JOHNSTOWN - The two local entities interested in purchasing the Fulton County Residential Health Care Facility and the county Nursing Service said today they are exploring those possibilities because they want to help out the community and people in need.
Nathan Littauer Hospital officials said today the hospital is interested in possibly taking over the facility to help the community and also meet a growing demand for skilled care for nursing home residents.
"The county had asked us and, obviously, long-term care is part of our services," Leslie Beadle, administrator of the Nathan Littauer Nursing Home, said today.
The Gloversville hospital was one of four entities interested in taking over the 176-bed Fulton County Residential Health Care Facility, according to requests for proposals made public Thursday by county government officials.
The others were the Centers for Specialty Care of the Bronx, Leatherstocking Healthcare of Herkimer and the Pharney Group of Tarrytown. Only one proposal was received by the county as showing an interest in the county Nursing Service, and that was from Gloversville-based Mountain Valley Hospice.
County officials said five responses were received to more than 80 RFPs forwarded late last year to public and private entities interested in possibly taking over or privatizing the infirmary and/or the county nursing service. The county has been working with the Center for Governmental Research to solicit the proposals, which now will be reviewed by county supervisors.
County officials have declined to release details of the proposals.
Beadle said Nathan Littauer Hospital has a 99.4 percent occupancy rate at its skilled nursing home and the demand can be high.
"There are times when we have people on a waiting list," she said.
Littauer Vice President of Operations Susan Kiernan said today the hospital has the resources to take over the county operation, which is why it submitted its proposal.
"We're part of the community," Kiernan said. "This is a local project. It's a natural progression."
Both hospital officials said they are "not at the point" of being able to publicly discuss the hospital's financial offer to the county for the Fulton County Residential Health Care Facility, whose building and property was assessed at $4.8 million in 2009.
Even though the hospital submitted a proposal, Kiernan said it will continue to evaluate whether taking over the county nursing home is feasible.
Mountain Valley Hospice President and Chief Executive Officer Ryan J. Trzaskowski said today his organization also feels a call to help in the area.
"Our first concern in the organization is [for] the excellent health care delivery to be maintained in Fulton County," he said.
Trzaskowski also noted that as a certified agency that makes home visits, the nursing service extends care to current Hospice patients. There also is a potential to help meet the demand of people that don't meet Hospice criteria.
"Our global plan and vision is to be a resource for palliative care," he said, to treat the symptoms of any disease progression.
Residential Health Care Facility Administrator Jennifer Gilston said Thursday the infirmary had and continues to have a professional relationship with Nathan Littauer Hospital. But she said it would be "premature" at this time to discuss the hospital possibly taking over her facility.
"I know nothing about the other [RFP responses]," Gilston said. "I think I want to sit and let the [county Health Services Committee] do their work and see what's in the RFPs."
In a statement issued Thursday, Board of Supervisors Chairman Greg Fagan wrote:
"The list of interested providers includes local, familiar names and some less familiar regional names. Over the next several months, the Board of Supervisors will be working diligently to: understand the intent of each proposal; determine which proposals, if any, will improve health care options for residents of the county; and compare the best looking proposals to how we currently operate our agencies. The goal is to determine whether or not a new, private model for long-term care is in the best interest of our community. In other words, is there a new, innovative private sector approach that provides equal or better health care services at a lower cost to taxpayers?"
Ron Briggs, president of the largest Fulton County government union, today questioned why the county doesn't show the same type of interest in its own Residential Health Care Facility and Nursing Service as Nathan Littauer Hospital and Mountain Valley Hospice.
"Obviously, this is a vote of confidence for our [county] programs," Briggs said. "We have two community agencies saying this is a good deal."
Michael Anich covers Johnstown and Fulton County news. He can be reached at johnstown@leaderherald.com