"It could have a big impact on Ellenville." That's Assemblyman Kevin Cahill's (D) reaction to the State Commission for Health Care Facilities in the 21st Century's report released on November 28th, which has proposed closing either Kingston or Benedictine Hospitals if they do not merge by the end of 2007.

Naturally, that thought has intensified the focus on an issue that has been around for many years. Efforts were made towards a merger in 1998 and 2004, but on both occasions issues relating to reproductive health services, in particular abortion, derailed the process. Kingston, a non-sectarian hospital, allows abortions and sterilizations, while Benedictine, a Catholic institution, does not.

The state commission tries to get around the issue by allowing abortions, but at a separate facility after the merger is complete. Assemblyman Cahill is confident that this thorny issue can be finessed this time. "Reproductive health involves a lot more than just abortion, and a new external facility can offer more and better services for our region."

Of course, neither side in the battle over abortion is happy with this idea. Those who are pro-life obviously don't want any access to abortion services and those who are pro-choice don't like the thought of abortion procedures being moved out of the main hospital to a separate structure that can be targeted by abortion opponents.

But while that struggle continues, the question of what effect such a merger will have on Ellenville and Ellenville Hospital remains to be answered. Cahill is upbeat and forward looking. "For Ellenville Hospital, the planned merger offers opportunities for good affiliations. The new hospital entity that emerges will operate more efficiently and effectively than the present setup and I see it as having the potential to have a big impact on Ellenville and the whole mid-Hudson region."

That said, Cahill also sees such a merger resulting in a reduction in overall hospital beds available from 400 to between 250 and 300. "It's important to remember," he says, "that the hospitals are already operating at the staffing levels for the lower number of beds so I don't think there will be that much of an effect on jobs."

If Cahill is correct, then that will bring a big sigh of relief in Kingston, where the two hospitals are the largest employers, with around 750 employees apiece. But while the two big hospitals in our area contemplate merging, Ellenville Hospital sees a rather clearer future. Steven Kelley, who handled two high level posts at Kingston Hospital for ten years before coming to Ellenville, doesn't see any major problems arising from the merger. "The stream of patients flowing north from us to Kingston would continue, and patients would simply be directed to whichever facility within the merged hospital was the best fit for their needs."

Kelley sees Ellenville Hospital as having a specialist future. "We're a Critical Access Hospital. At 10,000 visits a year, we're like a boutique hospital, as opposed to a larger, general hospital. The merger in Kingston will not affect our plans."

Thus, although Ellenville Hospital was on the verge of extinction a few years ago, Kelley led the effort to reconfigure and regroup in just the way that other hospitals are now being ordered to by the State Commission.

"We had to do this," says Kelley, "or we would have had to close."

Kevin Cahill says, "Steve Kelley and his staff have done yeoman's work in restaging the facility in Ellenville to make it work."

The comeback continues at Ellenville Hospital. "Currently, we stabilize patients with serious trauma," says Kelley, "and then fly them by helicopter to a Level 1 Trauma Center, either Albany Medical Center or Westchester."

"And right now, even while people are reading this, the new Ellenville ER is having its roof put on. That's not all, because thanks to the efforts of Congressman Maurice Hinchey, we already received a grant for the purchase of new Cardiac Monitors and a portable X-Ray machine. That equipment is already in use, of course, but it will be moved to the new ER when it's ready."

Another recent addition for Ellenville Hospital is the new "Swing Bed" Rehabilitation program, which is shaping up as a solid success. "Swing Bed" refers to the level of care, not to the kind of bed.

Next up? "Our biggest need is for Primary Care doctors," says Kelley.

"Ellenville needs more Primary Care doctors, and when they come into our market our referral stream will increase. At the same time we'll be open for minimally invasive surgery on ambulatory patients, which is the majority of surgeries performed today. We won't do hip-replacements, cardiac cases or colon surgery. For that, patients will go to Kingston or Albany, but the future for Ellenville Hospital will be a bright one."

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