Soon to reopen: Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital closes due to shortage of nurse staff amid vaccine mandate

Staff shortages at Mount Sinai South Nassau are the result of New York’s vaccine authorization.

Officials said Monday that all other options were exhausted before deciding to close the ER later that afternoon.

Instead, patients requiring urgent care were transferred to the hospital’s main campus in Oceanside. It’s about five miles away and can take 25 minutes to get into traffic. Ambulances were kept at the ER for the duration of the closure.

Hochul says the hospital will reopen its Long Beach Emergency Department for 24/7 service at 7 a.m. Friday.

“As your Governor, I will make sure that the state does everything it can to ease the strain on hospitals and urgent care facilities – so health care facilities, keep alerting us when you’re in trouble,” Hochul said. “I want to thank Mount Sinai South Nassau and the local community partners who have worked with us to restore ER services and continue to provide high-quality care to the people of Nassau County. Health will continue to work closely with local and hospital officials to monitor and troubleshoot any potential future staff shortages.”

Hospital officials previously said the closures were the result of following a state regulation requiring the suspension of all temporary religious exempt employees who have no proof of illness. at least the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine or a valid medical waiver.

More than 99% of Mount Sinai South Nassau employees are fully vaccinated, regardless of those applying for religious or medical exemptions.

It is the only emergency facility on Long Beach and serves approximately 10,000 people annually. It opened in 2015 after Superstorm Sandy essentially destroyed the Long Beach Medical Center.

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