Graphic will get retraction, article will not
SYRACUSE -- The New York Times says it won't be printing a retraction of an article that bashed University Hospital. The article called "Weak Oversight Lets Bad Hospitals Stay Open" focuses on the quality of University Hospital. Upstate Medical University President David Smith says the author only used pieces of data instead of looking at the hospital as a whole. The article also made a connection between hospital quality and the Berger Commission's recommendation to merge the hospital with Crouse Hospital. There is no connection. The recommendations were about bed capacity at hospitals across the state.
The Times did say it will print a retraction about the chart that went along with the article, but not the article itself.
Smith says he's glad the New York Times paid attention to the issue, but says the paper did not go far enough.
News release from University Hospital:
Upstate Medical University President David R. Smith, M.D., received a response from the New York Times this afternoon after asking for a retraction and correction of portions of the story that was published in the Dec. 8 edition regarding the Berger Commission and hospital quality.
The Times agreed that: "… the headline and introductory language on the chart 'Falling Short in Syracuse' warrant a correction. They did not accurately reflect the fact that the data in the chart included information showing University Hospital to be at the national average by one measure and above the state average by another. And so we intend to run a correction in the newspaper and to adjust the chart accordingly on our Web site."
However, the response stated that a retraction of the story would not be forthcoming.
"We are pleased that this issue received the attention of the Times, but feel the paper did not go far enough in reviewing this matter," said Dr.
Smith. "We still have significant concerns about the selective use of data, the use of old data from several unrelated sources, and the mistaken premise that the Berger Commission's recommendation in Syracuse was based on quality issues."
In his statement released yesterday, state Health Commissioner Richard Daines, M.D., said the Berger Commission "report raised no issues relating to quality" at University Hospital in making its recommendation in 2006.
The commissioner additionally acknowledged the unique mission and role of Upstate Medical University and University Hospital as a safety net provider and as a regional asset.
"We look forward to continuing the conversation with the New York Times and the many community members we are privileged to serve," Smith said.
