Elant names new chief
Elant, the Hudson Valley”™s largest senior health care provider, has a new CEO who is focused on going back to basics ”“ quality care for residents and upgrading services.
Todd Whitney, chief financial officer for 25 years under former CEO Donna McAleer, was chosen by Elant”™s board of directors to lead the organization at the beginning of October. Three weeks into the mission, Whitney may be formulating future plans for the senior health provider in theory, but the reality of focusing on patient care and Elant”™s fiscal wellness are his two top priorities.
“Yes, we had problems with Elant at Newburgh last year, and we haven”™t shirked from admitting them or fixing the problems,” said Whitney of the skilled nursing facility. “We have a new staff administrator; Chris O”™Toole is a registered nurse and was Elant at Goshen”™s director of nursing for several years. She has come back to join us in Newburgh. We”™ve retrained several staff members and hired new ones and are constantly focusing on keeping them focused on the mission. We”™ve improved that situation 100 percent.”
What Elant has no control over, however, is the way the state reimburses it for Medicare and Medicaid. “That is our biggest challenge,” he said. “We are strengthening our existing facilities, but at the same time, 70 percent of our residents are covered by Medicaid. We deal with a continual rollback of payments from the state … we are definitely challenged, but committed, to maintaining the best quality of care.”
This year has seen Elant turn around its finances. “We have a positive cash flow,” said Whitney, “though not as much as I would like it to be. It would be nice to have a larger reserve to cover needed improvements and to purchase equipment.”
Elant is working with NYSERDA on an energy grant, although in the beginning stages. “Any way we can find a resource to help us lower operating costs will be a plus. If it all goes as we hope it will with the NYSERDA study and the grant, it could mean a savings of approximately $800,000 to the Elant organization in electric expenditures.”
The Elant Foundation has also been a tremendous resource for the senior health care provider. “Considering the state of the economy, our Polo Picnic and golf outing both proved to be our best ever. I am sure the silent and live auctions helped to contribute to that … many people overbid on items to help us maintain a positive cash flow. Our volunteers who contribute so much time to our facilities have been more than exceptional and dedicated.”
Elant”™s 55-and-over adult living condo project, adjacent to its continuum of care facility, Glen Arden at Goshen, has stopped. “It is not economically viable to continue the project,” Whitney said. “Regrettably, the housing market has forced many to put downsizing on an indefinite hold. We have four models built and there is infrastructure in place, but we are not moving forward with the project. Right now, our board of directors will decide what the next step will be. We”™re open to and exploring all options.”
Elant also formerly expressed interest in Arden Hill Hospital, which was bought in a lease arrangement through the Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan County with money from the Gerry Foundation. “We were interested at one time,” said Whitney, “but it was out of our price range. Whether or not there is a current buyer for the property, we have not been made privy to it.”
Elant will focus on making its existing facilities ”“ in Briarcliff Manor, Fishkill, Wappingers Falls, Newburgh and its original site in Goshen ”“ better equipped and updated, as well as providing its own on-site doctors and nurse practitioners to residents.
“We are also looking into hiring specialty doctors that will be dedicated solely to Elant residents,” Whitney said. “Our board has been very supportive of this, and despite having to deal with the Medicare and Medicaid formulas that keep changing, having our own doctors and nurse practitioners on site is a definite plus to enhancing the quality of care for our residents and for those in our short-term rehabilitation facilities.”