Statement from Timothy R. McCormick, CEO of Unity Health System, regarding The Community Health System 2020 Commission's Recommendations
July 1, 2008 

We now know that the 2020 Commission, convened by the Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency, supports the modernization of Unity, Strong Memorial, and Rochester General Hospitals, and the addition of 140 of the 278 new medical-surgical beds which the hospitals are requesting.  

The Commission’s final report to the NYS Health Department, released June 30, 2008, recommends that we fully modernize the medical/surgical patient units on the second and third floors of Unity Hospital, and add a fourth floor to accommodate additional beds. Hospital services would expand as planned into the renovated Park Ridge Living Center, where we will relocate the Brain Injury Rehabilitation unit from the Unity St. Mary’s Campus, and bring temporary medical-surgical beds into service to accommodate our patients during renovation of the patient units and construction of the fourth floor. When completed, Unity will gain 35 acute care beds, have the physical plant in place to add beds in the future, and have accomplished the total upgrade of Unity Hospital. 

We are pleased with this outcome. The Commission’s recommendations are fair and consistent for all three hospitals. A series of community health improvement initiatives which they have proposed are expected to further help ease the pressures we continue to face with hospital overcrowding.  

The 2020 Commission has also suggested “formal affiliation” between Unity and Lakeside Hospital. Given the under-utilization of Lakeside and our geographic proximity, we believe this idea has merit. However, this is not a mandate or a guarantee of any future relationship between our organizations. We welcome future dialogue with the leadership and physicians of Lakeside to explore potential opportunities. We also appreciate the Commission’s acknowledgement of Unity’s track record of success in meeting the needs of our Westside community.   

The Health Department is expected to consider and accept the 2020 Commission’s findings when it reviews our Certificate of Need application in October.  We are anxious for that outcome so we may move forward with our plans to insure that Unity is well-equipped to provide our patients with ready access to the services, clinicians, facilities, and technologies they require, without delay.    

We applaud the 2020 Commission members for their time and efforts to take on this vital community issue.

Many of our patients and members of our community have shared their input and advocated on our behalf, and we thank you for your efforts.  Unity Hospital remains very busy - with year-to-date occupancy at 101%.   Our physicians and staff members are to be commended for their continuing efforts to cope with overcrowding. Despite the challenging conditions, 98% of Unity Hospital’s patients say they would return or recommend us to others.  

We will keep you posted on further developments.

Unity Health System provides a complete network of health care services from the Unity Park Ridge Hospital Campus in the town of Greece, the Unity St. Mary’s Campus in Rochester, and at numerous other sites throughout Rochester and western Monroe County. Services include inpatient and outpatient hospital care and surgery, a family birth place, women’s health services, chemical dependency and mental health, physical medicine and rehabilitation, adult day health and home health programs for older adults, retirement communities, child care, and laboratory services, among many others.