This week I want to continue to share important updates we have on the plan for the new hospital.

As you know, building the new hospital is hugely complex and we take each decision extremely seriously, because we know it’s essential that we get it right.

We are making some modifications to the original plan, but we do not expect that this will impact the commitments we have made to our workforce, patients, or the community. The Center will still include a state-of-the-art emergency department, the previously committed to 70 beds, the same services, the same equipment and access, and the same potential capacity to add beds if we need to in the future. We remain fully committed to providing the downtown community with the best quality care and meeting the evolving needs of our patients.

What we learned over the last few weeks is that we can build the new hospital faster by using some additional underutilized portions of the current New York Eye and Ear facility. With this additional space availability, the height of the new building will be slightly reduced, but all of the planned services will remain the same, and we anticipate we will be able to build it faster and better.

Here are some updated renderings showing the new space, inside and out.

A rendering of the ambulance bay on 13th street.

Inside of a patient room.

I am also excited to share our plan to expand behavioral health services for the community and relocate them together in one newly-renovated building 45 Rivington Street on the Lower East Side.  In addition to keeping all of the existing services – including inpatient behavioral health, detoxification, and rehab – we will be adding essential new services including intensive crisis and respite beds, primary care, a partial hospital program, and others. The plan is for the new Center to be a state-of-the-art, community-oriented destination for behavioral health care and a “one-stop” location of services for mental health, addictions, physical health, and social service needs for the downtown community.

The Bernstein pavilion and programs will remain open and fully operational while we await the opening of the newly-renovated Rivington site. At no time will there be an interruption of existing services.

We are very excited about these new plans as we will be able to deliver the type of world-class care in state-of-the-art facilities that our communities deserve to be treated in and you deserve to work in.

Rivington House on the Lower East Side where our behavioral health center will reside in the future.

We will have much more information coming in 2019.

On December 9, almost 200 patients from the Mount Sinai Beth Israel pediatric emergency department and the New York Chapter of the Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation attended a special holiday extravaganza sponsored by Andy and Elaine Pesky with PROTRAVEL INTERNATIONAL. Held at the Mount Sinai Union Square atrium, the party included costumed characters, food, music, face-painting, and a special visit from Santa, who offered gifts to each child.

Mr. Pesky, the Senior Vice President of Leisure Sales and Marketing for PROTRAVEL INTERNATIONAL has been coordinating the event with MSBI for more than 25 years. More than 100 PROTRAVEL employees volunteered for the party.

Mount Sinai Beth Israel Emergency Department team members also volunteered, including Catherine Coughlin, RN, Yvette Calderon, MD, Erik Eiting, MD, Marcia Graham, child life specialist, and Czer Anthoney Lim, MD.

Marcia Graham, child life specialist at Mount Sinai Beth Israel said, “It’s a wonderful event. Many of our patients ask about this party each year because it’s the one festive event they get to attend during the season.”

Last week, we held an event to say thank you to our incredible physicians. It was a truly warm and meaningful way to start the holiday season, and a long-overdue acknowledgment of all the stellar care that they provide to their and our patients day in and day out.

More than 150 physicians attended the event at The National Arts Club where we recognized long-serving physicians with service pins and certificates—many of whom have served more than 30, 40, or even 50 years at MSBI.

It’s rare that our many physicians have the opportunity to meet in person. I saw so many old friends reconnect, and so many new bonds being made that night. These links keep us strong and contribute to the incredible care we offer as a network and system.

Dr. Dahlia Rizk, President of the MSBI Medical Board, was the mastermind and master of ceremonies of the event. She personifies MSBI professionalism, leadership, and spirit. Thank you Dahlia! And thanks to our human resources teams who also contributed immensely to the event’s success.

On November 3, many of our MSBI colleagues ran across the finish line. Taking part in the New York City marathon is a unique experience that unites spectators, volunteers, and visitors from all around the world.  We applaud and are inspired by those of us at MSBI who had the graciousness to volunteer and those who had the determination to run the incredible 26.2 miles.

Below are photos of your colleagues! Click on the photo to see the caption.

You all are the backbone of MSBI, and we’ve spent the past few weeks celebrating you and the incredible work you do. I hope you all were able to make it to one of our appreciation events hosted by the teams at Union Square, Chelsea, and Petrie. It’s only one of the many ways we can continue to thank you for all of your dedication. A big thank you goes out to our chefs, food services, engineering, and environmental services teams who do the heavy lifting for these events with contributions from so many more.