that their medical bills would exceed a reasonable portion of their household income.
In addition to the Bon Secours Charity Health System Financial Assistance Program, Bon Secours offers a Community Service Adjustment to all of its uninsured patients and their families (subject to State law). The Community Service Adjustment is an offset to the cost of healthcare and will result in a reduction to the gross charge amounts.
The goal is to ensure that uninsured patients will not pay full charges for medically necessary services. The Community Service Adjustment reflects an ongoing commitment by BSCHS to the communities we serve.
We try to be respectful of all patients and ask them to work with us to determine eligibility for methods of financial assistance.
Conversely, we also believe that if a person can afford to pay, he/she should pay. Just as Bon Secours Health System is proactive in providing assistance, so should its patients be proactive in providing the necessary information for establishing eligibility for financial assistance. As a not-for-profit organization, BSCHS must be able to justify its community commitment. Patients must follow through with the application process and requirements for assistance in order to be granted financial assistance.
We provide access to financial assistance information in the following ways:
- Brochures outlining programs and options are available at facility registration areas,
- There is signage at each registration area, and
- Onsite Financial Counselors are available to educate patients on the financial programs that are offered.
VII. Changes Impacting Community Health/Provision of Charity Care/Access to Services
Several changes within the Bon Secours Charity Health System will be occurring over the next year that will impact the provision of care and ultimately improve the access of the community to these services:
Good Samaritan Hospital:
Within the next six to nine months, Good Samaritan Hospital will be closing its 19-bed inpatient behavioral health unit. We are working closely with the New York State Office of Mental Health as well as the Rockland County Department of Mental Health to transition this closure so that the care will be provided by another provider in the community;
Bon Secours Community Hospital:
Within the next 6 to nine months, Bon Secours Community Hospital will be expanding its inpatient behavioral health unit by 6-beds to improve access for Orange County residents due to the closure of the inpatient behavioral health unit at St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital in early 2009; and
Bon Secours Community Hospital:
Within the next six to nine months, Bon Secours Community Hospital will be transferring its McAuley Primary Care Center outpatient services to the Middletown Community Health Center. This transfer of services to a Federally Qualified Health Center will improve primary medical care access to the uninsured and underinsured in the Port Jervis area.
VIII. Dissemination of Report to the Public
A written summary of the Bon Secours Charity Health System Community Service Plan, in report (pamphlet) format will be made available at each facility, (e.g. at hospital information desks) and will be posted on the BSCHS website. The System will consider various locations for the location of additional copies in Rockland and Orange Counties.
In addition as mentioned under Section VI Financial Aid Program, brochures outlining the financial aid assistance and community service adjustment programs and options are available at each of our facility registration areas.
