In a world where health care costs continue on an upward spiral, more private/public partnerships are forming between hospitals and physician specialties. These relationships are booming even in a bust economy.
More than three decades ago, Dr. Richard Clarkin set up his anesthesiology practice on the campus of Good Samaritan Hospital and has since grown it to more than has 60 anesthesiologists and 30 certified registered nurse anesthetists.
Ramapo Anesthesiologists PC”™s (RAPC) for-profit founder says his practice has nearly “tripled in size in the last two years. In this age of the Great Recession,” said Clarkin, “some businesses have progressed. Many hospitals trying to cope with decreasing revenues find partnering with credible outside specialty providers critical and cost-effective. Fortunately for us, we have a good reputation, which has helped us expand in the Hudson Valley and into New Jersey.”
RAPC has an exclusive service agreement with Good Samaritan in Suffern, said Clarkin, as well as with Bon Secours Community Hospital in Port Jervis, Catskill Regional Medical Center in Harris, Helen Hayes Hospital in West Haverstraw and with New Jersey”™s East Orange General Hospital.
RAPC recently added St. Mary”™s Hospital in Passaic to its list of New Jersey-based hospitals. “St. Mary”™s is emerging from bankruptcy and is well situated in the market;Â it”™s going to be a pleasure to be associated with them. I”™m looking forward to a great working relationship with St. Mary”™s,” said Clarkin.
Running a radiology or anesthesiology department can be “quite an expensive proposition for a hospital,” he said. “If a hospital can contract out for services with a reputable health care provider, it is a tremendous savings for them and for the patient.” Many outside providers are based on hospital campuses and have the same type of arrangement Clarkin shares with Good Samaritan, which he considers his “home base.”
In an era where hospitals are closing or merging, Clarkin says of St. Mary”™s, which has been an anchor in Bergen county since 1895, “the fact that it has emerged from its financial problems and can continue being the primary care hospital for the people in Passaic is nothing short of fantastic. It”™s a safety-net hospital for Bergen, Essex and Hudson counties and has the only emergency room for that area.”
Although most of Clarkin”™s work is in the Hudson Valley, since Rockland and New Jersey share a common border, it”™s not surprising to see practices “crossing over” to serve both states.
St. Mary”™s executive vice president Ed Codit said the hospital chose RAPC because it has a proven track record in its field. “We”™re confident they will help bring our anesthesia services to a new level of even higher quality,” he said.
