Victory Memorial Hospital has offered to amputate one of its most important units in hopes of keeping the embattled hospital open.
“Victory will change, but it will not close,” vowed spokesman Gerald McKelvey.
He said the facility will phase out its 150 in-patient beds, yet continue to operate its nursing home and ambulatory care services.
The latest move is an effort to thwart a November recommendation by a state commission to close most operations at the hospital, which was coming off a troubled year in which it declared bankruptcy and gave a former CEO a $1.1-million golden parachute.
But there’s no guarantee that this latest concession will buy the hospital time.
“I can’t comment on any specifics, but we’re certainly willing to talk to facilities,” said Marc Carey, a spokesman for the state Health Department. “On the other hand, the Commission has the force of law, and I don’t think there’s much wiggle room in there.”
And even if there was wiggle room, Victory’s supporters weren’t sure they wanted to see the hospital trim its services so drastically.
“If Victory closes [in-patient] care, it will no longer be a hospital,” said John Quaglione, the spokesman for state Sen. Marty Golden (R–Bay Ridge).
Golden had made the preservation of the hospital one of his New Year’s resolutions.
