St. Francis Hospital

In the January 13 edition of the Poughkeepsie Journal, there appeared a Valley Views feature on the recent announcement of a reduction in mental health services by St. Francis Hospital in Poughkeepsie. Bob Savage, president and CEO of St. Francis Hospital and Health Centers, defended the cuts, while Michael N. Kelsey, a member of the Mental Health Subcommittee of the Dutchess County Mental Hygiene Board, argued against the cuts.

I agree with Mr. Kelsey that the county needs more mental health services for the benefit of its citizens, especially with the rising local population. However, I have to ask: how are you going to pay for it? Look at the economic conditions around you! The state is serious trouble and is cutting back on assistance and services of all kinds. Gov. Paterson is about to turn the Hudson Valley Psychiatric Center into an all-inclusive resort/casino in order to help raise funds! And I don't have the ability to peruse the financial books at St. Francis Hospital, but Mr. Savage claims that the hospital simply cannot afford to stay afloat without reducing services, and he offers numbers to back it up. If you want to convince me of something, show me numbers.

Mr. Kelsey, one the other hand, doesn't offer numbers, but only attempts the moral high-ground. He offers no reasonable solution for the problem, but rather strives to shame the administration of St. Francis Hospital. This is decidedly unproductive, and doesn't sway me one bit.

The fact that hospitals -- public, private, for-profit or not -- have to worry about the bottom line does not sit well with me, but it unfortunately is the way the country works. As Mr. Savage wrote, "Saint Francis is not saying there is 'no more room at the inn,' Saint Francis is saying there may well be no inn unless necessary actions are taken." That is a tough statement to argue against, especially in this economic climate.