The orthopedics department of the North Shore Health Care System, which was housed at Glen Cove Hospital, has been relocated to Syosset Hospital, and the hospital has performed more than 116 orthopedic surgeries in the two weeks since it began operating on Feb. 10.
Headed by Dr. Eugene Kraus, the orthopedics department occupies the entire west wing of the second floor of the hospital.
Michael Fener, executive director of Syosset Hospital, said that more than 100 staff members from the Glen Cove orthopedics department have relocated to Syosset, and include RNs, “transporters,” booking staff members, and physical therapists.
Additionally, more than 100 “trays” containing specialized orthopedic equipment were moved to Syosset. The hospital contains six operating rooms that will accommodate orthopedic surgery patients as well as patients being treated for conditions in the three other areas of the hospital’s specialization: ophthalmology, bariatric surgery and chronic pain management.
Fener said that Glen Cove Hospital performed approximately 3,000 orthopedic surgeries a year, and Syosset is now equipped to handle this caseload.
Verona Henningpham, RN, nurse manager of the orthopedics unit, said she has a sufficient number of RNs to provide orthopedic care throughout the day and night.
Relocation of the orthopedics unit was one major component of a revision of Glen Cove Hospital’s recently redefined mission, which was to convert the facility to a primarily ambulatory hospital with limited inpatient care.
Fener said that nation-wide, hospitals are focusing on providing primary care and wellness services, with emphases on reducing or eliminating readmissions of patients to hospitals and increasing at-home treatments.
At the same time, Fener noted, ambulatory surgery has risen. Glen Cove Hospital will perform ambulatory surgery, and Syosset Hospital will perform ambulatory surgery for orthopedics.
Orthopedists who were affiliated with Glen Cove Hospital will continue to provide services to patients at Syosset Hospital. Fener said that North Shore-LIJ is investigating establishing medical offices closer to Syosset, in light of the movement from Glen Cove.
The restructuring of Glen Cove Hospital sparked uproar in the community served by the hospital. Residents feared that the restructuring was the start of a movement to close the facility, which serves more than 76,000 people in Bayville, Sea Cliff and Oyster Bay in addition to Glen Cove.
Administrators and doctors affiliated with the hospital assured residents that Glen Cove Hospital is maintaining “full service” to the community.
The North Shore-LIJ Health System comprises 16 hospitals in the New York metropolitan area and a number of health-care related facilities.
