Applications

Park Ridge Hospital proposes to relocate its Sleep Disorders Center to 919 Westfall Road , Rochester ; this site will accommodate an additional two beds.  

CTAAB concluded there is a need for the proposed relocation and expansion:

• There is high occupancy at the Unity Sleep Center and other sleep centers in the community.
• Patient volume is growing substantially and cannot be accommodated in the existing capacity.
• Patients experience long wait times for appointments.
• The anticipated project completion date is January 2007.

Strong Memorial Hospital proposes to renovate existing space to allow (1) the reopening of ten licensed medical/surgical beds in a unit that will be designed to accommodate patients with behavioral problems and (2) the relocation of a psychiatric outpatient program.  

CTAAB concluded there is a need for the proposed renovation:

• The specialty unit would be designed and staffed to care for medical-surgical patients with mental health overlays.
• Present occupancy level at the hospital is excessive.
• The anticipated project completion date is April 2007

Strong Memorial Hospital proposes to add a da Vinci robot for use in the operating room. 

CTAAB concluded there is a need for the proposed da Vinci robot:

• The volume of robotically-assisted surgery at SMH is approaching the capacity of the existing system.
• Access to this capacity is maintained with the addition of a second robot.
• Quality of care is improved with minimally-invasive surgery.
• The robot will be operational in six to twelve months (i.e., by June 2007).

Highland Hospital proposes to relocate a Breast Care Center from the hospital to Red Creek Drive.  

CTAAB concluded there is a need for the proposed relocation:

• The Breast Care Center needs relief from the space constraints of the hospital site in order to expand in size and abilities.
• Screening services will continue to be available at the hospital for those patients who cannot, or do not want to, go to the new center.  Bus service is available to the new site, and the sponsor will seek improvements in service as needed.
• There is a potential for increase in geographic access to care.
• The project does not appear to add to community cost except through increases in patient volume.
• The anticipated project completion date is February 2007.
• This recommendation is for approval of the relocation of the center and is not an approval or denial of any specific technology.

Thompson Health requests an expedited review of approval to own, operate, and maintain a second MRI within FF Thompson Hospital. 

CTAAB recognizes Thompson Health System’s need for comprehensive radiology services, including 24/7 access to MRI services, and supports Thompson’s proceeding to application for New York State Certificate of Need (CON) approval for an MRI. 

Consistent with precedent, CTAAB sees the capacity approval as site specific; therefore, any additional MRI capacity on the Thompson campus is seen as excess.

Strong Memorial Hospital proposes to renovate medical adult intensive care units.  

CTAAB concluded there is a need for the proposed ICU renovations:

• The present unit is outdated and undersized, without a sufficient number of private rooms.
• ICU utilization at SMH justifies an increase in functional capacity.
• The project does not appear to have an inflationary financial impact.
• Quality of care will improve with improved facilities.
• The anticipated project completion date is July 2007.

Rochester General Hospital proposes to add a 1.5 Tesla MRI magnet in the hospital. 

CTAAB concluded there is a need for the proposed MRI:

• The machine will provide improved access for inpatients and ED patients.
• Patient safety will be improved.
• The MRI will be operational by the fourth quarter of 2007.

Rochester General Hospital proposes to construct a new endovascular suite, including an operating room, within the hospital. 

CTAAB concluded that there is a community need for the endovascular suite, based on the following rationale:

• The hospital does not have sufficient operating room capacity of appropriate size to accommodate the desired equipment.
• Growth in patient volume appropriate for the proposed facility is likely due to the decreased risk associated with the proposed surgical technology.
• The proposal is cost neutral except for growth in volume.
• The proposed unit will be funded with donor contributions or other cash.
• Quality of care would increase with the proposed unit.

The Ide Group proposed to place a fixed PET-CT unit at its Clinton Crossings site in place of its current mobile unit.

CTAAB concluded that there was not a community need for the proposed fixed PET-CT, based on the following rationale:

• The present PET-CT capacity is more than adequate to meet current and projected demand. A fixed unit available five days per week would create additional excess capacity in the community.
• There is no clear evidence the images provided by a fixed PET-CT unit result in clinical differences in patient outcomes.

 Appeal: CTAAB received an appeal from the applicant.  Based on additional information presented, CTAAB concluded it would recommend approval of the application:

• The proponent indicated they are willing to accept a limitation on days, hours, and use of the fixed PET-CT in order to remain within the approved capacity of 0.5 FTE.
• Patient comfort and convenience are enhanced through the reduced scan time of the fixed machine and increased machine reliability in terms of downtime.

CTAAB recommended approval of the application for a fixed PET-CT for 2.5 specified days per week, the same days every week, as determined in conjunction with the payers.  The intent of CTAAB with this approval is to cap the usage of this capacity and not facilitate de facto utilization beyond the 2.5 days.

Sleep Telemedicine Services (NY D.B.A. Associated Sleep Centers) proposed to place a sleep center in Warsaw , NY .

CTAAB found that community need supported approval of the proposed Warsaw , NY sleep center based on access to care.