Nurses are claiming that St. Luke's Hospital in New York City used Hurricane Sandy as an excuse to close a low-volume, unprofitable pediatric unit, according to a New York Post report.
During Hurricane Sandy, St. Luke's Hospital closed its pediatric wing to be able to serve more adult patients following the evacuation of some New York City hospitals, including NYU Langone Medical Center. St. Luke's never reopened the 28-bed pediatric unit for children, however; currently it only serves adults, according to the report.
Nurses allege the hospital closed the unit, which served patients primarily from low-income communities, because it was unprofitable, according to the report. However, hospital officials say the motivation for closing the unit is based on quality, saying quality care depends on sufficient patient volume, according to the report.
Officials from St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, a merger of St. Luke's and Roosevelt Hospital in New York City, sent a letter to elected officials explaining its plans to move St. Luke's pediatric unit to Roosevelt Hospital, according to the report. The state health department must approve the plan before the unit can be moved.
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During Hurricane Sandy, St. Luke's Hospital closed its pediatric wing to be able to serve more adult patients following the evacuation of some New York City hospitals, including NYU Langone Medical Center. St. Luke's never reopened the 28-bed pediatric unit for children, however; currently it only serves adults, according to the report.
Nurses allege the hospital closed the unit, which served patients primarily from low-income communities, because it was unprofitable, according to the report. However, hospital officials say the motivation for closing the unit is based on quality, saying quality care depends on sufficient patient volume, according to the report.
Officials from St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, a merger of St. Luke's and Roosevelt Hospital in New York City, sent a letter to elected officials explaining its plans to move St. Luke's pediatric unit to Roosevelt Hospital, according to the report. The state health department must approve the plan before the unit can be moved.
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