NUHEALTH HURRICANE SANDY UPDATE #16 NOVEMBER 4, 2012 12:00 PM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 4, 2012
PRESS CONTACT:
Shelley Lotenberg
shelley@numc.edu
516-572-6055
NUHEALTH HURRICANE SANDY UPDATE #16 NOVEMBER 4, 2012 12:00 PM
East Meadow, NY….. Arthur A. Gianelli, President/CEO of the NuHealth System, provides the following update on the status of the Nassau University Medical Center, the A. Holly Patterson Extended Care Facility and the Family Health Centers, following Hurricane Sandy:
NuHealth continues to play an essential role in the Island’s response to Hurricane Sandy. NuHealth again took a pounding last night, Saturday, November 3rd, with as many as 50 patients in the ED waiting for beds on the floors and a total admitted census of approximately 541 by evening. Today, Sunday, November 4th, the census is at 529 in the morning. The nursing home remains at over capacity, as well. Staffing remains very tight. Accordingly, we have called the NYSDOH to request staff to reinforce our nurses as well as beds to which to move in-patients who should be in nursing homes. The request is being actively considered.
We were advised that the New Cassel Health Center regained power so the Long Island FQHC, Inc (LIFQHC), will be fully operational on Monday, with all four health centers operational.
Dr. Walerstein, NuHealth’s medical director, has been working with Nassau County and NYS OMH to direct mental health patients from the shelters to LIFQHC. We would also like all residents at shelters who have health care needs to be triaged to LIFQHC as opposed to our providing staff to the shelters. It is essential for us to re-activate our own ambulatory network.
Fuel remained a critical issue. Management implemented a protocol for making fuel available to essential personnel. We expect another shipment tomorrow to fill our fuel tank for our emergency vehicles and essential personnel (capacity is 900 gallons).
We have 3 acute and emerging problems. First, we have about 27 patients who really belong in a nursing home but, at this point, and for the foreseeable future, cannot be placed. Second, there is a mounting need for community psychiatry to counsel residents who have lost everything and who are only now realizing the magnitude of the devastation. And third, the colder temperatures, combined with the lack of heat, are pushing residents out of their homes and into Emergency Departments such as ours. Management will meet today, Sunday, November 04, 2012 and Monday, November 5th again to assess the situation.
The Command Center will be open on Sunday again. We remain at HICS Level 4.
ABOUT NUHEALTH
NuHealth is a Long Island health care organization delivering essential medical care and disease and lifestyle management to everyone at every stage of life. Also known as Nassau Health Care Corporation, NuHealth is a public benefit corporation managing the operations of Nassau Medical Center, A. Holly Patterson Extended Care and a network of Family Health Centers that bring primary and specialty care out into the community. By emphasizing wellness, cultural sensitivity and collaborative efforts with the North Shore-LIJ Health System, NuHealth is working to make good care more affordable and easier to access.
For more information about NuHealth or its Centers of Care, visit www.nuhealth.net.