Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital (SBELIH) is actively identifying and repurposing space within the hospital to safely care for patients suspected of having (PUI) and confirmed with coronavirus. The hospital has implemented the following series of operational changes to support the anticipated increase in COVID-19 patients:
- Postponed elective surgeries
- Closed a number of outpatient clinic sites
- Created a discreet COVID-19 unit with dedicated staff
- Redeployed staff to support COVID testing and COVID inpatient treatment areas within the hospital
- Increased bed capacity from a licensed 15 to 46 med/surg beds, and from 2 to 5 ICU beds
- Greatly increased capacity for overflow bed needs
In the coming months, SBELIH plans to:
- Create new negative pressure and isolation room resources
- Increase capacity with an additional 8 med/surg beds
- Continue to transfer all ventilator patients to Stony Brook Southampton Hospital (SBSH) or Stony Brook University Hospital (SBUH) to cohort these patients, as we have three Intensivists who must cover SBSH and SBELIH 24/7
These projected increases in beds assume access to essential equipment and supplies. Access to ventilators for patients and personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff– such as masks and face shields - is imperative. Although SBELIH has taken steps over the past several months to increase inventory, they like all NYS hospitals, are in dire need of these items and are seeking assistance to make sure that these critical equipment and supply needs are met for the well-being of the hospital’s patients and medical teams.
