The psychiatrist surveyor began by identifying the Medicare "Two" Conditions of Participation: Active Treatment and Staffing. She stated that we are well in compliance with those conditions. She further stated that neither she nor the Nurse surveyor will be giving CMS any information which could be expected to result in deficiencies according to CMS standards.

The psychiatrist stated, "This is the kind of active treatment we wish most patients in the country could get."

Dr. Schoenholtz, the Medical Director, noted that because this is a small hospital, it is somewhat unique in that we can maintain rigorous attention to patient care on an interpersonal rather than "doctrinaire" basis. He asked the psychiatrist--for purposes of benchmarking--to enlighten us regarding what is going on in the rest of the country. She indicated that patients today appear to be getting care based on payer source, most of it "managed." The nurse surveyor indicated also that there is a pervasive lack of after-care services throughout the United States.

The surveyors indicated that "it is not the medical record, the staff or the plant--it is the treatment of the patient that shows through." They said that our money appears to be put "in the right places. You are not the Taj Mahal, but adequate to be true to your core mission--not overly concerned about technology. Your smallness is your best asset."

They stated further that each person involved in the care of the patient showed that they know "what the patient is about, and how much they care about the patient is quite clear." Dr. Schoenholtz thanked them for noting that we haven’t lost sight of our core mission.

Mrs. Schoen, Administration VP, acknowledged (with permission from the psychiatrist-surveyor), that in conversation during the survey, the doctor told her how impressed she was that Dr. Schoenholtz knew the patients so well. This statement resulted from her presence during Comprehensive Treatment Planning, which Dr. Schoenholtz, that day, attended via teleconference.

Dr. Singer, the Clinical Director, thanked both surveyors. He stated that it was the most collegial and understanding meeting in many years. It was supportive and complementary and focused on the essential elements of what we are about. Mrs. Schoen also thanked both surveyors for their humaneness and willingness to embrace Rye and our treatment philosophy. Mrs. Schoen paid tribute to our dedicated treatment and non-treatment staff.

The conference ended at this point.

The afternoon before, when hospital CFO John J. Marcogliese asked for a hint as to "how are we doing?," the surveyors both agreed, "World-class treatment!"