Albany (N.Y.) Medical Center will pay a $375,000 penalty to the New York State Department of Health for failing to submit an adequate plan of correction after violating the state’s hospital clinical staffing law, according to a department news release shared with Becker’s.
State officials said a violation was identified during a 2024 survey of the hospital. The hospital ultimately submitted an adequate plan of correction on June 3, according to the settlement.
Under the settlement, $125,000 of the penalty will be suspended if AMC fully complies with the agreement’s terms.
“This agreement reinforces the importance of timely compliance with staffing requirements and helps ensure that hospitals are accountable to both their workers and the patients they serve,” state Health Commissioner James McDonald, MD, said in the release. “The department remains committed to working collaboratively with facilities across New York to uphold the standards of the hospital staffing law.”
Dennis McKenna, MD, president and CEO of the Albany Med Health System, shared the following statement with Becker’s:
“As an academic medical center offering unique and highly specialized services, we share the same commitment as the Department of Health: to deliver the highest quality healthcare to the 3 million people living in the 25 counties that make up Upstate New York.
“In pursuit of this shared goal, we worked closely with the department and our own Clinical Staffing Committee to develop a revised plan, which received favorable approval. This collaborative effort reflects our mutual dedication to advancing care for our region.”
The settlement follows the department’s adoption in June 2023 of a proposed regulation requiring hospitals to assign at least one nurse for every two patients in critical care units. It is part of a state law signed in 2021 mandating hospitals establish clinical staffing committees.
As part of the law, hospitals are required to establish clinical staffing committees to create and submit minimum staffing plans to the department. Those found in violation must submit a corrective action plan, which must be implemented upon state approval. Hospitals that do not comply could face a fine of up to $2,000 per citation and any other related civil penalties.
In 2024 and 2025, the department has taken four other enforcement actions stemming from clinical staffing law investigations, in addition to the one against AMC, state officials said.
“The department will continue to monitor compliance with the staffing law and work with facilities to promote high-quality, safe, and transparent care across the state,” state officials said.
Dr. McKenna said: “Like the other hospitals referenced by the department, we are committed to continuous improvement. We consistently invest in our workforce and infrastructure to support excellence in care and to ensure we continue to meet the evolving needs of our communities.”
