After three years of construction, the new $175 million Mt. Sinai Queens Hospital in Astoria is fully operational. On Wednesday, Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and Queens Council Members celebrated the city’s contributions in equipment upgrades.
Nearly 60,000 patients are expected to roll through the Mt. Sinai Queens Emergency Department this year, according to hospital officials. They say that’s about 160 patients a day.
The hospital is in high demand, even Majority Leader, Jimmy Van Bramer has personal connections.
"In his final two weeks of life, my step father was here, and received amazing palliative care and died here at this hospital. My sister, Dawn, who is younger, her life was saved here at this hospital," Van Bramer said at a press conference Wednesday.
Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and Queens Council say investing in healthcare was important for western Queens.
"There’s been a commitment on behalf of Mt. Sinai to make this hospital a better location, a place where no one has to go over a bridge to get quality health care," said City Council Member Costa Constantinides.
Since 2014, more than $5 million has been allocated for state-of-the-art equipment upgrades through the leadership of the Queens delegation. The investment includes funding for a robotic surgeon, a PET scan machine, and equipment for mammograms at the hospital.
The $175 million new facility in Astoria was just completed as part of Mount Sinai’s expansion.
Mt. Sinai officials said they’re making a commitment to provide comprehensive healthcare to Queens, and said it couldn’t be done without support from the community.
Construction on the six story building began three years ago. It has had a rolling grand opening since May when the emergency department started to operate.
Although there’s still construction on the outside of the new Mt. Sinai queens hospital, every department inside is officially open to provide care. Officials expect construction on the outside of the hospital will wrap up by spring of 2017.