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Village Residents Say Health Care Is Worse Since St. Vincent's Closure

By Andrea Swalec | September 27, 2011 6:01pm
Two-thirds of more than 1,400 people surveyed by a team of Hunter College researchers in 2011 reported that it has been more difficult for them to obtain health care since St. Vincent's Hospital closed.
Two-thirds of more than 1,400 people surveyed by a team of Hunter College researchers in 2011 reported that it has been more difficult for them to obtain health care since St. Vincent's Hospital closed.
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DNAinfo/Andrea Swalec

MANHATTAN — A recent study conducted to measure the impact of the closure of St. Vincent's Hospital found that Villagers are reporting reduced access to medical care and heightened anxiety about their health options, the study's lead researcher said Monday.

Two-thirds of more than 1,400 people living in the vicinity of the hospital and surveyed this year by a team of researchers from the CUNY School of Public Health at Hunter College said that it has been more difficult for them to obtain health care since the hospital closed.

More than any other groups, older people, males, Latinos, people who received Medicaid, and those who need regular care because of ongoing health conditions reported having more difficulty accessing care since St. Vincent's closed, according to researcher Dr. Diana Romero.

The second component of the study, which started in January, used responses from a set of focus groups. The 44 participants in the groups expressed fear about where to go in case of an emergency, a sense of loss about familiar health care providers and worries about postponed care.

The majority of respondents in the survey — which was requested by Community Board 2 and guided by a steering committee including City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, State Sen. Tom Duane and Assemblywoman Deborah Glick — reported having been satisfied with the care they received at St. Vincent's.

"Our data showed that there was very high regard for the services St. Vincent's provided. People felt a close connection to the hospital and thought it provided a wide range of services," Romero said.

She recommended that community leaders help residents become more educated about existing health services.

"If elected officials can work together to create better connections between residents and existing health care providers, that could go a long way toward addressing health needs in the absence of a hospital," Romero noted.

Village residents hoped that a 2010 study, conducted by North Shore Long Island Jewish Health System and the Hunter's School of Public Health, would provide the data needed to entice another hospital to take over the St. Vincent's site.