We are a coalition of individuals and organizations with the goal of preserving evidence-based, inclusive, and comprehensive patient-centered care in Schenectady County. Specifically, we seek to maintain access to comprehensive reproductive care, infertility care, LGBTQ+-inclusive care, gender affirming care and end-of-life care within our local community, and we oppose any imposition of religious bias or restriction on our ability to learn about, choose and be provided with medical treatment in hospitals and clinics. Our purpose is not only to protect patient rights, but also -- as a matter of healthcare justice -- ensure that such care is locally accessible, equitably distributed and non-coercive whether it is currently available or may become available in the future.
If you'd like to be on our email list for developments, email us at addme@schdy.org
If you have information you think would be helpful to us, please email us at report@schdy.org. Please note if your information is confidential.
Here are some individuals and organizations that are concerned about this.
Here are some links to help us understand the issue:
Merger Watch - http://www.mergerwatch.org/
10/7/20 Daily Gazette Article - HERE
Michelle's Podcast - HERE
The Ethical and Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services for 2020. HERE
Recently-released report by Lois Uttley at Community Catalyst HERE
Complications of ERDs for mergers: HERE
“Is Your Healthcare Compromised?” How the Catholic Directives Make for Unhealthy Choices”
In October 2020, the Albany Times Union reported a planned merger between Ellis Medicine in Schenectady and St. Peter’s Health Partners. Mergers between Catholic Health Systems and secular hospitals have raised concern in communities across the country. According to the national group MergerWatch, Catholic hospitals follow a set of ethical guidelines that prohibit the provision of certain kinds of patient care, most often, reproductive, LGBTQ+-inclusive, and end-of-life care.
Concerns about the financial stability of Ellis Medicine and its importance to the community reportedly drive the need for a partnership between two of the largest health systems in the region, a solution that is the result of years of planning. But religious restrictions and forces of healthcare economics threaten to have a disparate impact on residents who already face barriers in our healthcare system. A knowledgeable panel discussed, answered questions, and heard comments from the community about:
How religious restrictions will affect equitable access to healthcare services
Solutions to eliminating gaps in services through other local healthcare providers
Community benefits resulting from the partnership.
Details of St Peter's aggressive medical bill collection
Process required for partnership approval by the NYS Department of Health
The importance of memorializing the community’s priorities in the application for certificate of need, including an effective enforcement mechanism
Opportunities for advocacy and continuing dialogue
National and local presenters were featured.
Sponsored by The Schenectady Coalition for Healthcare Access that was formed to educate everyone about the risks of losses to our community from Ellis’ partnership with SPHP. In addition to education, members of the Coalition seek to advocate equitable access to evidence-based, inclusive, and comprehensive patient-centered care, including comprehensive reproductive care, infertility care, LGBTQ+-inclusive care, gender affirming care and end-of-life care within our local community. www.schdy.org
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