Thursday, October 1, 2026
Mount Sinai South Nassau has expanded its continuum of care services by launching an inpatient hospice program through a new clinical partnership with MJHS Hospice and Palliative Care, providing specialized end-of-life care for patients whose needs cannot be met at home.
The hospital announced that the new service will offer around-the-clock hospice care for patients facing life-limiting illnesses, while also providing support for their families during one of life’s most difficult transitions.
We are grateful to partner with a respected health care provider such as MJHS Health System to provide this most essential, compassionate end-of-life care and support to patients and their families who need it,” said Dr. Adhi Sharma, president of Mount Sinai South Nassau. “The service is a reflection of each organization's mission and values to bring the highest-quality continuum of care to the communities we serve.”
The program combines the expertise of Mount Sinai South Nassau's clinical staff with MJHS Hospice's specialized team of hospice professionals. Care will be provided by an interdisciplinary group that includes physicians certified in hospice and palliative medicine, skilled hospice nurses, social workers, chaplains, creative arts therapists and grief counselors.
Hospice care focuses on comfort rather than curative treatment, helping patients manage symptoms such as pain while emphasizing quality of life. Although many hospice patients receive services in their homes, some require a higher level of care that can only be provided in a hospital setting.
“As a mission-driven provider of end-of-life care, we are honored to partner with Mount Sinai South Nassau on bringing compassionate hospice care into their flagship hospital on Long Island,” said Laurie Chichester, chief operating officer of MJHS Hospice and Palliative Care.
Chichester said the program is centered on comfort, dignity and respect, with care guided by each patient's values and wishes. She added that the partnership allows families to spend meaningful time together while receiving support from clinical, emotional, psychosocial and spiritual care experts.
In addition to caring for patients, the program includes bereavement services for families for up to 13 months following a loved one's death.
Hospice patients will receive care in private rooms designed to offer the comfort and amenities of home, according to hospital officials. Family members will be able to remain with loved ones, including overnight, creating a more supportive environment during end-of-life care.
“As it is with all we do, this service is built on the premise that Mount Sinai South Nassau exists to provide our patients and residents of the communities we serve with the health care they need, when they need it, and even at end of life,” said Dr. Alan Wong, the hospital's chief medical officer and senior vice president of medical affairs.
Dr. Brigit Palathra, chief of palliative care at Mount Sinai South Nassau, said the program's primary goal is to ensure patients and families have access to compassionate, patient-centered care during the final stages of life.
“The number one focus of this service is to ensure that our patients and their families have access to the patient-centered, dignified end-of-life care they deserve,” Palathra said. “I am certain this collaborative effort will fulfill that promise.”
