The State Department of Health today approved key parts of the plan to close Long Island College Hospital, marking the beginning of the end of a long battle by the state to shutter the institution for good.
Administrators told staff that they would be fired in about thirty days, according to an e-mail sent out this morning from a hospital administrator, which was obtained by the Brooklyn Paper.
Here is the letter from state authorities approving the staged closure of Long Island College Hospital:
John Williams, M.D.
President, SUNY Downstate Medical Center
Dear Dr. Williams:
In accordance with 10 NYCRR 401.3 (g), SUNY Downstate Medical Center (SUNY Downstate), submitted the closure plan for the Long Island College Hospital (LICH) on July 17, 2013. The New York State Department of Health (Department) has reviewed the closure plan, and approves the following actions:
• As expressly set forth in Section A (“Acute Care Inpatient Services”), on Page 7 of SUNY Downstate’s Closure Plan for LICH, LICH will “cease admitting patients from its Emergency Department (ED) at noon on July 22, 2013.” It is understood that LICH will continue to operate its ED with all supportive ancillary services, including laboratory, radiology, social work and pharmacy, until July 29, 2013.
• As expressly set forth in Section A (“Acute Care Inpatient Services”), on Page 7 of SUNY Downstate’s Closure Plan for LICH, LICH will transfer or discharge all remaining inpatients “on or before July 28th, 2013.” All patients will be discharged in accordance with applicable Federal and State requirements for discharge planning.
• As expressly set forth in Section C (“Surgical Services”), on Page 7 of SUNY Downstate’s Closure Plan for LICH, LICH will cancel its elective surgery schedule, “effective July 22, 2013”. All patients and their physicians will be notified of the cancellations so that procedures can be re-scheduled at other facilities.
SUNY Downstate may begin to take steps to implement the above approved actions. We will continue to work with you on the approval and implementation of the remainder of the closure plan. Should you have questions or require assistance, please contact Robert Welch, Deputy Director of the Division of Hospitals and Diagnostic and Treatment Centers at 518-402-1004.
Sincerely,
Ruth Leslie
Director
Division of Hospitals and Diagnostic and Treatment Centers
Reach reporter Jaime Lutz at jlutz@cnglocal.com or by calling (718) 260-8310. Follow her on Twitter @jaime_lutz.
