St. John's Episcopal Hospital in Far Rockaway, N.Y., has seen an influx of patients following the closure of Peninsula Hospital Center, also in Far Rockaway, in early April, according to an LI Herald report.
Peninsula Hospital Center's closing left St. John's as the only hospital on the Rockaway Peninsula. As a result, St. John's has seen a 35 percent increase in the number of emergency department patients since Peninsula Hospital Center closed and an 11 percent increase in patient volume in March and April compared with the same period last year, according to the report. In addition, the number of X-rays at St. John's imaging department has increased nearly 30 percent.
To meet the sudden growth in demand, St. John's expedited its peer review credentialing process and hired six physicians who formerly worked at Peninsula, according to the report. St. John's is also moving forward on expansion plans, including an observation unit for the ED, 17 additional ED treatment bays, 51 medical/surgical beds, 10 critical care beds and one pediatric beds, bringing St. John's total to 319 beds. The hospital expects its annual ED volume to increase from its current 30,000 patients to 50,000 after the expansion.
However, there are concerns that even with the expansions St. John's will not be able to absorb the volume that was previously spread across two hospitals.
Peninsula Hospital Physician Seeks Injunction to Stop Hospital Closure
Peninsula Hospital's Worsening Financial State Forces Closure
Peninsula Hospital Center's closing left St. John's as the only hospital on the Rockaway Peninsula. As a result, St. John's has seen a 35 percent increase in the number of emergency department patients since Peninsula Hospital Center closed and an 11 percent increase in patient volume in March and April compared with the same period last year, according to the report. In addition, the number of X-rays at St. John's imaging department has increased nearly 30 percent.
To meet the sudden growth in demand, St. John's expedited its peer review credentialing process and hired six physicians who formerly worked at Peninsula, according to the report. St. John's is also moving forward on expansion plans, including an observation unit for the ED, 17 additional ED treatment bays, 51 medical/surgical beds, 10 critical care beds and one pediatric beds, bringing St. John's total to 319 beds. The hospital expects its annual ED volume to increase from its current 30,000 patients to 50,000 after the expansion.
However, there are concerns that even with the expansions St. John's will not be able to absorb the volume that was previously spread across two hospitals.
More Articles on Peninsula Hospital:
Former CEO of Closed Peninsula Hospital Wants $1.2M in Severance PayPeninsula Hospital Physician Seeks Injunction to Stop Hospital Closure
Peninsula Hospital's Worsening Financial State Forces Closure