City Announces New Swine Flu Strategy

Focuses on Keeping Public Schools Open

By Conor Greene

The city’s strategy to fight the expected breakout of swine flu this fall includes offering free vaccinations to all elementary school children and providing the public with information regarding the number of cases reported in a specific school.

The plan, announced on Tuesday by city officials at Gracie Mansion, includes an “open school policy” that seeks to slow spread of the H1N1 virus and avoid mass closures. Mayor Bloomberg sought to assure residents that the city is better prepared to deal with an outbreak this fall after hospitals were overwhelmed this past spring and parents complained about a lack of information.

A recent White House study predicted that as many as 90,000 Americans could die as a result of a new H1N1 outbreak, with 60 million to 120 million becoming sick and hospital emergency rooms overwhelmed. However, the mayor on Tuesday said signs suggest a more “moderate” outbreak than predicted in the panel’s report.

“There is no indication the virus will be more virulent than what we experienced in May and June, but we must have and do have contingency plans in place in case the virus becomes more widespread or more severe in its symptoms,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “In situations like this, it’s natural to imagine the worst-case scenario, but all signs at this point in time do point to an outbreak that will be much more moderate.”

The city’s strategy to fight the spread of swine flu, particularly in schools, centers on measures “designed to slow transmission while classes and activities continue,” according to a press release. Aspects of the plan include getting children vaccinated, keeping them home when sick and following basic procedures such as thoroughly and frequently washing hands.

Once a vaccine for H1N1 becomes available this fall, the city plans to distribute it to health care providers and offer it for free to school-aged students. For elementary-aged students, the vaccine will be available within each school building, while older students will have to travel to central sites within each borough. Parental consent will be required before students are vaccinated.

The city also plans to use a central database to allow school nurses to report the number of students seen for influenza-like illness during each day. A daily public report will be posted on nyc.gov/flu listing schools reporting five or more cases the previous day. The daily report will also show the previous day’s absentee rate for every public school – though the city stresses that it is “important to understand that absenteeism is not by itself a measure of influenza activity.”

The third aspect of the city’s plan is an influenza-prevention campaign in each of its 1,500 public schools. Signs and classroom instruction will stress the importance of covering coughs and washing hands, restrooms will be continually stocked with soap and paper towels and parents will get written reminders to keep their children home when they’re sick. That message will be reinforced if a nurse sees five or more cases of flu-like illness in one day.

If a school experiences “excessive influenza activity” – defined as four percent of the student body (at least 15 children) being seen by a school nurse on a single day – a doctor or supervising nurse will visit the school to assess the situation. The supervisor will determine whether the school has students whose health conditions place them at high risk of influenza complications and may “recommend additional safety measures.” However, school closure will only be considered “as a last resort,” the city announced.

“Today is the first of what will be many efforts to keep New Yorkers informed about what we are doing to prepare for the return of the H1N1 and seasonal flu,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “We can’t predict this year’s flu season, but we can make sure that city government is fully prepared for whatever happens.” It was noted that 15 separate groups worked over the summer to create a strategic citywide response to the expected outbreak.

Still, the mayor’s announcement was met with concern from some local elected officials, including Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (D-Middle Village), who is worried the vaccinations won’t be available in time. She also argued that outside nurses should be hired to administer the vaccine, instead of having school nurses shoulder that responsibility as currently planned. “Flu season officially starts today and we still do not know [by] who andwhere the H1N1 vaccinations will be administered,” she said.

Nick Comaianni, president of Community Education Council 24, said city officials should consider closing entire school buildings if an outbreak is detected. “Obviously they will have to use judgment, but if you’re trying to prevent something from spreading, the best option is to close the school for a few days and let the germs die,” he said. “If you have cases out there within a school population, then I agree the schools must be closed… Once you see it spreading, I think the best thing is to close the schools.”

On the national level, President Barack Obama was briefed by cabinet members including Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius and Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano. “I don’t want anybody to be alarmed, but I do want everyone to be prepared,” he said.

The virus killed about 500 Americans after first emerging in April and sickened more than 1 million individuals across the nation. Worldwide, more than 2,000 people died during the initial outbreak. Development of the vaccine is still underway and officials expect it to be available to the public by October. While it is taken on a voluntary basis, the president said it is “strongly recommended.”

“We know that we usually get a second, larger wave of these flu viruses in the fall, and so response plans have been put in place across all levels of government,” added President Obama. “Our plans and decisions are based on the best scientific information available, and as the situation changes, we will continue to update the public.” The president also reminded Americans to take basic precautions, including staying home if sick and frequently washing hands. “I know it sounds simple, but it’s important and it works,” he said.

Locally, borough hospitals are making preparations to handle the expected influx of new patients this fall. Michael Hinck, director of public relations for MediSys Health Network, which runs Jamaica, Flushing and Peninsula hospitals in Queens, said preparation efforts have been ongoing after receiving as much as double the typical patient-load on certain days last spring.

“We’ve been expecting this since we were really at the center of the last outbreak. Our expectations are to see an increase,” said Hinck, who noted that two area hospitals closed earlier this year, just before the initial swine flu outbreak hit the area. “It put a strain on us, but luckily we have a long history of disaster preparedness so we quickly devised a plan. Like in the spring, we want the public to know we are prepared and will do everything we can to meet the needs.”

To prepare for the higher patient levels, Jamaica Hospital has added 40 additional in-patient beds and has plans to reallocate additional space for swine flu patients if necessary, added Hinck. Officials are also ready to be in constant communication with city and state health officials to monitor spread of the virus. “We’re going to manage all aspects of this situation and make sure we will be able to have continuity of care in other operations so other areas don’t suffer,” he said.

Parkway Hospital Claims Failure to Bribe Seminerio Led to Closure

By Conor Greene

New Parkway Hospital is claiming in a lawsuit that it was ordered to shut down by the state after its chief executive officer Robert Aquino refused to pay bribes demanded by former state Assemblyman Anthony Seminerio.

The lawsuit, filed last week in Queens Supreme Court, names the state as a defendant and seeks to have its operating license renewed after it was revoked last November based on the findings of the Berger Commission. Despite that group’s recommendation that the state wait two years before closing the Forest Hills facility, it was shut last year – something the lawsuit blames on Seminerio’s inappropriate lobbying activities.

The state Health Department has previously said that the closing of Parkway was because it received the lowest score on criteria used by the commission to rank struggling hospitals. Seminerio recently resigned after 30 years in office and pleaded guilty to fraud charges accusing him of taking illegal consulting fees from Jamaica Hospital. The lawsuit argues that Seminerio’s guilty plea dissolves his right against self incrimination and seeks to have him deposed regarding his alleged extortion attempt of Parkway.

In court documents, Aquino states that Seminerio told him that he would make Aquino’s life “miserable” if he didn’t agree to pay him consulting fees that reportedly would have been between $10,000 and $15,000 per month. “It is self-evident that Seminerio’s criminal conduct had a direct impact on the decision to close Parkway Hospital,” he argues. “As an operating hospital, Parkway’s license could not be revoked absent of due process. Having a license revoked for the refusal to pay a bribe to a public official surely constitutes the denial of due process.”

Aquino also argues that the 251-bed hospital should be considered for reopening since two other local hospitals closed after the Berger Commission made its recommendations. He also questions whether the city is ready to handle a possible new outbreak of Swine Flu this fall, which has hit the Southern Hemisphere hard during the first few weeks of its flu season.

The federal indictment against Seminerio also accused him of attempting to force another hospital, now know to be Parkway, to pay him monthly consulting fees. When Aquino refused his demands, Seminerio lobbied on behalf of Jamaica Hospital.

“There is little doubt that such ‘advocacy’ resulted in the closure of the ‘non-client hospital,’ which as everyone now knows is the New Parkway Hospital. Indeed, the Department of Health essentially overrode the initial recommendation of the so-called Berger Commissioner that a wait-and-see approach be taken with respect to Parkway and directed its closure,” wrote Aquino in a letter to Gov. David Paterson and state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.

Schools Reopen in Wake of Swine Flu Outbreak

By Conor Greene

The two Queens schools closed by the swine flu outbreak reopened this week as life returns to normal for students and residents across the borough.

While more than 1,000 city residents reported symptoms associated with swine flu since the outbreak occurred, there have been 73 confirmed cases across the city, according to health officials. In addition, an intensive investigation of the newly identified virus, also known as H1N1 shows that cases in the city continue to be mild.

“We have looked daily at every hospital and every intensive care unit in the city within the past 10 days and we have yet to find a single patient with severe illness from H1N1,” said city Health Department Commissioner Dr. Thomas Frieden.

Frieden noted that the health department’s case count doesn’t reflect the actual number of citywide infections since those with mild symptoms don’t need to be tested for the virus. For example a survey completed by students and staff at St. Francis Prep High School – the epicenter of the outbreak in Queens – identified more than 1,000 likely cases, while there were just 69 confirmed cases there.

“The good news is that it is no more serious than a seasonal flu,” said Frieden on Monday at a news conference at St. Francis, where he was joined by Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith to welcome back the Fresh Meadow school’s 2,700 students. A total of 204 students had called out sick on Monday, but the majority stayed home just to be on the safe side, according to Headmaster Brother Leonard Conway. He said the students “have a lot of work to do” to make up for lost time.

“The important thing is for students and staff and for all New Yorkers across the city to continue to be calm and confident,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “I think weshould all go about our business.” He said the school staff’s response to the outbreak, which occurred after students returned from a trip to Mexico, “really is a good role model for all of us.” Using the school’s public address system, he welcomed the students back and thanked them for their patience.

In a letter sent home to parents, Conway stressed the need to “remain vigilant” and return to school only when healthy. He noted that while the virus only spread through person to person contact, the school has been completely sanitized.

Also reopening on Monday were St. Brigid’s in Bushwick, Good Shepherd in Marine Park and Bishop Kearney in Bensonhurst. In addition to the cases at St. Francis, there were also five confirmed cases at PS 177, which was set to reopen on Wednesday. On Long Island, the Deer Park Union Free School District is closed until May 10 as a result of three probable swine flu cases among students there.

Students returning to Prep were greeted by news reporters from outlets across the city and world. Some, like senior Kenny Mathieu, told the Daily News that he was glad to have the week off school, even thought it will be made up at the end of the school year. “It was like an extra spring break,” the 17-year-old said. Other, like Marie Baitto, said they were taking extra precautions just to be sure. “I have a little hand sanitizer with me. I’m not going to buy any of the food. I brought my own lunch,” she said.

In the aftermath of the outbreak, lawmakers are taking steps to help prevent residents from falling victim to individuals and companies that take advantage of the public’s fear. The U.S Food and Drug Administration and Federal Trade Commission are warning the public to be wary of Internet sites and other promotions for products that claim to diagnose, prevent, mitigate, treat or cure swine flu virus. The only two antiviral drugs approved by the FDA for treatment of this virus are Tamiflu and Relenza. Consumers are urged to contact their health care providers or legitimate medical supply services if they have questions or concerns about medical products or personal protective equipment.

In addition, Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Forest Hills), whose district accounts for more than one third of all confirmed cases within the county, has called on airlines to waive change fees for passengers with flu symptoms. He argued that sickened passengers are simply following the rules by not flying and says the fee - which averages $117 for domestic flights and $175 for international travel and can be as much as $250 - should be lifted until the public health emergency is lifted.

“It’s bad enough to suffer through symptoms of this virus. But punishing those who follow the rules and choose not to travel adds insult to injury,” said Weiner. “Waiving these fees is a simple solution and will go a long way towards easing the burden of passengers who do the right thing.”

St. Francis Prep Closed as Swine Flu Hits Queens

By Conor Greene

As the number of people across the globe infected with swine flu continues to grow, officials at St. Francis Preparatory High School – the epicenter of the outbreak in Queens – have closed the building until Monday in hopes of stemming the spread of the virus.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the number of infected people worldwide had risen to 132 confirmed cases in 11 countries. In the U.S there have been 91 reported cases in 10 different states, including 51 confirmed cases in New York State.

Among those infected was St. Francis Prep senior Toni Ann Abruzzino of Ozone Park. Her symptoms began with a “really bad cough” during the week and came to a head last Thursday night. “Thursday in school all the kids were going home sick and were all over the nurse’s office,” she said. “I went to my [softball] game and felt fine, but when it got home it really hit me. I stayed home from school on Friday, and there were rumors going around schools. Saturday was when it came out that swine flu was going around prep.”

She said it was “kind of shocking that it was at my school… It was scary but they said it was a mild case that we have.” Still, a mild case translated into several days of suffering for Toni Ann. “It’s just taking a while and has to run its course. It’s on and off, some moments I feel fine, then I get a headache. I’m just waiting for it to get over… I hope everyone gets better.”

Toni Ann is “very close friends” with some of the students who recently returned from Mexico, and had contact with one traveler before coming down with symptoms. “They didn’t get sick, so it’s weird how it all happened,” she said. “It’s not their fault. Of course it’s from Mexico so it’s kind of on them because they went, and they feel like people think it’s their fault but it’s not.”

During a conference call on Tuesday arranged by Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Forest Hills), St. Francis Headmaster Brother Conway said the decision to close until Monday was to give enough time for all cases to be identified and for students and faculty to recover. “The guidelines set by the Department of Health indicate that if we do add this time, it should provide adequate time for any students who are ill to recover,” he said. “Students are going to be told they need to keep up with their studies – this is not a vacation.”

“We’re hoping and praying that this passes quickly so next week we can get the students back into classes,” added Brother Conway. The process of cleaning the school, located at 6100 Francis Lewis Boulevard, began last Friday afternoon (April 24) and was completed by the end of the weekend.

The first sign that something was amiss came on Thursday, when about 100 students were absent, said Brother Conway. At the same time, “flocks of kids going to the nurse’s office, all reporting the same symptoms.” Because of the number of students complaining of the symptoms, the nurse, Mary Pappas, immediately contacted the city Board of Health to inform them of the possible outbreak.

Students continued to arrive at the nurse’s office the following day, with about 150 total visits between the two days. Brother Conwaycalled that number a “significant amount” compared to a typical school day. He defended the school’s decision to remain open Friday since students that day seemed to come down with symptoms later in the morning. “It wasn’t like they were lined up outside the nurse’s office as soon as we got here. I don’t know if closing on Friday would have done anything but I can’t predict that,” he said.

Brother Conway also responded to criticism that parents weren’t properly notified about the situation. “I don’t know how they could feel left in the dark,” adding that updates were constantly posted on the school’s Website. “I don’t think parents should feel they were left out of the loop.”

While there have been some reports of parents critical about the school’s response to the outbreak, Colleen Abruzzino said she doesn’t think officials could have done anything more. “They always do the right thing and really care about the students,” she said. “I don’t think they knew what they were dealing with either. I don’t think anybody knew until we realized these kids came from Mexico.”

According to a health alert issued Tuesday night by the city Department of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed 44 cases of swine influenza among students and staff at St. Francis Prep. The illnesses “appear to be no more severe than usual seasonal influenza, and all patients we know of are recovering, with the overwhelming majority having had mild illness.”

On Wednesday morning, Gov. David Paterson announced that three new “probable” cases of swine flu were identified upstate. In addition, two cases are suspected at two Brooklyn Catholic schools. As a result, St. Brigid in Bushwick and Good Shepherd in Marine Park will be closed for the remainder of the week.

Officials say that one of the Brooklyn students has a sibling at St. Francis Prep. The CDC is stressing that this is a “rapidly evolving situation” and urged residents to stay alert for updates.

The decision not to close all area schools drew criticism from Councilman Tony Avella (D-Bayside) whose district includes St. Francis Prep. In the letter, sent to Mayor Bloomberg and Health Commissioner Thomas Frieden, Avella notes that “many parents are deeply concerned that schools in this area remain open despite the extensive and close connections between St. Francis Prep and the rest of the area schools.”

“While I am aware that the [city DOH] has recommended to keep schools open unless there are more than a few confirmed cases of swine flu in any particular school, many of these parents believe that the Department ofHealth and the Board of Education should close the public schools in northeastern Queens for the rest of the week in order to attempt to control the further spread of this virus,” wrote Avella. “Given the deep interconnectedness of St. Francis Prep and the rest of the schools in this area it seems only prudent that the City consider taking this step.”

The state Association of Homes and Services for the Aging is stressing that the elderly and frail population is especially at risk of contracting the flu. “If you
are not feeling well, we’re asking you to visit your doctor, not your dad in a nursing home or your grandmother who gets home care visits,” said Carl Young, NYAHSA president. “Our nursing homes and senior service staffs are following strict infection control programs, and the public’s compliance will be of enormous help.”

Meanwhile, officials at St. Francis Prep are continuing to navigate through this “very difficult time,” said Brother Conway. “With a very large school like this, we’re taking everything day by day and even moment by moment,” he said.

Animal Rights Activists Rally for Angel

By Conor Greene

A group of animal rights activists gathered on the steps of City Hall on Sunday to hold a protest and vigil for Angel, a 13-year-old Collie that was wrongfully euthanized by the New York City Animal Care and Control.

The beloved pet was euthanized just hours after being picked up by AC&C after escaping from the Astoria home of 94-year-old Jane Guardascione earlier this month. Guardascione was left devastated after learning her companion had been euthanized, even though city policy requires animals to be held for at least 72 hours.

Now, City Councilman Tony Avella (D-Bayside) has launched a probe into whether AC&C has improperly euthanized or adopted out other animals before 72 hours. Under the law, only severely injured or sick animals can be put down sooner. However, many animal activists are certain that Angel wasn’t the first animal euthanized within 72 hours.

In response, Avella has submitted a formal request for all AC&C records regarding euthanizations, length of stay for animals brought to shelters, physical examination as well as records concerning owner notification. He also wrote directly to AC&C and the city Department of Health regarding the circumstances surrounding Angel’s death.

“It was extremely startling to learn of the unfortunate euthanization of Angel, which has caused a tremendous amount of grief for Ms. Guardascione, who saw the dog as a true companion,” said Avella. “In this instance, there appears to be a complete breakdown of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s policy to keep strays for at least 72 hours by NYC AC&C. As a result, I feel it is absolutely necessary to investigate the practices and procedures of NYC AC&C… to find out exactly what is going on at NYC AC&C to prevent this tragedy from happening again.”

Among the 100 or so individuals who attended Sunday was Kathy Schnurr of Bayside, who is certain this isn’t the first time AC&C improperly euthanized an animal. “We’ve been aware of [problems] for a while, and for no apparent reason they put this dog down, so Angel brought it to a head” she said. “It’s definitely happened before without a doubt.”

Schnurr said the activists are awaiting the results of Avella’s information request before deciding how to proceed. “We need to let them really know what is going on. Hopefully this will be the last we’ll hear about any dogs being euthanized like Angel. We’re still waiting to hear the details from his [information request]. Then we will definitely rally behind him.”

Unfortunately for Guardascione, any reforms that come will be too late. “Something needs to be done. I still feel terrible,” she told the Daily News during Sunday’s vigil.

In a statement following the euthanization of Angel, AC&C officials expressed their “deepest sympathies” to the family and said that Angel was put down to prevent additional pain. “Because of her deteriorating condition and advanced age of over 13 years, the vet made the decision to euthanize Angel in an effort to prevent any additional suffering,” it read. “It is our goal to avoid euthanasia unless we deem it absolutely necessary.”

Each year, AC&C handles an estimated 43,000 animals rescued from city streets, of which about 15,000 are euthanized. It urges animal owners to make sure their pets are licensed and microchipped.

A Push for Reform After Beloved Collie is Euthanized

By Conor Greene

After a 94-year-old grandmother’s beloved collie was euthanized at a city animal center just hours after arriving at the facility, a group of animal lovers and a Queens City Councilman are working to prevent this from happening again.

Officials at the city’s Animal Care and Control say that 13-year-old Angel was euthanized shortly after arriving at the Manhattan facility on April 9 because she collapsed and was unable to walk. The dog, which had wandered away from Jane Guardascione’s Astoria home, didn’t have identification and didn’t match the description of any missing dogs.

However, according to the contract AC&C has with the state Health Department, dogs brought into its facilities must be held for at least 72 hours before being euthanized or released for adoption. The only exceptions are if an animal is critically injured.

In a statement, AC&C officials expressed their “deepest sympathies” to the family and said that Angel was suffering and was put down to prevent additional pain. “Because of her deteriorating condition and advanced age of over 13 years, the vet made the decision to euthanize Angel in an effort to prevent any additional suffering,” it read. “It is our goal to avoid euthanasia unless we deem it absolutely necessary.”

However, family members said that although the dog had been slowed by arthritis, it was still able to walk and probably became scared after being taken to the loud, unfamiliar shelter. Guardascione was “heartbroken” and began suffering chest pains when she found out what happened to her “beloved companion,” according to local animal activist Phyllis Taiano, who had tried to find Angel before she was put down.

In response to the incident, City Councilman Tony Avella (D-Bayside) has submitted a request for AC&C records, specifically as they relate to animals that were euthanized at the shelters. He is now calling for an investigation into AC&C’s “practices and procedures… to prevent this tragedy from happening again.”

“It was extremely startling to learn of the unfortunate euthanization of Angel, which has caused a tremendous amount of grief for Ms. Guardascione, who saw the dog as a true companion,” said Avella. “In this instance, there appears to be a complete breakdown of the Department of Health and Hygiene’s policy to keep strays for at least 72 hours by NYC AC&C.”

Avella is seeking to obtain all records regarding euthanizations, length of stay for animals brought into city shelters, physical examinations, as well as records concerning owner notification, according to his office. He will hold a rally on the steps of City Hall at noon on Sunday along with other animal rights groups to bring awareness to the situation.

Taiano, a Middle Village resident who helps rescue lost dogs, was also distraught over the situation. She found out that Angel was at the AC&C just after 5 p.m. that evening, less than an hour after she had been euthanized. “Now that Avella has submitted a request for [records] we want to keep this [issue] alive and in the forefront,” said Taiano. “Angel’s case is not going away. Our protest is in honor of Angel and to raise more awareness that the AC&C continues to practice unethically. That shelter is in desperate need of reform.”

In light of recent alleged improprieties at AC&C shelters, an online petition is being circulated asking the City Council and Mayor to convene an Animal Care Task Force “to oversee the replacement of the existing Board of Directors… which has created this crisis.” The petition notes that while law requires the city to have five fullservice animal shelters, there currently are only three.

State Provides Funding to Area Hospitals; Refuses to Bail Out St. John's and Mary Immaculate

By Conor Greene

After refusing to bailout bankrupt St. John’s and Mary Immaculate hospitals, the state Department of Health announced on Wednesday that it is providing money to other area facilities to help deal with a spike in patients.

St. John’s in Elmhurst and Mary Immaculate in Jamaica stopped admitting patients on Saturday, including to their emergency rooms, as they prepare to close completely in the coming weeks. The move comes a week after parent company Caritas Health Care filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and submitted a closure plan to the state.

Last Friday, residents, community leaders and hospital staff gathered outside St. John’s in a last-ditch effort to convince Governor David Paterson to step in and save the hospitals.

However, their demands fell on deaf ears, and the hospitals began restricting admissions at midnight – leading to concerns that other area facilities will become overburdened by the increased demand for their services.

On Wednesday, state Health Commissioner Richard Daines announced $18 million in grants being provided to local hospitals “to ensure that residents of Queens continue to have access to essential health care services.” The money will also provide job placement services to the nearly 3,000 health care workers who lost their jobs when St. John’s and Mary Immaculate closed.

“These grants will help other health care facilities in the area expand their capacity to absorb the patients previously handled by these two Caritas hospitals and assist workers in finding new employment,” said Daines in a statement.

The grants include $14.5 million to expand capacity at eight facilities serving the Queens community and the extension of a state Department of Health contract with 1199 SIEU for the Displaced Workers Program. That will make up to $3 million available for job counseling, placement and retraining for displaced workers.

According to the press release, the state DOH has given “contingent approval for the closure plan” submitted by Caritas. “Despite over $55 million in state loans to Caritas, the hospital system was unable to develop a viable plan for continued operation,” the release notes.

In addition to the $3 million contract extension to 1199 SIEU for job counseling, placement and retraining, the following grants have been awarded:

•Health and Hospitals Corporation of New York City will receive
$3.6 million to expand patient capacity and emergency room services at its Elmhurst and Queens Hospital Centers;

•Medisys will receive $4.5 million for its Jamaica and Flushing sites;

•North Shore LIJ will receive $3.5 million for its Forest Hills and Franklin facilities;

•Wyckoff Medical Center near Ridgewood will receive $2.7 million;

•The Joseph P. Addabbo Family Health Center will receive $650,000 to maintain primary and preventative services at the St. Dominic’s Health Care Center.

The decision to provide the grant money comes as City Comptroller William Thompson, Councilman Tony Avella, Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley and other elected officials have called upon the state to provide Caritas with the funding needed to keep the two hospitals open.

“The closing of Mary Immaculate and St. John’s Hospitals would not only have a detrimental affect on the 2,500 hospital employees by Caritas Health Care, but also on the entire Borough of Queens, which relies heavily on their medical services,” said Avella. “The best solution at this point would be for HHC [Health and Hospitals Corp] to take over the administration of these two hospitals. It would improve management operations and, I believe, make it easier for the State and City to allocate funding to keep the hospitals open.”

Combined, the hospitals have about 450 beds and serve nearly 200,000 patients each year. Mary Immaculate is a level-one trauma center and houses a cancer institute and 115-bed nursing home. St. John’s is a certified stroke and heart failure center and has the borough’s only hyperbaric oxygen therapy unit.

“People will die if the Health Department closes these hospitals,” said Therese Wittner, a registered nurse and representative for the state Nurses Association at Mary Immaculate. “It is also unthinkable that 115 elderly people will be put out of the Fitzpatrick nursing home where they have lived for up to 15 years and developed close family times… The surrounding hospitals are overflowing and will not be able to handle the volume of patients. We are already seeing the consequences.”

According to the DOH, the closure date for St. John’s and Mary Immaculate is February 28.

Two Hospitals Begin Limited Admissions

St. John's, Mary Immaculate Set to Close Within Weeks

By Conor Greene

Two local hospitals will no longer accept patients starting Saturday as they prepare to close in the coming weeks.

Caritas Health Care, the parent company of St. John’s Queens Hospital in Elmhurst and Mary Immaculate Hospital in Jamaica, filed last week for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and submitted a closure plan to the state Department of Health. That decision means, barring a last minute state bailout, the two hospitals will likely close by February 28.

The process of shutting down its operations began soon after the board voted to file for bankruptcy. Beginning this week, Mary Immaculate was no longer accepting psychiatric patients, while St. John’s was no longer accepting pediatric patients. Starting midnight Friday, both hospitals will no longer accept any patients, including at their emergency rooms.

According to a source who received the FDNY operational order sent to EMS units, two ambulances will be stationed at each hospital ER beginning Friday night. Patients who arrive for treatment unaware of the closings will instead be taken to nearby hospitals.

The board’s decision came after several weeks of emergency meetings between local officials and hospital executives, who worked to secure a last minute deal to keep the struggling facilities open. The two hospitals are losing a total of about $5 million each month and have received $50 million in state grants and loans in the past two years – including $6 million in January.

“Our round-the-clock efforts with elected officials and with the New York State Department of Health over the past week have proven futile,” said Caritas CEO John Kastanis in a memo sent to employees. “No adequate source of funding has been identified and no long-term plan for the continued operation of the hospitals has been forthcoming.

“Since there has been no official or unofficial news from Albany this week regarding a possible solution to our crisis, the Board was, much to its dismay, left with no recourse,” continued Kastanis. “Time has essentially run out.”

Closing the hospitals would cost 2,500 healthcare professionals their jobs and force Queens residents to go elsewhere for medical treatment. Combined, the hospitals have about 450 beds and serve 200,000 individuals annually, including 100,000 patients in the two emergency rooms.

Several rallies were held in front of both hospitals and at City Hall in the past few weeks, and employees headed to Albany on Wednesday in a last-ditch effort to convince the state to bail out St. John’s and Mary Immaculate. “Tomorrow is really to have the politicians see face to face the people who are going to be affected, to see the people who are providing for the registered voters and the community that we provide health care to” said registered nurse Carlos Quiles outside St. John’s on Tuesday.

Residents, employees and patients said that it is unacceptable for the state to refuse to take action to save the hospitals. “I can’t understand how they can close a hospital in such a heavily populated neighborhood such as this,” said Dave Herbert, whose father was rushed to St. John’s on Monday night. “I don’t know the politics behind this, but somebody needs to do something right away… If this place wasn’t open, where would we go? Elmhurst is already packed… It’s insane.”

Ken Akins, who brings his mother to St. John’s every week for wound care, thinks the impact on the patients is being ignored. “My mother is frightened. She doesn’t know if the hospital closes where she is going to go,” said Akins. “She has bonded very well with the people who give quality care here. It’s always the elderly, the disenfranchised that gets hit the hardest.”

Akins, who said he worked at Mary Immaculate for 30 years, blamed the hospital’s financial struggles on mismanagement. “It would be a shame before God if Governor Paterson allows them to close… It has nothing to do with the quality of care and support the staff gives their patients. If we lose, we’re losing something that can’t be replaced.”

Queens Borough President Helen Marshall called news of Caritas’ decision “distressing” in a statement. “We worked very hard to try and prevent the closures of both these hospitals. I have been in touch with Governor Paterson’s office on almost a daily basis to try and find a solution.”

Marshall, who first informed the public of the hospitals’ dire financial status at her State of the Borough address last month, said she is demanding to see the closure plan Caritas filed with the state. “I want to see how capacity will be built at other hospitals. I want to see that every resident of Queens continues to get the healthcare that they are entitled to receive,” she said.

In addition to the 400 beds that will be lost by the closures, Mary Immaculate features a 115-bed nursing home, a cancer center and is a level-one trauma center. St. John’s is a certified stroke and heart failure center and has the only hyperbaric oxygen therapy unit in Queens. These losses come just months after another local facility, Parkway Hospital in Forest Hills, closed, eliminating another 250 beds.

Over the past month, a group of local officials led by Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith (D-St. Albans) have held meetings in hopes of finding a way to keep the hospitals open. At one point, officials at North-Shore Long Island Jewish Health System were exploring a plan to acquire the two hospitals and replace them with a state-of-the-art facility in central Queens. However, that would have required funding from the state.

In the end, Caritas determined that the negotiations, which reportedly also involved another health system, proved “futile.” Caritas, which also runs Wyckoff Hospital in Brooklyn, purchased St. John’s and Mary Immaculate for $41.5 million in 2006 from St. Vincent’s Catholic Medical Centers, which had filed for bankruptcy protection the prior year.

Restaurants to Post Letter Grades Under Health Inspection Rules

Customers will soon be able to tell what grade any of the city’s 25,000 restaurants received in their most recent health inspection simply by glancing at a sign posted in the window or doorway.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Deputy Senate Majority Leader Jeff Klein announced last weekend that the city is updating its restaurant inspection system in an effort to improve sanitary conditions and give consumers more information. About 1,000 people become sick each day from eating in city in restaurants, which serve about 800 million meals each year.

Under the new guidelines, the city Health Department will increase the number of inspections for less sanitary restaurants and will requiring all establishments to post letter grades in its window or vestibule. The latter measure has been championed by Senator Klein (D-Bronx), who has made restaurant safety one of his top priorities. Currently, the inspection scores are only available online or at the health department.

“Today’s announcement is a great step forward towards improving the overall public health of all New York City residents,” said Klein. “As someone who has spent years advocating for a more consumer friendly system, I am thrilled that New York City diners will finally have easy access to the latest inspection results of their favorite restaurants. Having a letter grade posted for all diners to see will provide a real incentive for restaurants with a ‘C’ hanging in the doorway to clean up their act.”

The new system will be phased in over the next two years to give restaurant owners time to comply with the requirements. In addition to using letter grades A, B and C to rate restaurants that pass inspection, the city will also increase the amount of times failing establishments are inspected.

“This approach will concentrate city resources on the restaurants that pose the greatest risk to public health and place no additional burden on establishments that maintain sanitary conditions,” the city said in a statement.

“We know New York City’s restaurants are the best in the world and we want them to also be the cleanest,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “This new system will encourage the less sanitary restaurants to clean up – and won’t punish the good guys. As sanitation improves, so will business. The more residents and tourists that can trust the food they buy in New York City restaurants, the more likely they are to patronize them.”

This year, Senator Klein plans to again introduce legislation that will require all local health departments across the state to implement a letter grading system, which is also used in Los Angeles. “Whether New Yorkers are dining out for a routine meal or to celebrate a special occasion, their only reservations should be to book a table,” he said. Since 2000, the senator has released regular reports called “Enough to Make you Sick,” which examines the sanitary conditions at city restaurants and supermarkets.

According to the city, extra scrutiny of city restaurants is warranted, as food-related illness “is a source of growing public concern” among residents. Complaints about foodborne illness have increased in recent years, and rodent infestations are a common problem in restaurants.

The Health Department reports signs of rodents in a quarter of restaurants inspected and estimates that more than 11,000 New Yorkers are treated in emergency rooms annually for restaurant-related food illnesses – at a cost of $130 million annually.

“By requiring restaurants to publicly post grades, the new food safety initiatives will help consumers make more informed choices about where to eat, while increasing restaurant operators’ motivation to stay clean,” said Dr. Thomas Frieden, the city health commissioner. “New York City will have safer restaurants and fewer cases of food poisoning.”

Research from other cities has found that requiring restaurants to publicly post inspection grades leads to increased business at establishments with higher grades, forces restaurants to improve their sanitary standards and results in fewer cases of food-borne illnesses.

The new model will also bring the city closer to the federal Food and Drug Administration recommended schedule of at least three full inspections every year for full service restaurants. Currently, most city restaurants are inspected just once a year.

Senator Releases List of Cleanest, Dirtiest Restaurants

By Conor Greene

A Forest Hills Chinese restaurant has been included on a state senator’s list of the city’s dozen filthiest establishments, while an Italian restaurant in Ridgewood has been included on the dozen cleanest dining spots.

State Senator Jeff Klein (D-Bronx) released a report called “Enough to Make You Sick: An Analysis of Unsanitary Conditions at NY City Restaurants.” Using data supplied by the city Department of Health, Klein released two lists: the “Dirty Dozen” and the “Sparkling Twelve.”

New Chopstick House at 102-09 Queens Boulevard was ranked fifth-worst in terms of the city’s worst offending restaurants on the list issued this week by the senator. It received a score of 100 on its most recent health inspection, well above the 28-point threshold for failing. Among the infractions were mice and cockroaches. It was the only Queens restaurant included on the list.

In contrast, Corato Pizza II at 60-91 Myrtle Avenue in Ridgewood was among the city’s cleanest establishments, according to the senator. Other Queens restaurants on the “Sparking Twelve” list are Russo’s On the Bay in Howard Beach, Sripraphai Thai Restaurant in Woodside, Primo Amore in Bayside and McDonalds on Liberty Avenue in Richmond Hill.

“It is inexcusable that the Department of Health does not have an adequate system in place to alert consumers to restaurants with failing sanitation records,” said Klein, who is sponsoring legislation requiring restaurants to post a letter grade A through F alerting consumers of their inspection status.

“The public has a right to know that the restaurant they’re eating at may have more on the menu than tasty cuisine,” he said. “Having a letter grade posted for all diners to see will provide an incentive for restaurants to clean up their act. I can’t imagine anyone wanting to eat at an establishment with an ‘F’ hanging in the doorway.”

Klein’s report studied the restaurants that had the 100 worst inspection reports among the approximately 20,000 establishments citywide. Of the bottom 100 restaurants, 87% had at least one category of pest cited in their most recent inspection. Almost half of those had at least two categories cited, and 12% were cited for three pest categories. Of the bottom 100, 59% were allowed to remain open despite the pest control issues.

“Restaurant discipline and the commitment to proper sanitation and food safety have clearly broken down when an establishment finds itself juggling multiple pest infestation,” said Klein. “Whether New Yorkers are dining out for a routine meal or a special occasion, their only reservations should be to book a table.”

Michael Cerbone, owner of Corato Pizza II, said his establishment has won the city’s Golden Apple award - issued to restaurants that score especially well on the health inspection - three years in a row. “It’s all about hard work for the safety of the customers, and keeping the food to the maximum safety,” he said. “That’s why we got the award.”

A woman who answered the phone at New Chopstick House was unable to comment due to a language barrier.