SNCH announces partnership with Mount Sinai

Agreement will share services, funding and management between the two institutions

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South Nassau Communities Hospital’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously on Jan. 23 to enter into an affiliation agreement with the Mount Sinai Health System in an effort to expand health care services on the South Shore of Long Island.

The boards of both institutions approved the agreement, which is currently awaiting the completion of a state regulatory review before it can take effect.

If approved, the Oceanside-based South Nassau will become the flagship medical center on Long Island in Mount Sinai’s $7 billion network, which includes seven hospitals in New York metropolitan area and 6,500 physicians, as well as the Icahn School of Medicine — a prestigious medical research center.

The agreement came after more than six months of negotiations between the two parties, and will allow South Nassau’s current Board of Directors to retain control over the day-to-day operations of the 455-bed hospital.

Richard Murphy, president and chief executive officer at South Nassau, called the partnership a “once-in-a-generation opportunity.”

“South Nassau and Mount Sinai have a shared vision to improve services,” Murphy said in a statement announcing the partnership,” especially on the South Shore, which is why this affiliation makes so much sense.”

Additionally, Mount Sinai will contribute $120 million in capital to the medical center, which according to Murphy, will help accelerate its plans to increase services at the hospital’s Oceanside and Long Beach locations. The projects include an expanded Emergency Department and a four-story intensive-care building in Oceanside, as well as additional medical services in Long Beach.

“Long Islanders shouldn’t always have to travel into Manhattan for advanced cardiovascular, cancer, orthopedic or neurological care,” said South Nassau Board Chairman Joseph Fennessy, who reportedly led the yearlong search process and affiliation talks. “Our goal from the outset was to find a partner seeking to expand services on Long Island who, like us, puts patients first, employing cutting-edge science and treatments. We have found that partner in Mount Sinai.”

South Nassau, a nonprofit medical center, is one of the few remaining independently controlled hospitals on Long Island, and employs roughly 3,500 people and 900 physicians.

“The addition of South Nassau to our Long Island network represents our commitment to broadening access to innovative treatment and research in this region,” said Mount Sinai president and CEO Kenneth Davis. “This transformative partnership will complement our existing network of talented clinicians and facilities. We’re thrilled about what this means for patients and families on Long Island, and look forward to working closely with our Long Island partners to continue advancing care in the region.”