What you should know
- The Long Beach Emergency Department, operated by Mount Sinai South Nassau, will be temporarily closed starting at 3 p.m. Monday.
- The hospital said the staffing shortage and subsequent closure is a result of the hospital’s compliance with the NYSDOH mandate that requires the suspension of any staff working under religious exemptions who cannot show proof of having received a first dose of the vaccine. COVID-19 or a valid medical exemption to receive it.
- A 24-hour ambulance will be stationed at the location during closure to take patients in need of emergency care to the hospital’s main campus in Oceanside, a facility designated as a trauma center.
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NEW YORK – The Long Beach Emergency Department, operated by Mount Sinai South Nassau, will be temporarily closed starting at 3 p.m. Monday due to a nursing staff shortage that occurred as a result of the state vaccination mandate, according to Hospital.
The decision to temporarily close was made after all other options were exhausted, according to the hospital.
A 24-hour ambulance will be stationed at the location during closure to take patients in need of emergency care to the hospital’s main campus in Oceanside, a facility designated as a trauma center.
The New York State Department of Health (or NYSDOH) was notified of the need to shut down the independent Long Beach Emergency Department (or LBED) on Friday and was granted approval. verbal, according to Mount Sinai South Nassau.
The hospital said the staffing shortage and subsequent closure is a result of the hospital’s compliance with the NYSDOH mandate issued Thursday requiring the suspension of any staff working under temporary religious exemptions who cannot show proof of having received a first COVID-19 vaccine dose or a valid medical exemption to receive it.
“We regret taking this step, but the safety of our patients is always our first priority,” said Dr. Adhi Sharma, president of Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital, in a statement. “This will allow us to transfer the nursing staff to the Oceanside campus to ensure we maintain adequate staffing in the Emergency Department on our main campus.”
The hospital said 99% of Mount Sinai South Nassau staff are fully vaccinated, not counting those who sought religious or medical exemptions. The hospital said it is recruiting experienced and qualified staff who can show proof of a first dose of COVID-19 vaccine or a valid medical exemption so that it can resume full operations of the Long Beach Emergency Department on or around December 15. That date.
“We are committed to serving the residents of the barrier island,” said Sharma. “This closure should not be construed as anything beyond what it is: a temporary measure designed to alleviate current staffing challenges in our Emergency Department.”
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