ROCKLAND COUNTY EXECUTIVE DAY APPOINTS NEW ACTING DEPARTMENT OF HOSPITALS COMMISSIONER

COUNTY PRESS RELEASE

County Executive Ed Day last week announced that Dr. David Freed has been appointed as acting commissioner of Hospitals.

Dr. Freed will be particularly focused on a renewed approach to providing outstanding, patient-centered healthcare throughout the complex process of transferring ownership to Sympaticare, LLC.

“David Freed’s tremendous operational experience – including a proven track record of navigating troubled hospitals though major fiscal challenges – makes him the perfect leader to guide us in this critical next phase of our journey,” said County Executive Day. “He brings exactly what Summit Park Hospital and Nursing Care Center needs today – a highly-skilled industry veteran, who is decisive, focused and inspirational.”

Dr. Freed comes to Rockland County from Nyack Hospital, where he served for thirteen years as President and CEO. He has held top positions with Overlook Hospital in Summit, New Jersey, Hahnemann University and Hospital in Philadelphia, Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. Dr. Freed has more than thirty years’ experience serving as hospital CEO and in various other executive leadership positions with the healthcare and financial fields.

During his tenure at Nyack Hospital, Dr. Freed led a strategic and successful corporate turnaround in the wake of a six-month nursing strike and near-financial collapse of the 375-bed community acute care medical and surgical facility. His major accomplishments include reversing multi-million dollar operating losses, bringing financial stability and implementing a five-year action plan that culminated in a corporate relationship with New York-Presbyterian Healthcare System, enabling an enhanced, cost-efficient continuum of care.

In 2014, Dr. Freed positioned Nyack Hospital to become a member of the Montefiore Health System. The regional partnership with Montefiore was forged to enhance care and offer new forms of population health services to Rockland County residents.

Freed’s working relationship with the County of Rockland was formalized last year with the official opening of the Behavioral Health Center at Nyack Hospital and Judith H. Trust Assessment and Referral Center. This agreement allowed the County to transfer its adult acute care psychiatric services, resulting in a full spectrum of medical and psychiatric services in one location.

Said Day, “As we continue to work with the Rockland County Health Facilities Corporation (LDC) and various state agencies toward a successful sale of the hospital and nursing home, I am confident that Dr. Freed’s expertise will be invaluable to overseeing such an intricate and laborious health care transaction. His experience and aptitudes will guarantee a positive outcome for the patients and employees of Summit Park and taxpayers of Rockland County.” In 2013, the County created an LDC to sell the Summit Park Hospital and Nursing Care Center.

“I am both energized and excited about the opportunity to lead Rockland’s Department of Hospitals and its 500 team members during this critical time of growth and change,” said Freed. “It will be extremely rewarding to advance our mission and shared commitment to enhance lives and preserve health in Rockland County.”

Dr. Freed attended Cornell University, earning a Bachelor of Science Degree. He went on to earn his Master of Business Administration and his Master of Science in Health Services Management from New York University. He also earned a Doctor of Health Administration from the Medical University of South Carolina.

“For the past eighteen months, Donna Pauldine has done an amazing job of leading Summit Park through uncertain times,” commented County Executive Day. “Her guidance and expertise have been instrumental in the County’s efforts to move the facility into private hands. I wish to thank Donna for her many years of hard work and tireless dedication to Rockland County. Our community is a better place because of her many years of public service. We wish her well in her retirement.”