New Hyde Park, N.Y.-based Northwell Health inked a letter of intent with East Meadow, N.Y.-based Nassau University Medical Center to provide an interim chief executive and build a senior leadership team to aid the financially struggling hospital, according to Newsday.
The board of NuHealth, the public benefit corporation that operates NUMC, approved the six-month agreement Nov. 1.
Under the deal, Winnie Mack, RN, senior vice president of health system operations at Northwell, will serve as NUMC's interim president and CEO, beginning Nov. 2. Northwell will also create a five-year strategic plan for the hospital to turn around its finances and improve patient care. Ms. Mack will report to the NuHealth board.
Northwell officials will be responsible for building a complete management structure at the 530-bed hospital, including filling key positions such as COO and department leadership positions, and overseeing specific departments like IT, billing, facilities and maintenance.
NuHealth chairman George Tsunis told Newsday Northwell would send roughly 40 to 50 staff members to the hospital. Those individuals will continue to be on Northwell's payroll.
NUMC has faced financial difficulties in recent years, struggling with unfunded employee benefit liabilities and annual losses and deficits, as the majority of the hospital's patients are low-income or uninsured. While the hospital is not subsidized by Nassau County, the county is responsible for roughly $202 million of its debt, the report states.
The agreement is pending approval by the state health department. A department spokesperson told Newsday the agency is aware of the agreement and will review the necessary documents upon receipt.
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