The Facts About Downstate

What Are Our Options?

• It would cost more than $4 billion and would take 15-20 years to repair the hospital. To replace it would cost more than $3 billion over 8-10 years. Neither path is fiscally possible, and there is already an overabundance of hospital beds in Downstate’s service delivery area.
• The status quo is a constant state of fear of a catastrophic infrastructure failure and a fiscal crisis marked by an approximately $100 million annual shortfall. Failure to act jeopardizes the jobs of all of our employees, the university, and access to care for the vulnerable populations we serve.
• Built with community input, our Downstate plan will result in a state-of-the-art medical school training a world-class, diverse workforce; preserve the current levels of inpatient care the community receives from the hospital through stronger partnerships; expand access to desperately needed primary care and urgent care resources; and build a cutting-edge Brooklyn Institute of Health Equity to tackle the systemic health disparities the communities we serve face on a daily basis.

Supporting Our Staff

Downstate employees are vital to the healthcare services the hospital provides. The greatest threat to employees is the status quo, since Downstate simply cannot continue to operate in its current form and location. This plan will minimize potential job loss.

SUNY Downstate employees are members of four unions: PEF, CSEA, UUP, and NYSCOPBA. As part of the Downstate plan, we anticipate that all PEF, CSEA, and NYSCOPBA roles will be preserved and transition to new SUNY Downstate service locations. The vast majority — approximately 80% to 90% — of UUP roles will also be protected. Given the current healthcare workforce shortage, it is anticipated that similar jobs with similar compensation would be available. Downstate will set up programming to help impacted employees connect to new opportunities.

Partners Are Already Essential to Downstate

SUNY Downstate already collaborates with nearby hospitals to support its mission. Right now, approximately two thirds of Downstate clerkships and residency placements are with surrounding hospitals and health care providers.

Excess Hospital Bed Capacity

Across the state and nation, more healthcare is being delivered outside hospitals. SUNY Downstate has an average daily census of 155 beds, compared to 342 certified beds. In Downstate’s service delivery area, only roughly 700 beds of the 1,600 certified beds are used on a regular basis. The Downstate plan must address the services the community wants and needs in order to prepare for a strong future — not repeat the past.