Bishop speaks on hospitals

In testimony last week to the New York State Senate's Health Committee, Bishop Howard J. Hubbard commented on the release, earlier the same week, of the recommendations formulated by the Commission on Health Care Facilities in the 21st Century.

The Bishop said he spoke to the committee in his capacity as sponsor of St. Clare's Hospital in Schenectady, which has been slated by the recommendations to merge with Ellis Hospital in the same city.

The Bishop noted that the "Catholic health care has a long history of service throughout our Empire State, rendering an array of healthcare services. In many places, such as St. Clare's, our facilities offer the fundamental fabric of the local healthcare safety net."

Catholic teaching

The Bishop said it was "unfortunate" that there was "limited opportunity for grassroots community response" to the Commission's recommendations due to "the statutory timeframe for reaction."

Bishop Hubbard did not take a position on the proposed Schenectady merger except to the extent that he wanted any merger of sectarian and non-sectarian hospitals to conform to the Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services, issued by the U.S. bishops, which were applied to a similar merger in Kingston of a Catholic hospital and a non-sectarian hospital.

"It is imperative," the Bishop said, "that the type of sensitivity displayed in this template be kept in mind in all ventures between sectarian and non-sectarian institutions."

'Unique' service

While lauding the commission's attention to "service to vulnerable populations, availability of services, quality of care, utilization, financial viability and economic impact," Bishop Hubbard said the group failed to make "any reference to equally compelling and morally grounded measures" that are rooted, "in the case of Catholic health care, in the moral, doctrinal and social teachings of our Church."

The Bishop explained to the Senate committee that "religiously sponsored hospitals and nursing homes provide a unique and distinctively different approach to the planning for and delivery of healthcare services....We are concerned that this is a fundamental element of care that was not mentioned or even alluded to in the criteria" used to make the recommendations.

'Core values'

"The mission of the Church and its entities is to demonstrate God's love and healing power present in the world," Bishop Hubbard told the senators. "It is rooted in Gospel teachings, is actualized in a health facility's core values and philosophy, and authenticated through its actions.

"These include: responsible stewardship, preference for the poor and those who otherwise would be deprived of care, respect for human life in all phases, an holistic approach to the human person, respect for the dignity of the individual, and service to the common good."

As a result of that approach, he continued, any assessment and implementation of the Commission's report must weigh those "core values of our Catholic identity. We cannot compromise our values, nor can we permit undue dictates from any governmental entity to jeopardize our religiously rooted identity."

Priorities

Bishop Hubbard identified "three immediate priorities which we believe must be addressed" by the state:

1. "Any models [of reform] must honor the values I have presented.

2. "The essential aspect of timely and sufficient transition funding" must be addressed because "financially vulnerable Catholic health institutions have maintained their commitment to the poor and uninsured at the risk of their own fiscal stability.

3. "Equal attention [must be given] to the non-binding recommendations in the report, especially the care of the uninsured and interventions that will alleviate poverty in our state."

"We also respectfully request," he concluded, "that the committee, the Senate, the Assembly, the new governor and health commissioner honor the fundamental values constituting Catholic identity and integrate them into the covenants that govern any implementation of the Commission's report."

(After The Evangelist went to press, a joint statement was issued by the chairs of the boards of St. Clare's and Ellis, indicating the commitment of both boards to pursue the joint venture recommended by the Commission.)

(12/7/06) [[In-content Ad]]