Although Franklin Hospital Medical Center in Valley Stream has been sponsored by the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, it has now become a wholly owned hospital within the health system.

The Franklin Hospital Medical Center Board of Trustees will no longer govern operations at the medical center. Instead, the Franklin board of trustees will act as an advisory board to the North Shore-LIJ Health Systems Board of Trustees, although three members of the Franklin board will also serve on the North Shore-LIJ board.

"By forging a closer relationship, North Shore-LIJ and Franklin are committed to strengthening the quality of care at the medical center, and doing a better job meeting the demands and expectations of community residents," said Michael J. Dowling, the health system's president and chief executive officer.

In terms of day-to-day operations, the hospital's administrative structure and medical staff will remain intact as the medical staff will continue to govern its own affairs. There has been no decision on whether to change the hospital's name. However, Franklin Hospital Medical Center President William Kowalewski views the move as a positive one that is good for the staff and patients of the hospital.

Although Franklin will focus on the healthcare needs of the community, there are numerous advantages to be owned by North-Shore-LIJ, according to Kowalewski.

The hospital, in addition to having greater financial backing, is now linked to a greater amount of healthcare, Kowalewski believes. The hospital's standards on healthcare are now those of North Shore-LIJ's. In addition, patients will have greater access to other levels of care that Franklin doesn't provide. For example, Franklin does not perform pediatric surgery or open heart surgery, but patients can be connected with another North Shore-LIJ facility that does.

The move is viewed as an opportunity for Franklin, a 425-bed facility, to reach more patients and enhance the quality of services.

The North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System is comprised of 18 hospitals that are either wholly owned or sponsored as well as four long-term care facilities, three trauma centers, seven home health agencies and dozens of out-patient centers. The facilities house more than 5,670 beds and are staffed by over 7,000 physicians and 7,000 nurses.