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6 Hudson Valley Hospitals To Form Alliance

Three Hudson Valley hospital groups are forming an alliance they say will enhance services, save money, and benefit the public... Hudson Valley Bureau Chief Dave Lucas reports.

Bon Secours Charity Health System, St. Luke's Cornwall Hospital and St. Francis Hospital and Health Centers are joining forces under the moniker Hudson Health Partners LLC. The alliance entails bringing six facilities in three Hudson Valley counties together to pursue collaborations.  Larry Hughes is spokesman for Poughkeepsie-based St. Francis Hospital and Health Centers.

Hughes says the alliance expects there will be savings in purchasing insurance and supplies, as well as clinical collaboration.

Hughes emphasizes each hospital will remain independent and responsible for its own assets – he points out there will be no "central command" or "headquarters" for the partnership - which will enjoy many unique advantages.

Calls to St. Luke's were not returned in time for broadcast.

Deborah Marshall, vice president and spokeswoman for Bon Secours, tells local media that the partners will formally announce the alliance next wednesday in Rockland County at Suffern Medical Pavilion Lobby.

Dave Lucas is WAMC’s Capital Region Bureau Chief. Born and raised in Albany, he’s been involved in nearly every aspect of local radio since 1981. Before joining WAMC, Dave was a reporter and anchor at WGY in Schenectady. Prior to that he hosted talk shows on WYJB and WROW, including the 1999 series of overnight radio broadcasts tracking the JonBenet Ramsey murder case with a cast of callers and characters from all over the world via the internet. In 2012, Dave received a Communicator Award of Distinction for his WAMC news story "Fail: The NYS Flood Panel," which explores whether the damage from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee could have been prevented or at least curbed. Dave began his radio career as a “morning personality” at WABY in Albany.