OPINION: Spinello and Gallo Share Concerns About Hospital

From the moment the news broke that North Shore LIJ was downsizing its Glen Cove campus by closing its inpatient facility, we have heard from many residents who are fearful at the prospect of not having a nearby hospital that runs at full capacity. I assure you that we share your concerns.

As your City Councilmen, and most of all lifelong Glen Cove residents, we have spent countless hours worried about the impact the inpatient closure will have on Glen Cove's fragile economy. Can North Shore LIJ live up to their promise to preserve each job by placing employees in other facilities? How will each employee deal with being displaced? How do we address the fears of Glen Cove's growing senior population as it relates to being transported to other facilities instead of being able to stay near their home and families? Will there be any inpatient beds and, if so, how many?

These are some of the questions we had. So, on Friday morning, August 16, we met with Mark Solazzo, COO of NSLIJ and Susan Kwiatek Exec. Dir. Glen Cove Campus. We asked them to share the hospitals vision and long term goals for the changes as they relate to our community. The following is a summary.

Employees

Employees are classified into four groups and they are: Employees not affected (for example ER, Ambulatory, and Critical Decision Beds, etc); Employees being transferred to different jobs within the Glen Cove campus; Employees being transferred to another facility (Brain Trauma, Orthopedic Surgery etc); and Employees offered other positions but unable to transfer (i.e. no means of transportation). The hospital is placing a high priority on this last group to accommodate their situation.

Seniors

The Emergency Room services will continue with planned expansion of Geriatric services.

The transferring of patients to other facilities will be done at the hospital's expense. NSLIJ will be working directly with local senior facilities to provide more resources such as nurse practitioners who can evaluate patient needs and make decisions on patient treatment and placement.

Beds

A limited number of inpatient beds will remain. These are referred to as critical decision beds or 36- hour beds that will accommodate patients who must be transferred to other facilities for treatment. The number of beds to remain and for what period of time is yet to be determined. No final decision has be made at this time.

Conclusion

Glen Cove Hospital is NOT closing. The Emergency Room will remain. The ambulatory services will remain. For now a limited number of inpatient beds will remain. Family Practice will remain.

We  will continue to keep you informed with facts. Moving forward  in our elected capacity and responsibility we will partner with NSLIJ to make sure the hospital in Glen Cove continues to provide services for our community.

Reggie Spinello

Anthony Gallo, Jr.