St Vincents NY Opinions

[vert310]

Hey Everybody,

I just interviewed at St. Vincents and I have come to find out that they are in financial trouble as well as on probation. The chair was very upfront about why they were on probation and said they should be cleared on their next site visit. Also with no money in the hospital, they are forced to down size from 6 to 5 chief residents.

My first inclination is to stay away from a program in such turmoil. I don't really know where the program will be in 5 years. But aside from that, the residents seem very nice, the attendings seem approachable and the location of the hospital is great.

How do you guys feel about ranking a program that is bankrupt and on probation? Just want to here your guys' thoughts.

Thanks.

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[Khirurg]

Hey Everybody,

I just interviewed at St. Vincents and I have come to find out that they are in financial trouble as well as on probation. The chair was very upfront about why they were on probation and said they should be cleared on their next site visit. Also with no money in the hospital, they are forced to down size from 6 to 5 chief residents.

My first inclination is to stay away from a program in such turmoil. I don't really know where the program will be in 5 years. But aside from that, the residents seem very nice, the attendings seem approachable and the location of the hospital is great.

How do you guys feel about ranking a program that is bankrupt and on probation? Just want to here your guys' thoughts.

Thanks.

I thought that having an extra resident brings the money to the hospital, not the other way around (unless the guy "spent" alotted finances by doing extra year(s)). Probably more like not having enough cases to support an extra resident. I would stay away from any program that is in financial trouble, because you all of a sudden might find yourself as an orphant, having to move god knows where.

 

[Buzz Me]

Sounds like trouble. Do you have other solid interviews lined up?

 

[vert310]

Oh I do, I went on 15 interviews. Just wondering about that program because its in a great part of Manhattan

 

[smq123]

Oh I do, I went on 15 interviews. Just wondering about that program because its in a great part of Manhattan

The program is in a good part of Manhattan, but remember that they spend many rotations at affiliated hospitals that are in not-so-great parts of NYC.

From what I've heard from classmates who have interviewed/matched there, it is a good program that offers early operative experience. You'll definitely work hard ("80" hours a week), though.

 

[MedicalDoctorV]

Hey Everybody,

I just interviewed at St. Vincents and I have come to find out that they are in financial trouble as well as on probation. The chair was very upfront about why they were on probation and said they should be cleared on their next site visit. Also with no money in the hospital, they are forced to down size from 6 to 5 chief residents.

My first inclination is to stay away from a program in such turmoil. I don't really know where the program will be in 5 years. But aside from that, the residents seem very nice, the attendings seem approachable and the location of the hospital is great.

How do you guys feel about ranking a program that is bankrupt and on probation? Just want to here your guys' thoughts.

Thanks.

Looks like the rumors aren't just rumors.
In today's NYPOST
"Continuum Health Partners -- which operates Beth Israel, St. Luke's and Roosevelt hospitals in Manhattan -- has submitted a plan to assume control of the financially struggling, 727-bed St. Vincent's, sources said.
The new corporate operator would "close all acute care" units -- such as inpatient beds and surgical services -- within 60 to 90 days, according to a source involved in the discussions."


Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/...st_vinny_r7y9UWrvyAyHAbV7WDiDbN#ixzz0dmn6eD64

 

[Miyagi]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35089405

St. Vincent's Hospital has been an icon in the West Village of Manhattan for generations. As the only trauma center in a five mile section of the West Side, it received patients and provided supports services on and after 9/11/2001. Now, hemorrhaging cash at the rate of up to $10 million per month, and paying interest on $300 million in outstanding loans, St. Vincent's could soon be swallowed up by a more stable hospital group, Continuum Health Partners. But Continuum reportedly would make dramatic cuts in services, effectively decommissioning the last Catholic hospital left in New York City. "It would be my hope and prayer that government, business and health care leaders could work closely with the administration...to see if there is some way this valuable medical facility could be saved," said Archbishop Timothy Dolan. But the archdiocese, which gave up ownership interest in St. V's (as it's widely known) years ago, has little leverage to produce an outcome favorable to patients. "You want a hospital in your neighborhood," said native West Villager Sean Murphy, "this is St. Vincent's! They're going to take it away?!?" In the end, it may not be so much of a taking as the expiration of a failed business. The hospital has "not remained competitive within its market," a New York State health department statement reads. In a statement of his own, St. V's CEO Henry Amoroso blames "eight separate budget cuts from New York State" and the "worst recession" for the center's "challenges." But Continuum has emerged from the same economic and political storm in much healthier shape, and sources close to ongoing talks between the two say CEO Amoroso is convinced that some sort of partnership is necessary for St. Vincent's to survive. Any deal would have to be reviewed by the health department, where the commissioner, Dr. Richard Daines, is a former CEO of Continuum. That's raised questions, with Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer calling for "exploration of the relationship" by the governor before any takeover plan moves forward. The commissioner's spokeswoman responds the borough president "is misinformed. Commissioner Daines has no financial connection to Continuum...the borough president is welcome to join the department in its efforts to find a solution, particularly if he can find the $5 million to $10 million a month needed to keep St. Vincent's operating." Should a takeover occur, collateral damage would almost certainly include the euthanizing of a high profile $1.6 billion modernization plan that was just approved by the City's Landmarks Commission last fall.

 

[vert310]

Thanks for the links. Crazy!

 

[mak98usa]

what happens to current and future residency programs?

 

[scubalove27]

According to the NRMP, the Internal Medicine Residency program at St Vincent's has withdrawn from the match. They couldn't give me a reason but the internal medicine program is the work horse of any hospital. I'm assuming that if medicine isn't taking applicants through the match, all of the programs at St Vincent's are pretty much done for.

 

[size_tens]

I find this news quite distressing because St V's was among my favorite programs I interviewed with. The deadline for programs to withdraw from the match is 1/31 so we'll see what happens with the surgery program soon enough. There appears to be quite a large public outcry over these developments. Hopefully this talk of closure will lead to some sort of state-sponsored bailout of the hospital.

 

[SLUser11]

I find this news quite distressing because St V's was among my favorite programs I interviewed with. The deadline for programs to withdraw from the match is 1/31 so we'll see what happens with the surgery program soon enough. There appears to be quite a large public outcry over these developments. Hopefully this talk of closure will lead to some sort of state-sponsored bailout of the hospital.

Still, in the interest of self-preservation, I would drop that program down a little on your ROL.

The plight of St. V's might be completely unfair, but you don't need to go down with the ship, especially since you haven't made any commitments yet. I don't care if they have jacuzzis in the lounge and late night warm cinnamon roll deliveries to the call rooms....I wouldn't rank it.

 

[size_tens]

Does anyone know if St Vincent's is still listed on nrmp for this year? (ie you could still rank them if you so chose) I haven't registered for nrmp yet but would like to know.

 

[OFwhipple]

I got an e-mail on monday that they pulled out of the match for general surgery.

 

[VPDcurt]

"The surgical training program at St. Vincent's Hospital Manhattan (New York Medical College at St. Vincent's Hospital and Medical Center of New York Hospital) is saddened to announce that it has decided to voluntarily withdraw accreditation on June 30, 2010 due to fiscal instability of the organization. We are in the process of identifying positions for each of our current 6 categorical residents at the PGY-1 through PGY-4 levels..."