By Edwin J. Viera, Producer
Thursday, May 30, 2024
Reports show closing Mount Sinai Beth Israel means sending people to Bellevue or NYU Langone's Tisch Hospital, which have high-volume emergency departments, with up to three-hour wait times. (Wikimedia Commons)
New York City's Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital is slated to close on July 12. Mount Sinai Health Systems cites financial reasons since the hospital lost millions in revenue in recent years.
Closing Beth Israel adds to Lower Manhattan's healthcare shortage, as New York Presbyterian Lower Manhattan Hospital will be the only full-service hospital in the area.Arthur Schwartz, general counsel with the Center for Independence of the Disabled New York, said this costs people chances for care.
"Every time a hospital closes, it keeps New Yorkers from getting healthcare in two ways," said Schwartz. "One is it prevents people from getting immediate, timely lifesaving care. And it also prevents people from getting emergency care that may not be life-threatening, but which requires the attention of more than an urgent care center."CIDNY is one of several groups filing a lawsuit to prevent Beth Israel's closure.
A newly filed closure plan calls for expanding Bellevue Hospital's emergency department.But, court filings show Beth Israel patients faced delays due to unapproved service cuts.
New York City Fire Department ambulances were told to divert stroke patients away from the hospital due to a lack of staff.New York State hospital closures are turning regions into healthcare deserts.
Four out of five hospitals statewide had negative or unsustainable operating margins in 2022.Schwartz said health system consolidation makes it difficult to save Beth Israel.
"Mount Sinai, Montefiore, NYU, and Northwell basically own almost every hospital in New York City," said Schwartz.
"They control an enormous amount of the healthcare in New York City. To find a knight in shining armor who's going to come in and buy Beth Israel is harder than it may have been.
"But, hospitals and medical centers are booming in other parts of the city.A survey by real estate services company CBRE finds growing demand for healthcare services makes the Upper East Side a central location for the healthcare sector.Five major new hospital and medical projects are slated or have broken ground for construction, despite community opposition.
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