A state Health Department planning board on Thursday is expected to approve a request by the Bronx-based Montefiore Health System to become the parent organization and co-operator of Burke Rehabilitation Hospital in White Plains.
The 100-year-old, 150-bed specialty hospital would remain a separate nonprofit corporation under Montefiore”™s ownership. There will be no change in the Westchester hospital”™s rehabilitation services and staffing levels and no projected changes in revenues or expenses, Montefiore officials said in their application to the Health Department”™s Public Health and Health Planning Council.
The department”™s Office of Primary Care and Health Systems Management has recommended approval of Montefiore”™s request. Final approval must come from state Commissioner of Health Howard A. Zucker.
Burke would follow several community hospitals in Westchester County that have joined major New York City hospitals and their regional health care networks since 2013. Montefiore that year acquired the New Rochelle and Mount Vernon hospitals of the former Sound Shore Health System in a bankruptcy sale, and earlier this year added White Plains Hospital to its regional network. NewYork-Presbyterian in Manhattan added Lawrence Hospital in Bronxville to its health care system in 2014 and became parent organization of Hudson Valley Hospital Center in Cortlandt Manor in January. North Shore-LIJ Health System in Great Neck expanded into Westchester in 2014 when it acquired Phelps Memorial Hospital in Sleepy Hollow and earlier this year added Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco to its metropolitan network.
Montefiore and Burke officials first announced their proposed partnership in August. Burke Rehabilitation Hospital CEO Mary Beth Walsh at the time said the affiliation with Montefiore would allow Burke to reach more patients with its medical rehabilitation services and provide training opportunities for future rehabilitation specialists at Montefiore”™s Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
Montefiore said in its application that Burke will serve as a hub for acute rehabilitation care and follow-up services in Montefiore”™s eight-county network.
As Burke”™s active parent and co-operator, Montefiore Health System will have approval rights for appointments of chief executives at Burke and operating and capital budgets. Montefiore also may appoint three additional directors to Burke’s board.
