Mount Sinai Health System CEO Brendan Carr said, per a letter dated May 17, that the health system will open an urgent care center at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary compound (also once on the chopping block) on 14th Street and Second Avenue to lessen the impact of the closure, as Politico reported.
The facility would provide a broader range of services, including x-rays, ultrasounds, and CT scans, than a typical urgent care center, like the two on 14th Street at or near Third Avenue.
"In looking at the current patients using the 16th Street emergency department, I believe that this expanded urgent care will address many of the concerns and needs of current patients," Carr wrote in the letter.
The latest plan also promises to help Bellevue Medical Center expand its existing emergency department to absorb and care for at least some of the patients displaced by a Beth Israel shutdown.
In December, the Department of Health ordered Mount Sinai to immediately stop the Beth Israel closure.
Despite the updated closing plan, 16 local elected officials voiced their opposition in a signed joint letter released yesterday...
Our coalition remains steadfast in the fight to keep healthcare services available at Mt. Sinai Beth Israel. This hospital is vital to our community’s wellbeing. We urge the State Department of Health to return the application that has a closure set for July of this year. pic.twitter.com/BYbBg9E7s7
— Carlina Rivera (@CarlinaRivera) May 28, 2024
"Our offices have received notice that the Mount Sinai Health System has resubmitted their application to close Beth Israel Hospital on July 12 of this year. This elimination of services on a hasty timeline without adequate community engagement remains unacceptable, and we urge the Department of Health to return this application. Mount Sinai must engage in a robust and collaborative process to fulfill its obligations to the community in ensuring access to high-quality health care is protected in lower Manhattan."
The Save Beth Israel and New York Eye & Ear Campaign also has concerns about the revised plan. Their letter can be found here.
The Times recently reported that patient care is suffering at Beth Israel, where cuts have meant the hospital can't care for critically ill new arrivals.
Mount Sinai officials say Beth Israel lost $1 billion in the last decade, and only $29 million remains in cash reserves.
Beth Israel was founded 143 years ago on the Lower East Side, moving to its current location in 1929.
How are more luxury condos in this neighborhood going to keep people healthy?
ReplyDeleteEast River Park killer, zoning denier and dining shed promoter Carlina Rivera is looking for a win on her awful resume. Sorry sister too little too late.
ReplyDeleteTo Whom This May Concern:
ReplyDelete$2billion dollars to be spent to build a 600 foot Hospital on the Upper East Side on the site of a residential zoned building 1233 York Avenue between East 66th Street and East 67th Street NYC NY. This hospital of 208 beds and 28 operating rooms is for a hospital specializing in palliative care as their 501 C3 non profit registration defines their purpose.
Will the people of Manhattan ever receive a proper hospital downtown again that serves the area residents general needs ? Or are we simply serving and preserving hospital access for the wealthy who don't need insurance and can afford the exhorbitant out of pocket expenses necessitated by emergency and non emergency medical care.
Really good point, Nathaniel...
ReplyDeleteObviously I want Beth Israel to stay open (it's needed), but if those figures are correct - they've lost $1 Billion and only have $29 million in cash reserves - what's the solution?
ReplyDeleteThose are stark figures that even if they're forced to stay open would mean a disaster no matter if they remained open. Anyone hear any solutions floated?
9:45 - couldn’t agree with more about Carlina Rivera.
ReplyDeleteLike many / most politicians, she lied to us to get our
votes and once in power, she showed her true colors.
Yet people voted for her again. Why?
You still need a hospital. People will get sick or injured and may require a stay. There's the time factor in cases such as heart attacks and strokes.Hospital have more resources than the urgent care center.
ReplyDeleteSingle payer health insurance would go a long way toward getting costs under control and is surely the solution or part of it....
ReplyDeletewhy does a hospital need to make money???
ReplyDeleteTo Whom This May Conc ern:
ReplyDelete501c 3 Hospitals may need to make money at the same time as the 501 c3 Hospitals pay no City, State, or Federal Taxes for the following reasons:
1. To pay their lawyers and tax accountants
2. To pay their executives and c.e.o.'s and upper management who may or may not live in any specific neighborhood with tax paying residents who will be impacted by their decisions to a. Open or close a hospital b. Expand their real estate portfolio by "taking" a property thru purchase of a city school, a religious building, a parking garage, another non profit hospital and the purchase of air rights.
3. To "lobby" within the IRS regulations that govern a 501 c3 carefully so as to not lose such non tax paying status.
4. To hire city, state and federal employees after they leave office after the exact amount of days have passed regarding laws in place governing
violating the conflict of interest by politicians.
5. Or because the 501 c3 is run by a Board of Directors from the for profit commercial business American capitalism sector and the Board is directing their CEO to make money, make lots of money.
But first, do no harm.
Or something in the Hippocratic oath to that effect.