The line of people waiting in line at Ellis ER for medical care is no different then the pictures we see in third world countries who are also standing in line to be seen for medical conditions. The only difference is that in this country there is an actually building. And if you notice, they have already begun to prioritize who will actually get medical attention first. IF YOU HAVE CHEST PAIN...... Now that is fine but what about the person with a ruptured appendix? Broken bones? etc.... There was a day when ALL people were seen in a timely manner, no matter what was medically wrong with them.
This is just the beginning folks!!!
I pay my own insurance- $ 238 per month- I have a $ 2,500 deuctable- I have been in an emercency room 0nce in 50 years. I use urgent care- promptcare- or similar clinics - I pay the $ 75- $ 150 for service almost always with in a HALF hour-
Ellis Hospital sued over use of bequest Tuesday, August 5, 2008 By Michael Goot (Contact) Gazette Reporter
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SCHENECTADY — A descendant of a family that bequeathed $2.3 million to Ellis Hospital filed a federal lawsuit today claiming the funds were misspent. Court documents
To read the entire complaint against Ellis Hospital, click here.
Norma Cummings Rettek filed the suit in U.S. District Court in Albany. Cummings Rettek is the niece of John Belanger, who left 75 percent of his estate to the hospital upon his death in 1968. Belanger was a General Electric employee and served on the hospital’s board of trustees from 1953 to 1962.
The money was left with the stipulation that it be used for the hospital’s School of Nursing, an effort to honor Belanger’s younger sister, Lurline Belanger Cummings, who had attended a nursing training school in Maine. If the school ceased operation, the money was to go to an extended care unit or a nursing home association.
Belanger’s wife, Anna Nordgren Belanger, died the following year and also left 75 percent of her estate to the hospital. The combined value of the bequests was more than $2 million.
The lawsuit alleges that the fund was not used for improvements at the nursing school. It points out that the original building on the main campus that housed the nursing school was demolished to construct a parking lot. Since then, the school has operated out of six different facilities, with its current home at 1482 Erie Blvd.
The lawsuit also says that in 2004, Mark C. Schoell, vice president of financial services, confirmed in writing that the hospital had used the “Belanger Legacy” for projects not related to the School of Nursing.
“Meanwhile, in the 40 years since the Belangers’ death, the School of Nursing facilities have deteriorated, not improved,” according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit also alleges that hospital officials failed to properly invest the funds. Had the money been properly invested, the fund could have grown to $15 million, the lawsuit alleges.
Hospital officials did not immediately respond to calls.
The line of people waiting in line at Ellis ER for medical care is no different then the pictures we see in third world countries who are also standing in line to be seen for medical conditions. The only difference is that in this country there is an actually building. And if you notice, they have already begun to prioritize who will actually get medical attention first. IF YOU HAVE CHEST PAIN...... Now that is fine but what about the person with a ruptured appendix? Broken bones? etc.... There was a day when ALL people were seen in a timely manner, no matter what was medically wrong with them.
This is just the beginning folks!!!
I pay my own insurance- $ 238 per month- I have a $ 2,500 deuctable- I have b een in an emercency room 0nce in 50 years. I use urgent care- promtcare- and the like- I pay the $ 75- $ 150 for service almost alway with in a HALF hour-
SCHENECTADY Woman sues Ellis Hospital over donation Niece of benefactor says money was intended for nursing school
BY MICHAEL GOOT Gazette Reporter
A descendant of a family who bequeathed $2.3 million to Ellis Hospital filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday claiming the funds were misspent. Hospital officials, meanwhile say that the money was properly spent and managed. Norma Cummings Rettek filed the suit in U.S. District Court. Rettek is the niece of John Belanger, who left 75 percent of his estate to the hospital upon his death in 1968. Belanger was a General Electric employee and served on Ellis Hospital’s board of trustees from 1953 to 1967. Belanger’s wife, Anna Nordgren Belanger, died the following year and also left 75 percent of her estate to the hospital. The money was bequeathed with the stipulation that it be used for the hospital’s school of nursing. This was an effort to honor Belanger’s younger sister, Lurline Belanger Cummings, who had attended a nurse training school in Maine. The lawsuit alleges that the fund was not used for improvements at the nursing school. It points out that the original buildings on the main campus housing the nursing school were demolished in 1974 to put up a parking garage. Since then, the school has operated out of six different facilities, with its current home at 1482 Erie Blvd. The court documents also allege that in 2004 Mark C. Schoell, vice president of financial services, confirmed in writing that the hospital had used the “Belanger Legacy” for projects not related to the School of Nursing. In addition, it says that Karen G. Bonadies, the hospital’s finance director, confirmed that the entire Belanger Legacy had been spent some time before 1994 for the hospital’s general building program. “Meanwhile in the 40 years since the Belangers’ death, the School of Nursing facilities have deteriorated, not improved,” according to documents filed in the case. The lawsuit also alleges that hospital officials failed to properly invest the funds. Had it been properly invested, the plaintiffs allege, the fund could have grown to $15 million. The family is represented by Dan Kurtz of the New York City law firm of Holland & Knight. Kurtz said the family did not want to take this action. Rettek actually served on the Ellis Hospital foundation board from 2003 until her resignation in 2005. “They very much wanted to work with the hospital but they never got any meaningful response to their request about what happened to this legacy,” he said. He said the hospital was not forthcoming in providing documentation on how the funds were spent. “Clearly, they weren’t on top of this for many, many years,” he said. “They still have a legal obligation that they can’t ignore and they appear to have done that here.” Kurtz said his client is seeking a full accounting of how the funds were spent. “We only got bits and pieces before Ellis drew the curtain down,” he said. He insists that the fund be replenished. How much money that is remains to be seen. Kurtz said if the money was not spent right away to support the nursing school, he said it should have been properly invested and now would be worth millions of dollars. The family would also like another entity to run the trust and is seeking punitive damages. Kurtz said he believed the case would move swiftly through the federal court system before the end of the year. Rettek also released a statement commenting on the case. “My mother was utterly devoted to the nursing profession, and my uncle and aunt greatly admired her commitment,” she said. “My uncle made the single largest contribution ever to Ellis Hospital strictly for the purpose of advancing nursing education. I continue to be disturbed that the hospital and its trustees have failed to honor my family’s legacy in a meaningful way, and am saddened that we have no recourse left but to ask the courts to intervene.” James Connolly, president and chief executive officer of Ellis Hospital, said he believes the trust has been managed exclusively for the purposes required by the family. “We deeply regret that their niece is disappointed with the hospital. Mr. and Mrs. Belanger had been tremendous supporters of Ellis Hospital, its mission, its staff and patients, and we remain hopeful of resolving this matter quickly,” he said in a statement. Connolly went on to say that the gift has been overseen by auditors, legal counsel and the hospital’s volunteer board of trustees. The hospital board has managed the facility effectively so there have been minimal demands on the gift. He added that there were no stated restrictions on the investment income derived from the initial bequest. That income has been invested over time and the income from those investments spent for general hospital purposes. Years ago, the hospital appointed an independent committee to oversee expenditures from the bequest and report to the board on its use. Hospital officials have also been speaking with the Attorney general’s Charities Bureau regarding the continue use of the bequest. Connolly also praised the school for its state-of-the-art facilities and an exceptionally high passing rate for the state licensing boards. He said its students have been successful in getting jobs after graduation and its 2008 entering class was among the largest in recent history. “Ellis has always had tremendous support from this community. We remain grateful for Mr. and Mrs. Belanger’s continued generosity over the years,” he said.
I just heard of a 40 year old women who died of a heart attack. She went to Ellis, where they discovered that she had a mild heart attack. They treated her and send her home to only have a massive heart attack that killed her. I don't know the particulars but everyone was in shock!!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
this is only the beginning----take a look at Massachusetts---THEY should be ashamed at making folks pay for health insurance even if they dont want the government offered service.....
ANYONE REMEMBER THE BOSTON TEA PARTY.......we are now officially lost and our foundation is cracking.....let's get married while we are there too...to anybody....
Now the governments have stirred up the vultures and here we are left to eat carrion......
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
Nurses can’t bear to see what’s happening at Ellis
I have been a nurse at St. Clare’s Hospital for 21 years. Since June I have been working at Ellis Hospital in the gastroenterology unit, because of the merger. St. Clare’s gastro unit was shut down with one week’s notice. To say all is not good in the unit is an understatement. It’s like a meat market. It’s all about how fast we can get the patients in and out. It is dangerous. At St. Clare’s we were so streamlined and the patient’s care and safety came first. Ellis will not listen to our suggestions or how much better we could do it at St. Clare’s. It’s a their-way-orthe-highway attitude. It’s frightening. Someone is going to get seriously hurt or die. No one in Ellis management will listen to the nurses. If we do speak up, we are punished with suspensions. It’s not only in gastro; I know nurses from every unit. They are all looking to get out. They are going to Saratoga Hospital and all other hospitals in the area. They are so unhappy they don’t care about losing their seniority, or a pay cut. This includes myself. If you print this letter, I will probably lose my job, but I don’t care. That’s how concerned I am about this situation. PATRICIA A. ARKET Scotia
there is nursing/doctoring and then there is streamlining down a line like at Ford motor assembly line.....well, the public (society) in general is reaping what we have sown.....fast quick easy......just like we like our cars, food, services.......
me me me now now now........
doctors and nurses dont heal bodies.....they support the bodies/minds/spirits during the healing......THAT IS WHY THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE.......
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
Report: Hospital ER waits growing ATLANTA — The average time that hospital emergency room patients wait to see a doctor has grown from about 38 minutes to almost an hour over the past decade, according to new federal statistics released Wednesday. The increase is due to supply and demand, said Dr. Stephen Pitts, the lead author of the report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “There are more people arriving at the ERs, and there are fewer ERs,” said Pitts, an associate professor of emergency medicine at Atlanta’s Emory University. Overall, about 119 million visits were made to U.S. emergency rooms in 2006, up from 90 million in 1996 — a 32 percent increase.
The health care system in Schenectady is in critical condition and in need of resuscitation. I know there are many people who are in good health that don't see the need to get involved, but it only takes one bad incident for the need to go to an emergency room to arise. If you need hospital care in Schenectady you might as well be living in a third world nation. It may not be possible or feasible to go for care to an Albany Hospital. Make your voices heard and help us get back our other hospital - St. Clare's. Join Schenectady County Citizens for Hospital Choice!!! Contact Connie Ciervo at 374-5365 or ciervoca@verizon.net
It is an election year, so 'we the people' who want St.Clares re-opened should be able to carry some weight. We need to do some letter writing, emailing and petition signing to our political hopefuls this year. And media coverage is KEY!!!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Only if St. Clare's is under different management than it was previously. I have received no-so-top-notch service my last few times in St. Clare's (before the merger). I previously said that I wouldn't go back there. My most recent visit didn't do anything to change that view for me.
Everyone at Ellis doing their best during tough time
I have witnessed over the last six weeks individuals that are ill informed perpetrating false truths to suit their causes while trying to destroy the department and hospital that I love. There is no doubt that the emergency department at Ellis Hospital is under tremendous strain from the consolidation of services after the transition between St. Clare’s and Ellis that occurred on June 16. The truth is that the entire hospital is under strain after the transition and there is no one to blame. There was no mystery that St. Clare’s Hospital was suffering financially and was at the verge of closing regardless of the Berger Commission recommendations or of the subsequent consolidation of services. Ellis has taken on the responsibility of being the only hospital in Schenectady County and we are rising to the challenge. I witness my nurses, patient care technicians, unit clerks, physicians, physician assistants and other ancillary staff continuing to provide the best care possible to the patients that come to the emergency department and they are doing it with compassion while working tirelessly during this adjustment. The hard work and efforts are not exclusive to the staff at Ellis Hospital but include many of our health care partners, such as Mohawk Ambulance, Schenectady Fire Department, Rotterdam Ambulance and others, as we continue to work collaboratively to provide the best care possible to not only Schenectady County but to the Capital Region as well. Regardless of what others might say, we take pride in our work and the care we provide and while there may be delays and the treatment areas may not be the most desired, the care remains top-notch. We realize that the delays are excessive and we are working hard at improving those over the next few months. We are expanding both the emergency department space by adding additional beds, as well as the inpatient areas to accommodate the admissions. These are growing pains and are temporary. There are those individuals who prefer to complain about what has happened in hopes that it will fix the problem at hand; but my experience has been that no matter how long you stare at the bleeding cut on your finger, it will not stitch itself. It is up to those of us who are committed to providing the best health care possible to our community to step up to the table and find solutions to the problems we face and be an active participant in the process. Looking ahead, I see a strong health care delivery system that provides superb care to the community. The next time you come across one of the Ellis Hospital emergency department nurses, take a minute and let them know what a fantastic job they are doing and how grateful we are as a community for their dedicated service. JOHN VOIGHT Schenectady The writer is the nurse manger of Emergency Services at Ellis Hospital.
I am writing this to correct several misconceptions regarding the closing of St. Clare's Hospital. I have spoken with a member of the Berger Commission and a local doctor who were involved with the merger talks. First and foremost the Berger Commission Recommended that both "St, Clare's and Ellis remain open under one administration". The New York State Legislature then passed this into law. Second I was informed by the doctor who was present at the merger talks that "Mr. Connolly (Ellis CEO) made it clear from the start of the talks that "it is going to be my way or the highway" Mr. Connolly was determined to close St. Clare's. Furthermore the Berger Commission realized that "Schenectady is too large a community to be serviced by just one hospital." I was told that "even if Ellis was to expand they would not be able to handle the health care needs of a community our size with just one hospital." None of this would be happening right now if Mr. Connolly had adhered to the Berger Commission findings. Why does Mr. Connolly want to take more taxpayer money to build another hospital and a new ER. We have a perfectly good hospital that sits half empty because Mr. Connolly wants to play "Hospital King". We can change this. But we have to make our voices heard. LOUD and CLEAR. Join Schencetady County Citizens for Hospital Choice and make your voices heard. Call 374-5365.
Connie Ciervo Spokeswoman Schenectady County Citizens for Hospital Choice
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