Mount Sinai Queens Enjoys Technological Advances
BY RICHARD GENTILVISO

Since the Astoria General Hospital became Mount Sinai Hospital of Queens in June 1999, there have been many changes. "Eight years ago, there was essentially no technology," David Nierman, M.D., chief of medicine at Mount Sinai Queens, said.

At a town hall meeting jointly sponsored by Mount Sinai Queens and the United Community Civic Association (UCCA) held on October 18 at the Museum of the Moving Image, Nierman said technological advances at the hospital now allow for a paperless environment for all medical records.

"It's all electronic and we are no longer printing out X-rays," he said.

New doctors in neurology and endocrinology and other specialties have been recruited and the hospital is involved in a joint initiative with Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan called "BEST", an acronym for Building Excellence for Success Together.

Great quality of care and excellence of service is the goal of BEST, said Mount Sinai Queens Chief Executive Officer Caryn Schwab.

But problems beyond the administration's immediate control remain thorny issues at the hospital, located at 25-10 30th Ave.

"The sad fact of Mount Sinai Hospital Queens is that we're pretty much land-locked," said Schwab. "We've done an enormous amount with the amount of space that we do have but the reality is we really do need to get the attention of the State Department of Health and we do need financial help."

In New York City, there are 4.6 beds for every 100,000 patients, said Schwab. In Queens, which is underbedded, there are 2.2 beds per 100,000 patients. Western Queens, the area served by Mount Sinai Queens, has just 1 bed per 100,000 patients.

"I'm trying to get funding," said state Senator George Onorato. "Our community is growing in leaps and bounds."

Onorato, Assemblymember Michael Gianaris and City Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr. are all involved in the effort to bring about the necessary large-scale funding needed for a new hospital.

"The time has come for this community to have a new hospital," said Dr. Bhupendra Patel, M.D. "We need to work together for the new hospital and we're doing the best we can with the hospital we have. [A new hospital] may take another four to five years."

Schwab admitted that changing some negative perceptions held in the community about the hospital is, she said, "very, very hard".

The renovated emergency room still overflows with 45,000 visits per year. Asked about the lack of bathrooms in hospital rooms, Schwab said it would reduce the number of beds in the hospital by 60 to 70 to put bathrooms in every room. The hospital has 234 beds.

"I think the message that has to go out (to the community) is that we're the only [hospital in Western Queens], she said. "Write to your elected officials, write to your state Department of Health."

Onorato said the commission formed by Governor George Pataki at the end of his term to close hospitals impeded funding for a new hospital.

"Our only lifeline is Mt. Sinai Hospital," said Onorato. "I'm going to do everything I can to help them."