State Health Commissioner Reverses Stand on St. Vincent’s Reporting: ‘There is money to be made there’

NEW YORK, April 15 /PRNewswire/ — Today’s April 15th New York Daily News ("Second Life Seen For St. Vincent’s" http://tinyurl.com/y2gldqx), reports that Commissioner Richard F. Daines suddenly sees new promise for the financial future of St. Vincent’s Hospital, hours after 3,500 employees have been discharged, the lower West Side’s only medical institution entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and days after Mount Sinai Hospital withdrew their bid without comment.

Said Dr. Daines, "We know there is interest. I think it’s an attractive neighborhood and location for a hospital. I would be very surprised if we don’t get some interesting applications. There is money to be made there."

According to Dr. David Kaufman, a leader in the fight to keep the hospital alive, "We appreciate Dr. Daines’ new position, and call on him to see it through now by participating in a mediated summit to bring all parties back to the table, including Mount Sinai Hospital, to complete the sale of this essential institution."

The nurses union and united doctors of Saint Vincent’s Hospital report that they have been in contact with the office of Kenneth Feinberg of Feinberg Rozen, LLP who previously served as Special Master of The September 11 Victim Compensation Fund about leading a "Summit To Save St. Vincent’s."

Said Dr. Kaufman: "We call for a meeting behind closed doors to start tomorrow in which the Governor, the Commissioner of Health, the President of the Sisters of Charity, a representative from the St. Vincent’s Board of Directors, the CEO of Mount Sinai and representatives of the nurses and doctors of St. Vincent’s Hospital to be led by Kenneth Feinberg."

Said Eileen Dunn, leader of the local nurses’ union: "This meeting will have only one goal: to save the entire hospital including its Level One Acute Care Treatment Center, and to uncover the ‘money to be made there’ so as to benefit the entire community."

SOURCE Doctors For St. Vincent’s Hospital