Strengthening Columbia Memorial Health for Care of the Future
Health care is always advancing. With every advancement comes obligation—a shared responsibility to ensure that the most innovative care and treatment options are available to everyone, close to home, and for generations to come. That commitment has driven Columbia Memorial Health (CMH) for more than a century.
From its main hospital in Hudson to 37 care centers across Columbia and Greene counties, CMH is known and trusted as the primary care provider across 1,300 square miles. A forward-thinking vision will strengthen CMH’s role in these communities, ensuring care remains modern, accessible, and responsive to local needs well into the future.
CMH is proposing a model of care that would be new to the region, but well-established in health care—and it is designed specifically for Columbia and Greene counties. The concept includes the $25-million expansion of Greene Medical Arts in Catskill to offer same-day surgeries and additional specialties, an increased commitment to mental health services, and the formal recognition of CMH’s essential role as a critical access hospital and emergency care provider. Preventative, family-focused primary care is also central to this vision, just as it is to CMH today.
The proposal reflects how the community already relies upon CMH. It also responds to needs that are growing rapidly.
“Our greatest strength is our community,” said Dorothy Urschel, president and CEO of CMH. “More than 110,000 residents depend on CMH, and that relationship is built on trust between our patients and providers. We honor that trust by acting rather than reacting, delivering care that is dynamic, compassionate, and high quality.”
A Surgical, Specialty Hub
Advances in medical techniques and technology have made outpatient surgeries, also known as same-day surgeries, a more preferred option for patients. Today, 84 percent of CMH’s surgeries are performed on an outpatient basis. It is more convenient for patients, and outcomes are often better, allowing patients to recover in the comfort of their own homes. New operating rooms at Greene Medical Arts will feature state-of-the-art technology for orthopedic, heart, women’s care, and more. Specialists from across the Albany Med Health System will provide services in Catskill that are not currently available in Columbia and Greene counties. The expanded Greene Medical Arts will also include an advanced cardiac care center for the treatment of complex conditions closer to home, making the center a hub for patients who can find multiple needs in one convenient location. It will be the first and only one of its kind in the area.
Leadership in Mental Health Care
Awareness for the importance of compassionate mental health care has grown in recent years, yet the availability of beds and providers continues to fall short across the country. At CMH, nearly one in four hospital patients seek mental health services. To meet this need, CMH proposes increasing dedicated mental health beds from 22 to 34. It would also call for the hiring of additional professionals with experience caring for patients with behavioral conditions.
“It will take a meaningful investment in people and resources to provide the care our community needs,” Urschel said. “From Greene Medical Arts to our Hudson hospital, we anticipate hiring more than 100 professionals. This is a team approach, and our team will grow alongside the community we serve.”
Facility redesigns and specialized equipment would also allow care to be delivered in a healing, supportive space for patients and their families.
A Critical Partner
Nothing is more critical than access to care. The designation of CMH as a critical access hospital would underscore its irreplaceable role as a gateway for patients and the care they need most. The area’s only emergency department would remain in Hudson. In addition to expanded behavioral health services, 25 inpatient beds would be dedicated to patients requiring additional care at CMH. With nearly 60 total beds including those for behavioral health and medical and surgical care, the number of beds is slightly higher than how patients use CMH today. The hospital currently sees an average of 40 to 50 overnight patients. Critically ill patients will continue to be stabilized at CMH and transferred to Albany Medical Center for advanced critical care—just as they are today.
Critical access designation also allows resources to better align with community needs. As a critical access hospital, CMH would receive reimbursement closer to the actual cost of care, rising from 50–70 percent today to approximately 101 percent of the cost for delivering that care. This stability would allow for reinvestment in patient services, facilities, and the community CMH serves.
State and federal approval is required, and the process could take up to two years. Hospitals in Great Barrington and North Adams, Mass., as well as Ellenville and Margaretville, have successfully made this transition.
Serving the Community, Now and Beyond
Since October, CMH has hosted a series of town halls and community conversations to share this vision and provide a transparent assessment of the hospital’s current position. These discussions are a vital part of the process.
Rural hospitals across the country face mounting challenges. CMH’s goal is to remain strong, trusted, and responsive, continuing to serve as a pillar of care today while preparing for the needs of tomorrow.
“Patients will not experience any change in how they access care today,” Urschel said. “In fact, this plan allows us to invest more deeply in the services our patients use most. Our partnership with the Albany Med Health System also further expands access to the high-quality care our community expects and deserves.
“We’re not simply following a model—we’re shaping one, with a vision as vibrant as the community we love.”