Riverhead, N.Y.-based Peconic Bay Medical Center will officially join Great Neck, N.Y.-based Northwell Health, formerly North Shore-LIJ Health System, Jan. 15, according to 27east.com.
PBMC's board decided to join then North Shore-LIJ last April. The hospital had also considered partnering with Stony Brook (N.Y.) University Hospital at the time.
By joining Northwell Health, PBMC will expand its services for residents on the East End of Long Island, including the planned creation of the region's first trauma center and women-dedicated primary care program, as well as a new cardiac catheterization laboratory. Currently, patients in need of such services are taken to hospitals farther west, such as Stony Brook University Hospital.
PBMC's decision to partner with Northwell Health was publicly criticized by State Senator Kenneth P. LaValle (R). He believed the system's strong presence on western Long Island would cause it to neglect PBMC, which is located on the East End, according to the report.
Andrew Mitchell, president and CEO of PBMC, defended the decision, saying the benefits to patients will be "enormous," according to the report.
"Healthcare is local," said Mr. Mitchell. "The services and capabilities we are gaining through our new partnership with the [Northwell] family will be delivered locally by people who live and work right here on the East End."