On November 18, NYS Assemblyman Brian McLaughlin (D-Flushing) convened a group of hospital executives and labor leaders to identify hospital emergency preparedness needs as well as to discuss potential funding and educational opportunities for hospitals as they relate to the August 2003 blackout.David Rosen,CEO of MediSys Health Network, and Stephen Mills, CEO of the New York Hospital Medical Center of Queens, shared their experiences during the blackout and expressed the need for funding to better prepare hospitals for emergency situations. Also at the roundtable were Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations President Dennis O'Leary, M.D., and Joe Capiello,Vice President, Accreditation Field Operations. GNYHA emphasized that hospitals in NYC have been granted only $125,000 each to enhance preparedness, but have spent, incrementally, on average $5.5 million each since September 11, 2001. GNYHA also stressed that hospitals are the first line of defense during emergencies, yet they are not recognized federally as first responders. Assemblyman McLaughlin urged that the group work together to make the case for more hospital funding. GNYHA would like to thank Assemblyman McLaughlin and will continue to work with him and other officials to secure needed funding for hospital emergency preparedness.

DOH Workgroup: On November 24, the NYS Department of Health (DOH) held its first Blackout Preparedness Workgroup meeting at GNYHA. The workgroup, which includes GNYHA as well as other organizations representing hospitals and continuing care facilities, GNYHA member facilities, and the NYC Office of Emergency Management, is charged with reviewing current standards for health care facilities in the area of power issues, as well as developing recommendations for improving future response capabilities. The workgroup discussed issues such as providing priority power restoration for health care facilities and whether end-stage renal dialysis facilities and adult homes should be required to have emergency generators.DOH expects that the workgroup will release recommendations by the first quarter of 2004.