HARRIS – For the last almost one year, Sullivan County officials have expressed concerns that Garnet Regional Medical Center-Catskills might abandon the county and leave health care to its sister hospital, Garnet Health Medical Center in the Town of Wallkill.
That’s not going to happen, Garnet’s top officials have just assured Sullivan lawmakers.
Garnet Health CEO Jonathan Schiller and Garnett-Catskills CEO Jerry Dunlavey, in recent discussions with legislators, noted that while there have been financial challenges for the nonprofit operator of Sullivan County’s two hospitals – Garnet-Harris and its Callicoon campus, providers’ officers and urgent care, Garnet Health will not be departing the county, and, in fact, is actively planning a new facility to one day replace the aging hospital located in Harris.
“We feel strongly about the community we have been serving for decades and we will continue to serve Sullivan County for years to come,” said Dunlavey.
“While Garnet Health’s Middletown campus provides needed regional services, it’s absolutely imperative that Sullivan County continue to be served by a local medical center like Garnet Health Medical Center-Catskills,” said County Legislature Chairman Rob Doherty. “Our health rankings, our less affluent workforce, and our growing tourism levels demand that we have a facility capable of immediate, on-site treatment of injuries, accidents and day-to-day health concerns.”
Legislator Nadia Rajsz, who has spent her career in the health field, said it is “apparent that they do want to work with us to continue to provide very much-needed healthcare in Sullivan County. We cannot be without a provider of hospital-level services.”
Lawmaker George Conklin said they had “a positive conversation, with questions opening asked and opening answered. We can look forward to partnering with them on improving and expanding their offerings in Sullivan.”
Legislator Luis Alvarez said when his late…
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