Vassar Brothers Medical Center (VBMC) is expanding and says it is drawing more patients from other area hospitals, a trend it attributes to its high ratings and comprehensive services.
That was among the messages communicated by President Janet Ready at the hospital’s eighth annual “State of the Hospital” address on April 5 at the Grandview in Poughkeepsie. Ready provided a brief overview of the hospital’s achievements in the past year, which she said reflected its three primary objectives: enhancing patient care, enhancing access to care, and partnering with physicians. Three physicians also spoke at the well-attended early-morning event.
Ready said the hospital has enhanced patient care by expanding staff. In the past year, the hospital has hired 60 new physicians, for a total of 650 doctors, and 37 allied heath practitioners. The new hires include a gynecological oncologist who is an expert in robotic surgery and specialists in vascular medicine and breast surgical reconstruction.
Ready noted that VBMC was ranked in the top five percent of all hospitals in the nation for overall cardiac services, cardiac surgery, coronary interventional procedures, and maternity services. It has among the best outcomes in the state for coronary bypass surgery, according to an August 2012 state health department report. “Our cardiac surgery program ranks number one for coronary bypass grafts and valves in the state,” she said.
Ready noted the numerous partnerships with the medical community in the areas of primary care, pulmonology, thoracic surgery and neurosurgery. She said that 1,000 more patients were referred in 2012 to VBMC from other regional hospitals, nearly 70 percent higher than the previous year.
VBMC’s new Center for Ambulatory Services, opened in mid-July, served 760 patients in its first six months. The center has enabled the hospital to perform more surgeries.
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