Not closed yet: Mount Vernon hospital ramps up units amid COVID-19 outbreak
Montefiore Hospital in Mount Vernon is no longer on life support for now, thanks to an executive order from Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
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Mar 24, 2020, 9:31 PM
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Updated 1,585 days ago
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Montefiore Hospital in Mount Vernon is no longer on life support for now, thanks to an executive order from Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
The 121-bed facility was slated to close but is getting a reprieve due to the coronavirus pandemic. Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard toured the hospital last weekend.
“I was shown how they are ramping those units back up and putting…those units back in service to prepare for this surge, and to provide other services that are critical to the community at this time,” she said.
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The Mount Vernon community and hospital workers have come out in protest since Montefiore Health System announced last fall its plans to close the city’s only inpatient care hospital and replace it with a nearby outpatient health care center.
Mount Vernon officials announced Monday that there were at least 70 COVID-19 cases in the city and one virus-related death.
Mayor Patterson-Howard said the “most densely populated community in the region, outside of New York City” needs a hospital and a “strong ambulatory care facility.”
News 12 reached out to Montefiore Health System for comment. It sent the following statement:
Right now we are focused 100% on the best possible care today. Montefiore Mount Vernon is open and ready to serve the community in the face of this health crisis. In addition, Montefiore is looking at every available option for beds to meet the needs of the communities we serve. This includes Montefiore Mount Vernon and the resources available there, as well as every location across our health system.
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