Montefiore Approved To Acquire Assets Of Sound Shore Health System By Federal Bankruptcy Court

NEW YORK, Aug. 2, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Montefiore Health System and Sound Shore Health System today announced that Montefiore had received approval from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York (White Plains) for its affiliates to acquire the assets of Sound Shore Health System (SSHS). The transaction, which is subject to regulatory approval, is expected to close this fall. At that time, Montefiore will begin to provide services at Sound Shore and Mount Vernon Hospitals and Schaffer Extended Care Center.  Mt. Vernon's Hopfer School of Nursing is an important program and Montefiore is committed to supporting its on-going role training nurses of tomorrow.

"As a former resident of New Rochelle for more than 25 years, I have deep affection for this community.  I know how important it is to have accessible, high quality health care close to home," said Steven M. Safyer, M.D., president and CEO, Montefiore Health System. "We are excited to be making this significant step into Westchester and to strengthen our partnerships with the community-based physicians to ensure residents of New Rochelle, Mount Vernon and the surrounding neighborhoods receive the exceptional care that they deserve."

Sound Shore Health System will continue normal operations until the closing. Upon completion of the transaction, Montefiore will work closely with the dedicated doctors, nurses and staff of Sound Shore and Mount Vernon Hospitals and the Schaffer Extended Care Center, who have served their patients well over many years. Montefiore is committed to preserving jobs and intends to hire substantially all eligible and qualified staff to provide health care services.

"This is a significant milestone in the acquisition process as it paves the way for a stronger, more vibrant healthcare infrastructure in southern Westchester," said John Spicer, president and CEO, Sound Shore Health System. "Our physicians and employees have been phenomenally supportive during this period, enabling us to stay true to our promise of providing patients with uninterrupted care and services."

About Montefiore Health System
Montefiore Health System, Inc. is the parent organization for Montefiore Medical Center, Wakefield Ambulatory Care Center, University Behavioral Associates and other operating entities of the organization.

Montefiore Medical Center, as the University Hospital for Albert Einstein College of Medicine, is a premier academic medical center nationally renowned for its clinical excellence, scientific discovery and commitment to its community. Recognized among the top hospitals nationally and regionally by U.S. News & World Report, Montefiore provides compassionate, patient- and family-centered care and educates the healthcare professionals of tomorrow.  The Children's Hospital at Montefiore is consistently named in U.S. News' "America's Best Children's Hospitals," and is second among those in the New York metro area. With four hospitals, 1,491 beds and 90,000 annual admissions, Montefiore is an integrated health system seamlessly linked by advanced technology.  State-of-the-art primary and specialty care is provided through a network of more than 130 locations across the region, including the largest school health program in the nation and a home health program. Montefiore's partnership with Einstein advances clinical and translational research to accelerate the pace at which new discoveries become the treatments and therapies that benefit patients. The medical center derives its inspiration for excellence from its patients and community, and continues to be on the frontlines of developing innovative approaches to care.  For more information please visit www.montefiore.org and www.montekids.org. Follow us on Twitter; like us on Facebook; view us on YouTube.

About Sound Shore Health System
In 1997, Mount Vernon Hospital (MVH), Sound Shore Medical Center (SSMC), Dorothea Hopfer School of Nursing and Schaffer Extended Care Center (SECC) affiliated to create one of the largest private healthcare systems between New York City and Albany - Sound Shore Health System.  Centers of Excellence for Bariatric Surgery as well as 1st Trimester Antepartum Screening, and approved by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons for its high-quality, comprehensive cancer programs - a distinction held by only 25% of hospitals treating cancer patients.  SSMC has received the Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval® for both hip and knee replacements. Its laboratories have been accredited by the College of American Pathologists for the past 48 consecutive years. Sleep Center is accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Cardiac Rehabilitation Center Program is certified by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation. SSMC is designated by New York State as an Area Trauma Center, Stroke Center and Perinatal Hospital with Level 3 maternal and neonatal intensive care services. It's home to the Jacee Lynn Cappelli Diabetes Center and the Elaine and Melvin Merians Diabetes Education and Conference Center.   Also on its campus is the Schaffer Extended Care Center, which provides 50 beds for short-term rehabilitation patients and 100 for long-term residents. Other centers of excellence include the Assertive Community Treatment Center, the Family Health and Wellness Center, the Hopfer School of Nursing and Intensive Case Management.  MVH is designated as a New York State Department of Health Stroke Center and NYS HIV/AIDS Center.  Both MVH and its Laboratory are accredited by The Joint Commission.  The Dorothea Hopfer School of Nursing is accredited as an associate in nursing degree program by The National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC).

Contact:
Brette Peyton
[email protected]
718-920-4011

SOURCE Montefiore Health System