Covenant's Newsletter: NewsLink (December/January)

For the past several years Youville Hospital's financial performance shifted from modest levels of profitability to unsustainable operating losses approaching $3 million in 2009.
The operating losses are a direct result of a 15% reduction in Medicare rates (implemented in 2007-08) paid to long term care hospitals (LTACs) such as Youville Hospital. These losses came at a time when demand for the inpatient programs offered at Youville remained strong and, in fact, was growing. Since 2005 the Hospital's inpatient census had grown by 20%.
As two-thirds of Youville's patients are Medicare beneficiaries, the rate reductions implemented by Medicare meant the cost of providing care to this patient population was no longer adequately reimbursed.

What did Youville do in response to the rate cuts by Medicare?

The Youville Board and senior management, as well as Covenant Health Systems, took a strong, proactive approach that was both practical - reducing costs, creating new partnerships, etc - and pragmatic - advocating for improved rates for LTAC providers.

What was leadership's goal in securing the future of the hospital in light of the changing reimbursement issues?

The primary goal was to find a way to continue Youville Hospital's historic commitment to quality patient care, create a stable working environment for staff and secure the organization's long-term future.
The Board of Directors and leadership at Youville carefully examined a variety of strategic options for the Hospital, including closure and redevelopment of the campus for an alternative use. Rather, a consensus emerged to take proactive steps to find a new owner for the Hospital who could secure its long-term future. Central to this vision was a deep commitment to retain services to the population served at Youville and to provide for the dedicated and skilled employees who deliver outstanding patient care.
To meet that goal, any partnership, sale, or transition for Youville would need to yield positive outcomes for employees, patients, and the community. Therefore, a new owner would have to be willing and able to sustain ongoing operating losses and have the resources to make new investments in equipment, and building systems infrastructure.
Youville and then current joint venture partner, The Spaulding Rehabilitation Network, began discussions on how these objectives could be best achieved. These lengthy and well thought out discussions resulted in the sale of Youville Hospital to The Spaulding Rehabilitation Network.

How is Partners able to operate the hospital when Youville can't?

The two largest referral sources for Youville are Partners' members, Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital, which represent approximately 1,100 admissions per year. Partners Health Care recognizes that it will have to operate Youville at a loss, or at best, break even. However, the loss of Youville's LTAC beds would result in even greater financial losses for Partners as a result of longer lengths of stay at its acute-care hospitals.
Partners Health Care has clearly made a commitment to ensuring the long-term availability of post-acute services through the creation of the Spaulding Rehabilitation Network. Maintaining Youville Hospital as an LTAC facility is a natural extension of this commitment. "Youville Hospital is a critical resource for post-acute services in the Boston area," said David E. Storto, president, Spaulding Rehabilitation Network. "We look forward to building on its long tradition of high quality care as a member of the Spaulding Rehabilitation Network."

How will this impact Youville House?

The purchase of Youville Hospital does not impact Covenant member, Youville House Assisted Living Residence, an adjacent 95-unit assisted living residence.

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YOUVILLE DONATES $500,000 TO CATHOLIC CHARITIES

At the event celebrating the 114 year history of Youville Hospital, Daniel P. Leahey, president/CEO, presented Tiziana Dearing, president of Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of Boston, with a gift of $500,000 "for the sole use of the Refugee and Immigration Services Program operated by Catholic Charities..." This donation is offered on behalf of the leadership and staff at Youville Hospital, Covenant Health Systems and the Grey Nuns who established the Hospital in 1895. As the sale approached, we saw a final opportunity to advance our mission through a gift to the Refugee Resettlement Program which offers hope to some of the most vulnerable in today's world." Youville has played a role in Catholic Charities' refugee resettlement initiatives for more than 15 years. The Providence House Refugee Center, which has been housed at Youville for the past five years, will continue to be operated by Spaulding.

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LEADERSHIP AT YOUVILLE HOUSE/YOUVILLE PLACE

With the sale of Youville Hospital to Spaulding, Covenant will use this timing as an opportunity to strengthen the bond between its two sponsored assisted living residences, Youville House (Cambridge) and Youville Place (Lexington). A formal restructuring of the leadership teams bring opportunities for sharing best practices and identifying ways to improve operations and cost effectiveness.

The Leadership Team for Youville House/Youville Place is: Joanne Parsons, president/CEO, Joanne Scianna, COO, John Cooney, director of Finance, and Dinah Olanoff, director of Marketing. Youville House/Youville Place will share a Director of Mission and Pastoral Care, Anne Cody, and a Community Relations Coordinator, Lisa Yarin.

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AROUND THE SYSTEM

The American Nurses Credentialing Center's (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program for excellence in nursing services has once again designated St. Joseph Hospital (Nashua) as a Magnet hospital, and the hospital will retain Magnet status for the next four years. According to the ANCC, Magnet designation is widely accepted as the gold standard of patient care. The program recognizes excellence and professionalism in nursing. Applicants undergo an extensive evaluation, and members who are awarded Magnet status must continue to maintain rigorous standards as part of their four-year designation.
St. Joseph Hospital (Nashua) was named a "Best Company to Work For" by Business NH Magazine. Business NH Magazine was looking for the best places to work in NH - the businesses whose employees love their jobs, have great benefits, are treated fairly and take pride in what they do. St. Joseph Hospital has once again been named by Business NH Magazine.
Covenant affiliate, Bethany Health Care (Framingham), received their 13th deficiency free survey from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Public Health. Sr. Jacqueline McCarthy, administrator, attributed this success to the dedication of the staff to the residents, "I really am proud of my team and feel myself fortunate to have such a great staff. I would describe each of them as dedicated, kind and conscientious."
Sancta Maria Nursing Facility (Cambridge), Matulaitis Nursing Home (Putnam, CT), and Campion Health Center (Weston) also received deficiency-free surveys from the Department of Public Health.
St. Mary's d'Youville Pavilion (Lewiston) received the "Carrying the Torch of Excellence" Award from Maine Health Care Association. In addition, Sr. Irene Platt, CNA, assistant-medication technician at d'Youville, and Stephanie Cote, RN, from St. Andre Health Care Facility (Biddeford) received awards for "Excellence in Care Giving."
Joanne Parsons, CEO/president, Joanne Scianna, COO, Youville House (Cambridge)/Youville Place (Lexington), and Bob Salamanca, Youville Place facilities director, presented a workshop at MassAlfa's annual meeting on "Assisted Living Goes Green! Start Small to Build A Strategy that Includes All!" Workshop comments included: "Great presentation," "Best of the day," and "Learned the most."
Anne (Teri) DeMinico, CEO/administrator, St. Joseph Manor (Brockton) and head of Covenant's Healthy Food Committee, was a member of a panel presenting at the national assembly of AAHSA on "Healthy Food in Aging Services: Creating a Menu of Change."
The Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield (Holyoke) celebrated groundbreaking for their St. Joseph Residence at Mont Marie, a 30 unit independent elderly-living residence with supportive services, developed by the Sisters of St. Joseph and Mercy Housing.
St. Mary's Regional Medical Center (Lewiston) received Energy Star approval. The facility has become one of four hospitals in New England and one of 91 in the country to receive this prestigious certification. To St. Mary's, the Energy Star represents their 15 year dedication to energy efficiency and the protection of the environment. The description of the certification reads: "The Energy Star is the mark of superior energy performance and identifies your building as one the most efficient buildings in the nation." St. Mary's continues their crusade to reduce greenhouse gases and increase their positive influence on the community.
Christine M. Vitale, administrator, Fall River Jewish Home, received a letter of appreciation from Governor Deval Patrick for becoming an inaugural member of the Governor's Clean Energy Challenge. The purpose of the Challenge is to inspire businesses to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Each participant is committed to reduce its emissions by 10 percent over the next three years. This will result in reduced energy costs, contributing to the fight against global climate change and growth of the clean energy industry in Massachusetts. This participation is an example of the Fall River Jewish Home's ongoing efforts to become greener and reduce the impact its operation has on the environment.
The team at Mary Immaculate Health Care Services (Lawrence) recently unveiled a new service called "Remarkable Recoveries." The opening of the new unit is the culmination of many months of planning and provides specialized services to patients who require care as they transition from hospital to home. "Remarkable Recoveries" is a dedicated short term rehabilitation unit devoted to the needs of patients requiring therapies and care as they recover from illness, accident or surgery. The program utilizes an interdisciplinary therapeutic approach designed to return patients home, a goal usually achieved within 30 days. The new unit features 22 private rooms with amenities that include cable service, flat screen televisions, private telephone lines, spa room and private bathroom. Guest services include flexible visiting hours for families and friends, enhanced dining experience including guest meal availability, and a wide variety of activities. A state-of-the-art rehabilitation gym serves as the center for therapeutic services.

Pictured above: Stewart Goff, Administrator, MI Nursing/Restorative Center, David Lincoln, president/CEO, Covenant Health Systems, Barbara Grant, president/CEO, MI Nursing/Restorative Center, and Fr. James Wenzel, OSA, member, MI Board of Directors

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PEOPLE NEWS

Susan McDonough, Covenant's vice president, Strategy and System Development, reviewed the recently published book: Caring for our Parents by Howard Gleckman for the November-December issue of Catholic Health Association's "Health Progress." She writes: "Caring for Our Parents is an excellent read, accessible for both professionals and the general public."
The New Hampshire Hospital Association honored Peter B. Davis, FACHE, president and CEO of St. Joseph Hospital (Nashua), with the James A. Hamilton Founder's Award for outstanding service in health care on behalf of the people of New Hampshire. The award is the highest recognition given by the association. It was presented at the association's 75th annual meeting at the Mount Washington Resort Hotel in Bretton Woods.
Sr. Irene Duchesneau is stepping down as Executive Director of the Fanny Allen Foundation. "Sr. Irene has successfully served the Foundation for the past 10 years and has accomplished so very much through her dynamic leadership," said David R. Lincoln. "Sister's dedication, effectiveness, passion and compassion touched many lives, and we are ever grateful for her life-giving presence." Ellen Kane, a resident of Richmond, Vermont, has been appointed Executive Director to replace Sr. Irene and will serve on a part-time basis. One of Ellen's many accomplishments is developing and supporting such programs and initiatives as the Foundation during her tenure as Development Director and Grants Manager of the Committee on Temporary Shelter in Burlington. In this role, Ellen helped develop the Housing Resource Center, a collaborative community effort that helps prevent low-income households in temporary financial crisis from losing their housing and becoming homeless.
Anne (Teri) DeMinico, Administrator of St. Joseph Manor (Brockton) will join St. Mary's Regional Medical Center (Lewiston) staff, Kirsten Walter, Dennis Bouyea and Tina Guenette and Michelle Gottlieb from Health Care without Harm for a Catholic Health Association Webinar on January 21 on "Sustainable Food Policies" beginning at noon.
We welcome Annette Chickey as the new administrator at St. Mary's Villa Residence (Elmhurst, PA).

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