Closure of Stroke and Cardiac Services at Beth Israel Hospital Looms
by Mindy Cohn
Mount Sinai Beth Israel in Manhattan will close the hospital's stroke and cardiac department on March 10, after ambulances have reportedly already stopped directing stroke and cardiac patients to the facility.
Mount Sinai claimed in October that its Beth Israel location would have to shut down because it is bleeding funds and does not have enough patient capacity.
In response, on December 21, the hospital was ordered to close its services only with the approval of the State Health Department and the Supreme Court. Penalties of $2,000 for every day beds or services are closed without that approval were meant to stop closures, but as the hospital's stroke certification and its designation as a STEMI Center are not being renewed, the hospital can no longer service stroke and cardiac patients.