The Ithaca Journal from Ithaca, New York • 3

3A T1I 11 The Ithaca Journal Tuesday, December 26, 1989 Hospitals claim death-rate study flawed TCH, area hospitals fall within predicted range Fmm Stuff and Wire Reports WASHINGTON (AP) Hospital administrators across New York state are complaining of flaws in an annual report on death rates for Medicare patients, yet concede that the study is an improvement over prior years. The report, released Wednesday by the Health Care Financing Administration, found death rates for Medicare patients at three out of 261 New York hospitals were higher than statistically expected in 1988. The three were: Bronx Municipal Hospital Center, with an 18.7 percent mortality rate, three-tenths of a percent above HCFA's prediction; Jamaica Hospital, 21.7 percent, compared to a maximum predicted rate of 20.9 percent; and Rochester Psychiatric Center, 16.1 percent, compared to a maximum of 12.7 percent predicted. "While the changes HCFA made this year appear to improve the methodology somewhat by accounting for emergency admissions and source of admission, the usefulness of the study results are still quite limited," said Kenneth E. Raske, president of the Greater New York Hospital Association, which represents 117 non-profit hospitals and long-term care facilities.

In releasing the report the third such study HCFA cautioned consumers not to use the figures as a definitive measure of an institution's health care quality or to compare mortality rates of one hospital with another. "This is not one-to-one measure of quality of care," said See HOSPITALS, 4A TOWN TALK Get ride if you imbibe If you're ready to head out on the roads of Dryden this holiday season after a bit too much merriment, stop right there. Brecht's Towing Service, in co- operation with the Dryden Police Department, will take you home as part of its holiday "take home service." Basically, the service is for those who are without a designated driver and believe they're unable to drive home safely after a holiday celebration. The free service will be provided to those who live within a reasonable distance from the village of Dryden. Brecht's began the courtesy delivery on Friday and will continue with it through 5 a.m., Monday, Jan.

1. Anybody who needs the service is asked to call the Dryden Police De- partment at 844-8118 or Brecht's Towing Service at 844-9922. Care Financing Administration and the actual mortality rate. Tompkins Community Hospital: 8.3-16; 12.6 Arnot Ogden Memorial Hospital, Elmira: 7-14; 10 Auburn Memorial Hospital: 10-17; II Binghamlon Psychiatric Center: 90, 1-15; 13 Cortland Memorial Hospital: 9-17; 14 Our Lady of Lourdes Memorial Hospital, Binghamlon: 11-18; 13 Schuyler Hospital, Montour Falls: 437; 8-18; II St. Josephs Hospital, Elmira: 8.1-15.8; 10.8 Tioga General Hospital, Wavcrly: 452; 9.1-18.5; 11.3 Willard Psychiatric Center, Willard: 122; 3.1-17.2; 9.9 All the hospitals in the Upstate New York area, including Tompkins Community Hospital, had Medicare patient mortality rates for 1988 that fell within the federal government's predicted range.

"We feel pretty comfortable with where we fell," Tompkins Community Hospital spokeswoman Gail Longfellow said Wednesday. However, Longfellow pointed out that the data doesn't distinguish between different hospitals and their different patient populations. "And it doesn't talk at all about the quality of care, so it isn't very helpful to consumers," she added. Here's a list of 1988 Medicare mortality rates for hospitals in this area, as compiled in a federal guide released Wednesday. For each hospital, the list provides the number of Medicare cases, the predicted mortality range as a percent calculated by the Health Crashing through the snow Women's rights park to expand The Women's Rights National Historical Park in Seneca Falls will cover some new ground soon, thanks to a federal land purchase.

Park superintendent Linda Can-zanelli announced recently that the remaining land of the Wesleyan Chapel block 0.28 acres worth will be added to the Women's Rights National Historical Park and be transformed into a multi-million dollar development. "This purchase represents a milestone in the development of the Wesleyan Chapel block," Canza-nelli said. Plans for the preservation and development of the block include 4. K. a.

ytl 'lt'-f1 r4S 'V' -the transformation of the chapel, which now resembles a laundromat, and its adjacent area into a of the historic 1848 convention site. The chapel's interior and exterior will be preserved. Also planned are: the construction of a landscaped which include a waterwall and an amphitheater for outdoor programs on the site of the Strand Theater; 4he-remodeling of the former village hall for use as a visitors center, which will contain exhibits; an area for school programs; and a theater for indoor programs. The Women's Rights National Historical Park was established in 1980 as part of an effort to recognize the nationally significant historical and cultural sites and buildings associated with the struggle for women's equal rights. reports were compiled by Journal staff reporter Jay Cox.

Jm DAVID GREWE-Journal Staff WINTER WONDERLAND: Bill BoldU left, and his daughter Kim. take' a tumble while sledding Christmas Day at Cornell Plantations. Bokh and his daughters. Kim and Kristen, and son, Ryan, took to the hills to sled before eating Christmas dinner Monday night. A I CU deer study aids disease research i.

i. i ii to Kf' I AhCHOOOO! Sneezes, Christmas trees may be related The Associated Press DALLAS Christmas trees are beautiful, traditional and heartwarming. They also can make you sick. So says Dr. Timothy Sullivan, who heads the allergy and immunology division at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas.

"People with pre-existing allergic conditions or respiratory difficul- ty should be aware that if their symptoms worsen during the holiday season, their tree might be the cause." Sullivan cautions those allergic to mold to be especially wary of trees from commercial tree lots, which he says are breeding grounds for mold. He adds that some trees grown for commercial sale are che-v mically treated and can trigger allergic reactions. One of the most common and attractive trees in the United States is the mountain cedar, which Sullivan says causes more respiratory allergy among more people than any other source except ragweed. volved in these diseases," Rossiter said. Other diseases deer samples are tested for include: Bluctongue, an insect-transmitted viral disease of sheep, cattle and goats.

A similar virus also is responsible for an often fatal disease in deer EHD or epizootic hemorrhagic disease. Johne's disease or paratuberculosis, a bacterial disease afflicting the intestinal tract of ruminant animals worldwide. A problem of growing economic importance in American cattle, Johne's disease also occurs in mountain goats goats and sheep and in zoo animals. Leptospirosis, a water-borne bacterial disease that affects many species of animals and can cause cattle to abort their young. Rossiter said these diseases do not affect the safety of deer meat, but they can be a factor in managing deer population, as deer hunting quotas take into account the number of animals likely to die from disease and starvation.

Lyme disease is the only illness being studied thai is contracted by humans, and the numbers of people getting it has been increasing rapidly, acording to state health department statistics. Early signs of the disease include flu-like symptoms and a circular rash that expands from where the deer tick has latched on. If caught early, recovery from the disease is usually assured. If the disease goes untreated, it can cause arthritis-like symptoms and possibly death. Nationally, Lyme disease has afflicted more than 50,000 people in 43 states.

In New York state, almost cases have been reported since 1980, almost all of them Downsiate in Ulster, Dutchess, Putnam. Orange, Rockland. Weschester, Nassau and See DEER, 4A By JOHN YAUKEY Journal Statf Cornell University researchers are collecting parasites and tissue samples from recently killed white-tailed deer across New York state to determine what role the animals play in several diseases among them Lyme disease, which potentially is fatal for humans. It already is known that deer are major carriers of the Lyme disease tick, which transmits an infectious bacteria by biting people. "We're trying to get an idea of the exposure of deer to these diseases," said Dr.

Christine Rossiter, the Cornell epidemiologist in charge of the deer survey. "Deer often share the same territory as cattle, horses, and other pastured farm animals and, in the case of Lyme disease, the habitat of the deer tick and we are trying to learn to what extent deer in New York are affected and in It 'C TOP 10 LOCAL STORIES OF 1984 the area. Stories that affect their lives. And stories that are Interesting you know news, like you haven't seen it or heard of it before. Now, at the end of the 1980s, we've compiled those top 10 lists.

Newcomers and old-timers will find the first rough draft of history here. We'll run one year's list every day through the end of jthe year. Then, on New Year's Day we'll publish a special report on the decade. But first today's list: 1984. So many stories, and every day it's a fight to decide which ones belong on the front page.

The news, day after day, can be so fascinating and terrifying. A decade blurs across our memory. Near the end of every year, staff reporters and editors in The Ithaca Journal newsroom have paused to think back on the past 12 months and choose the biggest local stories. Stories that are important to people who live in University was earmarked for more than $40 million in gilts and giants to help the business school, biotechnology program and planned performing arts center: Wax mogul Samuel C. Johnson gave $20 million to the soon-to-be-renamcd business school on Last Hill; New York Ciov.

Mario Cuomo announced he would seek $20 million from the legislature to expand Cornell's biotechnology program; and donations for the planned performing arts center in Collcgetown approached a $16.5 million goal. Fast Slate Street bricks It was decided 'the red brick road to Ithaca would be paved with asphalt, despite an outcry from brick supporters who pointed to history as a guide. (The bricks had been on East Stale Street hill for more than 40 years.) Common Council approved a $1 million repaving project in its 1985 budget. were registered lo vote in November than at any other lime in the county's history. Another first: More of them aligned themselves as Democrats than Republicans.

Then, holy a record or 85 percent of those registered went lo the polls. What was the big attraction? President Reagan was running lor re-election (Tompkins County went for loser Walter F. Mondale). Layoffs and closings ayoff alter layoff after layoff were announced at manufacturing plants in Tompkins County as domestic and international competition look their toll. Among those affected: 380 al NCR Corpl and 1,000 at Cortland's Smith Corona plant, where many of Groton's workers had been transferred.

Also troublesome: a strike at Morse Industrial Corp. and a possibility that Borg-Warner Corp. would move its Power Electronics plant from South Hill to North Carolina. Dollars for Cornell Cornell Two unsolved killings and Is-zard's opening topped the year's local news, but The Journal news room decided not to rank the top 10 local stories in 1984: Unsolved murders Two killings in Tompkins County were left unsolved in 1984. Freeville resident Hugh Wesley Chaffin, 83, known for the gladiolas he sold each week at the Ithaca Farmers' Market, was found dead in the basement of his home.

He had been bound and beaten, and police investigators listed robbery as a possible motive. Then retired Ithaca police officer Richard B. Rohrer of Slaterville Springs was run down and killed by an unidentified hit-and-run driver near his home. Conquering Cayuga Lake Ithacan Claire de Boer swam the length of Cayuga Lake in 20 hours, and 30 minutes, the fastest time ever recorded. The 24-year-old's trip, ending at Allan H.

Treman State Marine Park, was only the second time a person has swum the sponsibility, later said it orchestrated the effort to change an anti-teacher tone among school board members. County jail site settled Tompkins County legislators decided to build a new county jail on Warren Road in Lansing after two years of studying possible sites. The old brick jail on East Court Street was ordered closed by the slate because of several code violations. Voter registration goes up, up, up More people 44,901 garbage truck. The town was held hostage by fear for 45 hours before the convicted murderers were Ithaca teachers bid for power A well-organized write-in campaign by members of the Ithaca Teachers Association elected two undeclared candidates Lawrence Watson and Susan Yeres and swept two newcomers David McFarren and Dawn Ross into office on the Ithaca School Board.

The union, which at first denied re 38 miles of the lake. Iszard's opens Downtown's anchor store opened in September, filling the vacancy left when Roths- child's folded in May 1982. An El- mira-based department store, Iszard's was heralded as holding the key to success on The Commons. Elmira prison escapees hide in Newfield State police troopers on horseback and in helicopters, scoured the fields of Newfield for two prisoners who "escaped from Elmira State Prison in the back of a The top 10 local sto- Wednesday: nes of 1985..