COMING UP TONIGHT: LE MOYNE COLLEGE JOINS THE DIVISION ONE RANKS.

A SYRACUSE COMPANY IS PLAYING AN INTEGRAL ROLE IN GETTING RURAL AREAS ONLINE.

AND OUR SPOTLIGHT SERIES TAKES US TO CROUSE HOSPITAL TO LEARN WHY THE CROUSE/UPSTATE MERGER NEVER HAPPENED.

ON THE MONEY BEGINS RIGHT NOW • S >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ON THE MONEY, WCNY'S FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM THINK OF IT AS YOUR LOCAL FINANCIAL NEWS PROGRAM FEATURING SOME INTERESTING PEOPLE, BUSINESSES AND HAPPENINGS FROM EVERY CORNER OF CENTRAL NEW YORK.

I'M LAIZA SEMIDEY.

DURING OUR SEASON WE'LL SEE WHERE MONEY IS BEING MADE, SPENT AND SOMETIMES LOST AND FOCUS ON PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES AFFECTING US LOCALLY.

OUR FIRST REPORT TAKES US TO LEMOYNE COLLEGE.

IN MAY, LEMOYNE COLLEGE ACCEPTED AN INVITATION TO JOIN THE NORTHEAST CONFERENCE STARTING THIS FALL.

THIS STRATEGIC MOVE ENABLES THE COLLEGE TO SHOWCASE ITS ATHLETIC PROGRAMS IN MAJOR NATIONAL MARKETS WHILE COMPETING AT THE HIGHEST COLLEGIATE LEVEL.

SUCH A DECISION PROMISES SIGNIFICANT ECONOMIC BENEFITS FOR THE INSTITUTION.

WE SPOKE WITH BOB BERETTA, DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS AT LE MOYNE COLLEGE, AND NOREEN MORRIS, THE NEC COMMISSIONER, TO FIND OUT WHY THIS DECISION BENEFITS BOTH PARTIES MOVING FORWARD.

[ CHEERING ] >> I DON'T BELIEVE IT IS A BIG LEAP TO GO FROM HIGH DIVISION 2 TO LOW DIVISION 1.

IT'S A STEP NOT A LEAP.

IF YOU ARE A HIGH PERFORMING DIVISION 2 INSTITUTION LIKE LeMOYNE HAS BEEN, IT IS NOT A LEAP TO GO FROM LOW DIVISION WHO HIGH DIVISION 2 TO LOW DIVISION 1.

I THINK WE WILL BE VERY SUCCESSFUL OVER TIME.

>> THERE IS AN INVESTMENT PIECE TO MOVING FROM D-2 TO D-1 WHERE AN INSTITUTION HAS TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FEE FROM THEY MOVE FROM DIVISION 1 TO DIVISION 2 AND THAT APPLICATION FEE IS BASED ON THE EAF KNEW REVENUE DISTRIBUTION PROVIDED FROM NCAA TO THE DIVISION 1 INSTITUTIONS IN THE YEAR PRIOR TO THE YEAR IN WHICH THE SCHOOL IS APPLYING SO THIS YEAR THAT APPLICATION FEE WAS $1.85 MILLION.

>> OBVIOUSLY IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE A GREATER INVESTMENT ON THE INSTITUTION'S STANDPOINT.

NOW THERE ARE ALSO MANY REVENUE STREAMS THAT ARE GOING TO BECOME AVAILABLE TO THE SCHOOL AFTER WE FINISH OUR FOUR-YEAR RECLASSIFICATION PERIOD.

NCAA REVENUE STREAMS AND THERE ARE OTHER REVENUE STREAMS THAT WE CAN REALIZE DURING THIS FOUR-YEAR RECLASSIFICATION PERIOD.

WE ARE SEEING THAT ALREADY IN GUARANTEED GAMES.

WE ESTIMATED A CERTAIN NUMBER OF REVENUE WE WOULD GENERATE.

THE CONFERENCE PROVIDES REVENUE STREAMS FOR US, GRANTS, TO INCREASE OUR PROGRAMS, OUR OFFERING TO STUDENT ATHLETES.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER THINGS YOU CAN GROW, ADMISSION TO GAMES, SPONSORSHIP.

IT ALL GOES BACK TO BUYING IN NAT ATHLETICS RAISES THE VISIBILTY OF AN INSTITUTION.

>> THIS IS A VERY DIFFICULT LANDSCAPE RIGHT NOW FOR HIGHER ED.

SO HAVE YOU TO TRY TO DIFFERENTIATE YOURSELF FROM THE PACK.

AND IN THIS CASE,LEY NOIN IS LOOKING TO ELEVATE ITS ATHLETIC PROGRAM AND THE BENEFIT WOULD BE THAT THEY HAVE GREATER EXPOSURE ON TELEVISION.

SO WE HAVE A NUMBER OF LINEAR BROADCASTS WE HAVE ACCESS TO.

DIVISION 1 MEN'S BASKETBALL GAME WILL BE AGAINST GEORGETOWN.

THAT, IN ITSELF, IS, THE NAME RECOGNITION, YOU PLAY IN GEORGETOWN AND AWLD OF A SUDDEN, PEOPLE ARE LIKE LeMOYNE?

WOW?

I WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THEM.

>> THE VISION OF, THEY SEE THE VALUE OF ATHLETICS AND THEY KNOW WE NEED TO RESOURCE IT IN A WAY THAT WE CAN BE SUCCESSFUL SO YES, THERE BE AN INCREASE IN POSITIONS.

WE ARE LOOKING AT EVERYTHING FROM BUDGETS TO SCHOLARSHIP.

WE ARE GOING TO INCREASE SCHOLARSHIPS.

WE ARE LOOKING AT POTENTIALLY ADDING SPORTS.

WE HAVE SOME EXCITING FACILITY WORK HERE ON TAP RIGHT NOW THIS SUMMER.

WE ARE BUILDING A CONCESSION RESTROOM FACILITY TO ENHANCE OUR FAN EXPERIENCE AT OUR TURF FIELD, AT OUR FIELD WHERE SOCCER AND LACROSSE TEAMS PLAY.

WE HAVE NEW DUGOUTS FOR BASEBALL AND NEW PRESS BOX FOR SOFTBALL AND BASEBALL.

WE ARE GOING TO RENOVATE OUR LOCKER ROOMS, OUR BUILDINGS, BUILD MORE SPACE FOR MORE PEOPLE BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE ARE SATURATED AND AS WE ADD STAFF, WE HAVE TO ADD IN QUALITY PLACES.

IT'S AN EXCITING TIME TO BE PART, DUE TO THE LEADERSHIP OF LeMOYNE WITH THE VISIONARY LEADERSHIP OF Dr. MURRA AND JOE GRASSO WHO UNDERSTANDS THE THE VALUE OF ATHLETICS EQUALLY BOLD COMPANIESQUE LESKED-- CAME TOGETHER AT THE RIGHT TIME.

>> OUR THANKS AGAIN TO BOB AND NOREEN FOR THEIR TIME.

UP NEXT IS COMMON CENTS AND JOINING US TONIGHT IS JEFF KNAUSS, SERIAL ENTREPRENEUR.

THANK YOU FOR COMING.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>> YOU ARE AN EXPERT AT INVESTING IN START-UP COMPANIES.

TELL ME WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN YOU ARE JUST HYPOTHETICALLY WANTING TO INVEST?

>> I THINK THE FIRST THING I WANT TO TELL PEOPLE IS THAT IT'S VERY RISKY.

IT'S VERY DIFFERENT THAN PUTTING YOUR MONEY IN AN E.T.F.

OR INDUCTION FUND OR SHO K. IT'S VERY 401(K).

IT'S VERY DIFFERENT.

WHEN I LOOK AT A START-UP.

I'M LOOKING AT A FEW THINGS.

WHO ARE THE FOUNDERS THAT ARE GOING TO BE RUNNING THE COMPANY?

WHAT IS THE MISSION, WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS THEY'RE TRYING TO SOLVE.

AND ULTIMATELY HOW AM I GOING TO MAKE MY MONEY BACK?

THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS INSIDE OF THAT.

THAT'S ARE ULTIMATELY THE CRITERIA I LOOK AT.

ALL THE MONEY I INVEST IS TYPICALLY MONEY I PRETEND NEVER EXISTED IN THE FIRST PLACE.

THAT'S MONEY I NEVER GOT AND NEVER HIT MY BANK ACCOUNT BECAUSE THE REALITY IS THAT IF YOU INVEST IN 10 START-UPS, EIGHT OF THEM MAY GO OUT OF BUSINESS, ONE OF THEM MAY BREAK EVEN AND ONE OF THEM MAY PAY FOR THE WHOLE THING IF YOU GET LUCKY, LIKE THAT'S WHAT IS GOING TO GIVE YOU THE ONE RETURN.

YOU ARE LOOKING FOR EVERY COMPANY YOU INVEST IN TO REALLY HIT IT BIG SO IT CAN THEORETICALLY PAY BACK FOR ALL THE OTHER INVESTMENTS YOU DID.

>> IN ORDER TO INVEST IN A COMPANY, DO YOU NEED A CERTIFICATION, NET WORTH, SOMETHING?

>> YEAH, SO TYPICALLY YOU NEED TO BE WHAT IS CALLED AN ACCREDITED INVESTOR.

I BELIEVE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S ALWAYS CHANGES BUT I BELIEVE THE REGULATIONS ARE LIKE YOU HAVE TO HAVE A MEDICINE NET WORTH OR MAKE $250 A YEAR.

BEING AN ACCREDITED INVESTOR ALLOWS YOU TO DO-- BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT WANTS TO PROTECT YOU FROM THE DOWNSIDE RISK OF DOING THIS BECAUSE LIKE I SAID, IT IS RISKY BUT WITH HIGH RISK COMES POTENTIALLY HIGH REWARD.

>> WELL, JEFF, IF YOU ARE EVER GOING TO DO A WORKSHOP OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, LET ME KNOW.

I WANT TO BECOME ONE OF THOSE ACCREDITED INVESTORS.

>> SURE.

>> OUR THANKS AGAIN TO JEFF KNAUSS, SERIAL ENTREPRENEUR FOR JOINING US TONIGHT TO DISCUSS INVESTING IN STARTUPS, THANK YOU.

>> GREAT TO SEE YOU.

>> NEXT IS OUR TECH BYTES SEGMENT.

ACCORDING TO THE TIMES UNION, OVER 130,000 HOUSEHOLDS IN NEW YORK LACK BROADBAND ACCESS.

STATE AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS ARE PINNING THEIR HOPES ON THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S $65 BILLION DOLLAR BROADBAND INITIATIVE AND GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL'S $1 BILLION "CONNECTALL" PROGRAM TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.

HOWEVER, THE PATH TO BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY FOR THE FINAL 2.5 PERCENT OF NEW YORK REMAINS UNCLEAR.

LUCK GROVE, A SYRACUSE TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY, IS TAKING MATTERS INTO ITS OWN HANDS BY DESIGNING FIBER OPTIC CABLES TO DISTRIBUTE TO CONTRACTORS, AIMING TO GET THOSE UNDERSERVED HOUSEHOLDS ONLINE.

>> FIBER OPENNICS ARE A GLASS STRAND OF FIBER WHERE HIGH SPEED INFORMATION IS ABLE TO TRAVEL AT FAST DISTANCES OVER LONG DISTANCES COMPARED TO THE ANTIQUATED SYSTEMS LIKE COPPER AND CABLE TV.

SO WE ARE SEEING FIBER OPENNICS USE-- FIBER OPTICS USED EVERYWHERE BETWEEN HOSPITALS, SCHOOLS, STRAIGHT TO YOUR HOUSE.

WE'VE DENY DESIGNED OVER 37 MILLION FEET OF FIBER AND PASSED OVER 38,000 HOMES FROM NEW YORK TO MAINE, PENNSYLVANIA, ACTUALLY DID A LOT OF WORK IN WEST VIRGINIA.

THE PROGRAM IS THE RURAL DIGITAL OPPORTUNITY FUND, IT WAS FOUNDED IN 2019 WITH $20.4 BILLION ALLOCATED TO CERTAIN COMPANIES THAT QUALIFIED FOR IT.

IT PROVIDES UNDERSERVED AND UNSERVED AREAS IN RURAL COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE ZERO ACCESS TO BROADBAND SPEEDS.

RIGHT NOW, AS WE MOVE TOWARDS A MORE DECENTRALIZED WORK ENVIRONMENT, WHERE WE ARE NOT WORKING IN THE OFFICES AND EVERYBODY IS WORKING FROM HOME, IT EVENS THE PLAYING FIELD FOR PEOPLE LIVING IN RURAL COMMUNITIES TO BE ABLE TO WORK AT HOME AND ACCESS THE SAME AMOUNT OF INFORMATION THAT THEIR COUNTER PARTS IN CITIES AND COMMUNITIES WITH HIGHER ACCESS HAVE TO BROADBAND.

LUCK GROVE HAS GROWN OVER THE YEARS INTO A SURVEYING, ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION POWER HOUSE IN THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY.

SO OUR SERVICES, ESPECIALLY IN THE RURAL AREA, WE LOOK FOR EXISTING EQUIPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE CAN UTILIZE TO MAKE OUR PATH MORE COST EFFECTIVE, NOT ONLY FOR THE COMPANY THAT IS PUTTING IT IN, BUT ALSO FOR THE CONSUMER, THE END CONSUMER.

SO OUR SURVEYING TEAM DEPLOYS OVER 30 STATES AT THE MOMENT.

WE HAVE ABOUT 100 SPARE SURVEYORS OUT THERE EVERY DAY.

>> OUT HERE DOING FIELD DATA COLLECTION USING A GPS DEVICE.

WE ARE ABLE TO CAPTURE THE PRECISE LOCATION USING LATIN LUNG COORDINATES OF THESE UTILITY POLES AND CONDUCTS SIMPLE SURVEYS ON HERE.

>> OVER ALL, BIGGER PICTURE OF THINGS, THE REASON WHY WE ARE DOING THIS IS SO THAT WAY WE CAN CALL OUT WHAT NECESSARILY NEEDS TO BE DONE WHEN THE CONSTRUCTION IS PLACED FOR FIBER OPTIC NETWORKS.

>> IT'S A CHALLENGING TASK TO FIND EMPLOYEES ESPECIALLY EMPLOYEES THAT ARE ALREADY TRAINED IN THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY.

BACK IN 2017-2018 WHEN I CAME ON BOARD WAS AROUND 10 EMPLOYEES.

WITH OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS NOW, WE'VE GROWN TO OVER 350 EMPLOYEES AROUND 30 STATES AND WE ARE ABSOLUTELY CONTINUING TO GROW WITH THE DOUBLING OF THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS MARKET.

WE LOOK TO ADJACENT INDUSTRIES WHERE WE CAN UTILIZE OUR ROBUST TRAINING PROGRAM TO BRING THEM TO THE PROFICIENCY OF A TELECOMMUNICATIONS DESIGNER, DRAFTER, SURVEYOR.

I WOULD HOPE TO TELL YOU THAT WE ARE ONE OF THE LARGEST TELECOMMUNICATIONS ENGINEERING DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES IN AMERICA WITHIN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

AND THAT WE HAVE REACHED OUR MISSION OF CONTINUING TO PROVIDE AN EFFICIENT GREAT PRODUCT FOR OUR CLIENTS.

>> TONIGHT FOR BY THE NUMBERS, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE BIGGEST GENERATIONAL WEALTH TRANSFER.

ACCORDING TO A NEW YORK TIMES REPORT, BY THE YEAR OF 2045, AN ESTIMATED $84 TRILLION WILL BE PASSED DOWN FROM THE BABY BOOMER GENERATION.

WHO ARE THOSE PEOPLE GETTING THAT WEALTH?

WELL, MILLENNIALS AND GENXERS AND THE WEALTHIEST 10% OF THE HOUSEHOLDS ARE SET TO GIVE AND RECEIVE MAJORITY OF THE WEALTH.

SO HOW WOULD THIS IMPACT OUR ECONOMY?

THE FIRST ONE IS THE JOB MARKET.

WE ARE GOING TO START TO SEE A SHIFT OF MILLENNIALS VENTURING INTO ENTREPRENEURSHIP, TRAVELING MORE AND INVESTING IN LUXURY GOODS AND SERVICES.

NOW TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.

MILLENNIALS ARE EXPECTED TO HOLD FIVE TIMES AS MUCH WEALTH AS THEY DO TODAY BY THE 2030s.

MAKING THEM THE WEALTHIEST GENERATION.

SO WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

I MEAN THIS COULD LEAD TO AN INCREASE IN CONSUMER SPENDING, INVESTMENTS AND ECONOMIC GROWTH.

NOW THAT'S A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY AND THOSE ARE YOUR NUMBERS FOR TONIGHT WE CONTINUE NOW WITH OUR SPOTLIGHT SERIES WITH J DANIEL PLUFF.

THE SERIES HIGHLIGHTS BUSINESSES AND PEOPLE DOING SOMETHING SPECIAL IN OUR AREA.

WITH ITS HISTORY DATING BACK NEARLY A CENTURY AND A HALF, CROUSE HOSPITAL HAS GONE THROUGH COUNTLESS CHANGES.

A SIGNIFICANT MERGER IN THE 1960'S COMBINED CROUSE WITH A NEIGHBORING HOSPITAL WHICH STRENGTHENED THE FACILITY IN THE YEARS TO COME.

BUT THE BUSINESS OF HEALTHCARE HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY SINCE THEN AND COVID ONLY WORSENED AN ALREADY TOUGH ENVIRONMENT.

FACED WITH POSSIBLE CLOSURE, CROUSE ELECTED TO MERGE AGAIN - THIS TIME WITH UPSTATE MEDICAL .

BUT THAT MERGER WAS CALLED OFF ABRUPTLY AND WE WONDERED WHY.

ON THE MONEY MET WITH CROUSE'S NEW CEO DR SETH KRONENBERG TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED AND WHAT THE FUTURE OF HEALTHCARE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK MIGHT LOOK LIKE.

WE ALSO VISITED A BRIGHT SPOT: ESSENTIAL FACILITY SERVING MULTIPLE COUNTIES.

IT APPEARS CROUSE IS BACK ON ITS FEET.

>> A LOT OF TALKS, A LOT OF CONVERSATIONSS ANALYSIS, ETC., STUDIES ON A MERGER BETWEEN CROUSE AND UPSTATE.

I MEAN YOU KNOW FULL TRANSPARENCY HERE, I EVEN HOSTED PUBLIC EVENTS TALKING ABOUT THIS.

WE DID A SPOTLIGHT SERIES ON THE SHOW ABOUT THE MERGER.

IT WAS BILLED AS BEING ESSENTIAL AND IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

WHAT HAPPENED?

>> YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A LOT OF WELL INTENTION TO THE MERGER.

THE CLIMATE JUST WASN'T RIGHT FOR SOMETHING THAT MAGNITUDE.

WE HAVE ACTUALLY COME OUT STRONGER THAN GOING INTO THE MERGER DISCUSSIONS.

STILL HAVE GREAT RELATIONSHIPS WITH UPSTATE.

>> OF COURSE.

>> WORK WITH THEM ON MULTIPLE PROGRAMS.

>> YOU COLLABORATE.

>> BUT WE ARE MUCH STRONGER COMING OUT.

IT GAVE ALL OF US AN APPRECIATION OF WHAT MAKES CROUSE SO SPECIAL.

WE HAVE A CLEAR PATH FORWARD AS AN INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY HOSPITAL LOCALLY GOVERNED AND WE ARE VERY PROUD.

>> I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THAT.

IT'S INTERESTING.

YOU KNOW, COMING OUT OR DURING AND COMING OUT OF COVID IT WASN'T JUST CROUSE.

HOSPITALS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WERE HURTING.

IT WAS JUST CRIPPLING, AS YOU KNOW.

YOU ARE TELLING ME YOU ARE GOOD NOW.

FINANCE IS GOOD, GOOD SHAPE.

WE NEED THIS HOSPITAL?

>> WE HAVE A SOLID PHENOMENON PLAN.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE SAW THROUGH COVID IS BEING PART OF A BILLION-DOLLAR SYSTEM DID NOT INSULATE HOSPITALS FROM FINANCIAL CHALLENGES.

THERE ARE FINANCIAL CHALLENGES FOR ALL HOSPITALS IN NEW YORK STATE.

CROUSE SPECIFICALLY WE HAVE A VERY SOLID FINANCIAL PLAN GOING FORWARD AND ARE VERY EXCITED AND OPTIMISTIC OF WHERE WE ARE HEADED.

>> YEARS AGO I INTERVIEWED A PAST PRESIDENT OF UPSTATE, Dr. DAVID SMITH.

AND I WASN'T BEING SARCASTIC BUT IT WAS A WEIRD QUESTION.

GEE, YOU HAVE PEOPLE LINING UP TO GET IN HERE.

YOU ARE LITERALLY HELICOPTERING PEOPLE IN.

I SAID I WISH I HAD A BUSINESS LIKE THAT.

AND YOU KNOW WHAT HE SAID TO ME?

EVERY TIME THAT HELICOPTER LANDS, WE LOSE MONEY.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS THEN.

IT'S ONLY GOTTEN WORSE.

IS THE BUSINESS MODEL BROKEN FOR HACK FOR HEALTHCARE?

IT'S HARD TO MAKE MONEY IN HEALTHCARE.

>> HEALTHCARE DOES NOT FOLLOW THE SAME SUPPLY AND DEMAND THAT OTHER BUSINESSES DO.

OUR REVENUES ARE CAPPED BY ALL OF THE INSURERS SO WHEN LABOR COSTS GO UP AND COST OF GOODS AND SERVICES GO UP, YOU CAN'T RAISE PRICES BECAUSE THOSE ARE FIXED BY THE INSURANCE.

>> THAT'S THE BUSINESS MODEL, RIGHT?

THAT'S TOUGH.

HOW DO YOU CHANGE THAT?

AND BY THE WAY BEFORE YOU EVEN ANSWER THAT, WHERE IS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM?

IS IT-- LOOK AT DRUG COSTS AND I'M NOT CRITICIZING... R & D DEVELOPMENT COSTS ZILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO MAKE A BILL BUT THAT'S EXPENSIVE.

EQUIPMENT IN THE HOSPITAL HUGELY EXPENSIVE.

WHAT DO YOU DO?

>> SHOE INSURERS ARE ABLE TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT PROFITS, SUPPLIERS ARE ABLE TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT PROFITS.

>> BUT YOU CAN'T.

>> CORRECT.

BECAUSE WE ARE FIXED.

THE CHALLENGE FOR US IS TO MANAGE WORKFORCE AND THOSE ARE OUR BIGGEST VARIABLE COSTS.

>> WHEN I TALK TO DOCTOR FRIENDS, YOU KNOW, THEY DO COMPLAIN A BIT ABOUT THE INSURANCE COMPANIES.

THAT WE HAVE TO NEGOTIATE THESE RATES, WHATEVER FOR SERVICES WITH THE INSURANCE COMPANY THAT DON'T REALLY COVER IT.

IS THAT PART OF THE ISSUE, TOO?

CAN WE BLAME THE INSURANCE COMPANIES IN.

>> YEAH, I MEAN WE ARE ALL IN IT TOGETHER BUT WHEN COSTS GO UP, OUR REVENUES ARE CAPPED, SO WE ARE NOT ABLE TO FLEX UP FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE.

>> SO GETTING BACK THEN, WHAT IS THE SOLUTION BECAUSE IT SEEMS FROM AN OUTSIDER LOOKING IN, IT SEEMS LIKE AN UNSUSTAINABLE BUSINESS AND YET IT'S ESSENTIAL.

SO WHAT DO WE DO?

>> WE NEED BETTER PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PAYERS TO ALIGN INCENTIVES THERE AND WE NEED BETTER STRATEGIES GLOBALLY TO HANDLE WORKFORCE COURSE THAT CONTINUE TO GO UP.

>> I'M TRYING TO FIND BLAME HERE.

IF WE ARE NOT PAYING THE DOCTORS TOO MUCH, DON'T KNOW WHERE WE FIND A SOLUTION WHEN THERE IS SUCH NEED FOR HEALTHCARE LOCALLY ESPECIALLY BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> YEAH, SO ONE OF THE ISSUES IS WORKFORCE, SO TRAVELING NURSES MISS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WE ARE LOOKING STATEWIDE TO SEE IF WE CAN CAP THE COSTS ON TRAVELING NURSES.

WHEN YOU HAVE TO PAY TRAVELING NURSES A PREMIUM, IT'S GREAT FOR THE TRAVELING NURSE COMPANY BUT NOT GREAT FOR THE SYSTEM.

>> IT'S NOT A NEW THING BUT THE SURGERY CENTERS, DOES THAT CUT INTO YOUR REVENUE STREEPS?

>> SO, WHAT WE ARE TRYING DO AS WE MOVE FORWARD IS ALIGN INCENTIVES WITH THE PHYSICIANS.

A LOT OF PRIVATE PHYSICIAN GROUPS HAVE OPENED THEIR OWN AMBULATORY SURGERY CENTERS AND THAT HAS PULLED SOME.

WE ARE TRYING TO LOOK AT THINGS LIKE COMPREHENSIVE STROKE AND THINGS THAT SERVE THE COMMUNITY BUT IT IS A CHALLENGE WHEN YOU HAVE ALL OF THE INDIVIDUALS FRAGMENTS IN THE SYSTEM.

>> EVERY TIME WE'VE TALKED TO SOMEBODY IN BUSINESS, THEY SAY LOOK, WE HAVE GOT-- I'M MAKING THIS UP.

WE HAVE 10 OPENINGS, NO APPLICANTS OR WE WANT TO EXPAND AND CAN'T BRING PEOPLE IN.

ARE YOU SHORT STAFFED HERE AT CROUSE?

>> HEALTHCARE IS SHORT STAFFED EVERYWHERE AND IT'S ALL POSITIONS.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE ARE INVESTING IN HEAVILY IN IS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

WE WANT TO YOU COME WORK AT CROUSE FOR LIFE.

WE WANT TO HAVE PROGRAMS THERE WHERE YOU START IN AN ENTRY LEVEL AND GROW WITH CROUSE AS YOU PROGRESS ALONG YOUR TRAINING I'M A GOOD EXAMPLE.

I STARTED IN THE PHARMACY IN THE TECH, WENT ON TO BE A DOC.

>> IN YOUR GENERATION MOST PEOPLE GET EDUCATED HERE AND LEAVE.

>> WHAT SEPARATES US IS OUR CULTURE.

IT IS UNIQUE HERE AT CROUSE.

IT FEELS DIFFERENT.

THE WAY WE TREAT EACH OTHER, THE WAY WE TREAT OUR PATIENTS.

>> I'M NOT OBJECTIVE ABOUT THIS ISSUE AT ALL.

BUT YOU KNOW, I HAD TWO DAUGHTERS, 18 MONTHS AARE THE PA, BOTH OF WHICH WERE, WHEN THEY WERE BORN, I'M NOT KIDDING, THEY WERE LITTLE.

THAT NICU UNIT, SECOND TO NONE.

>> IT'S OUR CORE SERVICE.

AS WE MENTIONED, WE STARTED AS A WOMEN AND INFANTS SERVICE.

WE ARE THE REGIONAL PERINATAL CENTER.

>> IT'S NOT SYRACUSE, RIGHT?

>> TO CANADA, PENNSYLVANIA, AND BETWEEN ALBANY AND ROCHESTER.

>> THAT CAN'T BE A MONEY MAKER FOR YOU.

IT WAS SUCH INTENSIVE CARE ROUND THE CLOCK.

IT'S PROBABLY NOT BUSINESS YOU WANT, BUT WE NEED IT.

>> WELL, WE WANT IT ONLY BECAUSE IT'S A SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY.

LEARNED A LONG TIME AGO, PUT THE PATIENT FIRST AND THE FINANCES WILL FOLLOW.

>> YOU PROBABLY KNOW THE HEALTHCARE MARKET IN CENTRAL NEW YORK AS WELL AS ANYBODY, HAVING BEEN HERE ALL THIS TIME AND YOUR POSITION, AS YOU LOOK AROUND AT CROUSE AND REALLY AND COMPARE THAT WITH OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY,CAN YOU TELL US THAT CENTRAL NEW YORK IS GETTING THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF HEALTHCARE AVAILABLE?

>> WE ARE BLESSED.

WITH ALL THE CHALLENGES THAT WE TALKED ABOUT, WE REALLY HAVE WORLD CLASS CARE HERE BETWEEN THE THREE SYSTEMS HERE, WE PROVIDE JUST ABOUT EVERY SERVICE THAT IS NEEDED SHORT OF SOME TRANSPLANTS.

>> BUT IS IT UNIVERSAL IN THE SENSE THAT, DEPENDING ON YOUR INCOME, DEPENDING ON YOUR ZIP CODE, IS ACCESS THE SAME FOR EVERYBODY?

>> ACCESS-- THERE ARE DEFINITELY DISPARITIES IN HEALTHCARE.

THERE IS NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.

THERE IS MATERNAL MORTALITY CONCERNS THAT DEPEND ON ZIP CODES.

THERE IS A LOT MORE WORK TO DO AS A SOCIETY ON GETTING RID OF THOSE HEALTHCARE DISPARITIES.

ACCESS TO CARE IS AN ISSUE FOR ALL OF US.

>> BUT A PATIENT IS GOING TO RECEIVE THE SAME QUALITY OF CARE NO MATTER WHAT.

YOU ARE GOING TO BE ESSENTIALLY BLIND TO WHOMEVER THE PERSON IS ON THE TABLE IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.

>> WHEN WE SAY WE ARE MISSION DRIVEN AND EVERY MOMENT MATTERS, THAT'S EVERY PATIENT.

>> CROUSE IS THE ONLY INDEPENDENT HOSPITAL THAT'S SORT OF INDEPENDENTLY RUN, GOVERNED, ET CETERA.

SHOULD I CARE ABOUT THAT?

>> WELL, WE SEE THAT SASS A POSITIVE-- WE SEE THAT AS A POSITIVE.

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS ARE ALL LOCAL BUSINESS COMMUNITY MEMBERS IT ALLOWS US TO REALLY FOCUS ON WHAT IS GOOD FOR THE COMMUNITY.

WE ARE NOT ANSWERING TO ANYONE ELSE OTHER THAN OUR LOCAL BOARD AND IT ALLOWS TO US ADAPT TO MEET THE DEMAND OF THE POP LAWTION AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE-- POPULATION AS POSSIBLE.

>> THAT'S A TWO PARTER.

BUT BASED ON EVERYTHING YOU KNOW TODAY, DO YOU FEEL PRETTY CONFIDENT THAT YOU CAN CONTINUE TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY HEALTHCARE TO CENTRAL NEW YORK AND THAT YOU WILL STAY INDEPENDENT?

>> YES TO BOTH.

WE HAVE A VERY SOLID PLAN GOING FORWARD.

OBVIOUSLY THERE IS NO MAGIC WAND OR ABILITY TO SEE THE FUTURE.

AND THE PENDULUM ON MERGERS GOES BACK AND FORTH BUT WE HAVE A SOLID FIVE-YEAR PLAN GOING FORWARD.

WE ARE EXITED TO BE HERE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND WE WILL BE HERE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND WE ARE OPTIMISTIC AS WE MOVE FORWARD INDEPENDENTLY.

>> WE ALL HAVE A VESTED INTERESTED IN YOU.

BEST OF LUCK.

GREAT SPEAKING WITH YOU AND GOOD LUCK TO YOU.

>> OUR THANKS AGAIN TO SETH KRONENBERG FOR HIS TIME -- WE LOOK FORWARD TO WHAT'S NEXT FOR THE HOSPITAL.

THAT CONCLUDES TONIGHT'S PROGRAM.

NEXT WEEK, WE HIGHLIGHT THE LATEST IMPROVEMENTS MADE TO THE AUBURN PUBLIC THEATER.

WE HEAD BACK TO LE MOYNE TO SEE HOW THE KEENAN CENTER IS GIVING ENTREPRENEURS ALL THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO SUCCEED.

AND FOR OUR SPOTLIGHT SERIES -- IT'S A GOOD ONE.

DANIEL PLUFF SITS DOWN WITH SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY LEGEND JIM BOEHEIM TO DISCUSS ALL THINGS COLLEGE SPORTS AND THE HIGHLY DEBATED NAME, IMAGE, LIKENESS RULE.

WE HAVE A LOT MORE COMING THIS SEASON SO IF YOU HAVE AN IDEA FOR A BUSINESS, PERSON OR JUST SOMETHING SPECIAL HAPPENING IN CENTRAL NEW YORK, CONTACT US BY PLEASE VISIT WCNY ONT ORG YOU CAN ALSO VIEW OUR PREVIOUS EPISODES THERE TOO.. AND YOU CAN FOLLOW US ON ALL SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS.

I'M LAIZA SEMIDEY, THANKS AGAIN FOR WATCHING.