Business Council of Westchester President and CEO Marsha Gordon set the tone for an examination of health care developments in Westchester during a panel discussion in BCW’s “State of the Economy” series.
“Local hospitals and health systems represent almost $20 billion in economic activity in the 16th Congressional District, which covers central and southern Westchester,” Gordon said, citing data from the Healthcare Association of New York State. “That includes almost 83,000 jobs generating nearly $5 billion in tax revenue for local and state governments. The health sector provides 4.4 million in outpatient appointments and treated 664,000 patients in emergency rooms in 2023.”
The panelists included: Dan Blum, CEO of ENT & Allergy; Paul Dunphey, senior vice president and COO of NewYork-Presbyterian Westchester Hospital and president of NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital; Jennifer Malone-Seixas, regional vice president Westchester/ Fairfield of Atria Senior Living; and Joe Simone, president of Simone Development Companies.
The panel made note of a reorientation of health care delivery in the direction of enhancing the consumer experience. This new focus prioritizes convenience, speed of care, and strategic location of facilities, acknowledging the evolving expectations of patients in today’s fast-paced world.
The panelists agreed there is a growing need for new doctors and nurses, especially with an aging population that requires a greater variety and greater frequency of health care services. Cited as an example of what can be done to encourage students on their path toward medical certification was NewYork-Presbyterian’s partnership with Iona University and the establishment of The NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences. Going beyond health care education, the program connects students with job opportunities.
The expansion of senior living communities as the population ages was discussed as was a need for greater public education on planning for long-term care.
The panelists discussed the increasing use of artificial intelligence in handling insurance claims, patient screening, and the reading of diagnostic tests. They also looked at the ongoing consolidation of local health care into large networks and examined a growing emphasis being placed on improving patient experiences in dealing with health care organizations.
Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins spoke at the event and commended the health care leaders for the work they do and their significant contributions to the local economy.
