SYRACUSE — For the third time in as many weeks, Upstate University Hospital has sent a group of nurses to Stony Brook University Hospital to aid that facility in its care of ill COVID-19 patients.

The group of 13 intensive-care unit nurses departed the hospital on the morning of April 28, “for what is expected to be a two-week stay,” Upstate Medical University announced.

“I am truly humbled by the efforts of our Stony Brook teams — and the efforts of our health care teams here at home,” Nancy Page, Upstate’s chief nursing officer, said in a statement. “The teams, wherever they are caring for patients, most certainly define ‘Upstate Strong.’ ” 

Stony Brook University Hospital has been a “key facility” in the treatment of COVID patients on Long Island, Upstate said.

“We know Stony Brook needs support for its nurses and other professionals and we are proud to be able to send teams of our talented staff to our sister hospital,” Dr. Robert Corona, CEO of Upstate University Hospital, added. 

The first team from Upstate left for Stony Brook April 9 and included 22 nurses. The second wave of Upstate staffers departed for Stony Brook April 21. That group of 20 included nurses, pharmacists, pharmacy techs, and respiratory therapists. 

With this latest group of 13, Upstate has now sent 55 employees to assist another SUNY campus in COVID-19 patient care.

When Upstate asked for volunteers to help at Stony Brook, “many” raised their hands, according to Page. 

Emery House, one of the first nurses to head to Stony Brook, said the experience was “beneficial for all.” 

“For us it wasn’t a matter of why go there, but why not. We found this to be a mutual beneficial situation for the staff at Stony Brook as well as us,” House said in a Health Link on Air podcast. “We knew they were in pretty desperate need for help and it was certainly not going to hurt us to go and learn more about this disease.” 

House said she was “grateful” for all the support and well wishes from both Stony Brook personnel and Upstate staff related to her visit downstate.         

“Hospitals continue to be on the front lines during this state of emergency and are stretched financially and administratively,” Linda Lacewell, DFS superintendent, said in a statement. “This directive will help provide much-needed cash flow to hospitals at a critical time in our fight against COVID-19.” 

The letter orders New York-regulated health insurers to “immediately” process for payment outstanding hospital claims.

In addition, in collaboration with DFS, the insurers should work with hospitals in their networks to provide additional financial assistance “if needed and feasible,” focusing on “community, rural, and safety-net hospitals.” 

DFS also directs health insurers to suspend preauthorization requirements for all services performed at hospitals, including lab work and radiology, until June 18 of this year, and not conduct retrospective reviews of hospital claims until June 18, “subject to limited exceptions.” 

The department also orders insurers to not make medical-necessity denials related to emergency-department and inpatient hospital treatment for COVID-19. 

“This directive will ease the financial burdens facing many hospitals throughout the state, especially community, rural, and safety-net hospitals, as they struggle to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Dr. Howard Zucker, commissioner of the New York State Department of Health, said. “Hospitals are on the frontlines in the battle against COVID-19. This directive will help ensure they have the resources they need to continue to fight.” 

“Severe financial stress”

Many hospitals are under “severe financial stress” due to the suspension of elective surgical procedures and increased costs resulting from COVID-19, DFS said. 

During this “time of emergency, it is in the public interest for all stakeholders” to support hospitals, “particularly community, rural, and safety-net hospitals,” to ensure that patients continue to get the care that they need. “Recognizing the importance” of protecting the public and of maintaining the financial stability of hospitals, the health-insurance industry has “stepped up and worked closely with DFS to provide necessary relief” to hospitals during this crisis. 

DFS worked with the Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS), Greater New York Hospital Association (GNYHA), New York Health Plan Association (NYHPA), and the New York State Conference of Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans (NYSCOP), the department said. 

“We appreciate DFS taking this strong action to eliminate administrative barriers to care for all hospital-based treatment during this crisis. Furthermore, requiring plans to infuse cash through expedited payment of monies owed and to work with hospitals to provide additional financial assistance is the right thing to do, and an important step toward hospitals being able to continue providing care during this crisis,” Bea Grause, president of HANYS, said. 

MARCY — The man who currently serves as dean of the School of Public and Human Services at Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC) has accepted a new role at a neighboring school.

SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) on April 16 announced it has appointed Mark Montgomery as its chief diversity officer.

At SUNY Poly, he will work to “deploy strategic and sustained approaches to further advance a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion for the institution’s students, faculty, and staff,” the university said.

Montgomery is scheduled to join SUNY Poly on July 1, in advance of the class of 2024’s orientation. 

“I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Montgomery to SUNY Polytechnic Institute. He brings true depth of knowledge in the areas of diversity, equity, inclusion, student success, and retention, and we are looking forward to his leadership and efforts to further enhance our culture so that everyone, no matter their background, feels safe, valued, uplifted, and welcome on our campuses,” Grace Wang, interim president of SUNY Poly, said in a statement. 

A “D” student

A native of the Oneida County hamlet of Bridgewater, Montgomery says he “isn’t shy” about sharing how he graduated a “D” student from Mt. Markham Senior High School and ranked 112th of 126 students in his class. Montgomery faced financial, health, and speech difficulties.

Poised to overcome his obstacles after graduating from high school, he earned his associate degree in human services from MVCC, where he received awards for academic excellence. 

In 2000, he received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from SUNY Poly. Montgomery continued his education at the University of New England in Biddeford, Maine, where he earned a master’s degree in education with a focus in academic motivation, specifically related to inmates. Montgomery received his Ph.D. in education in February 2014, focusing on how systemic influences impact student motivation and performance. 

In 2015, Montgomery began providing workshops in elementary schools and high schools to train teachers, administrators, and others to motivate students across cultural lines. He was nominated for the SUNY Chancellor’s Award in 2009 for excellence in service, and in 2015 received the Outstanding Community Service Award from Mohawk Valley Frontiers.