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Manhattan Hospitals Gain Foothold Here

This is a tale of two Manhattan medical giants – bitter rivals in the quest for upscale patients – whose search has led them across the Queensboro Bridge to poach on territory formerly dominated by Long Island Jewish Medical Center and smaller community hospitals.The medical behemoths are New York Hospital, now part of the Presbyterian Hospital Network, and Mount Sinai Medical Center, recently merged with a former rival, New York University Medical Center.
For years now, New York Hospital has been gaining a foothold in Queens through its subsidiary, New York Hospital Medical Center of Queens in Flushing. That Hospital’s chief Manhattan rival, Mount Sinai, is now posing a threat to NYHQ’s dominance through last summer’s acquisition of Western Queens Community Hospital in nearby Long Island City.
The Manhattan medical centers are duking it out in Queens for what they perceive is an untapped market. Of course, many Queens patients have long commuted to Manhattan for care at these large teaching hospitals. But as the Queens’ population has aged (the borough has the largest number of senior citizens in the city) the Manhattan hospitals are buying facilities in Queens so their older patients can obtain care from them in their own backyards.
The latest foray in the battle for Queens patients came in June when Mount Sinai paid $40 million for the Western Queens Community Hospital, a small 235-bed private hospital on 30th Avenue in Long Island City.
Last week, the executive director of what is now called Mount Sinai of Queens, Caryn Schwab, revealed to The Queens Courier that the parent organization in Manhattan is prepared to invest $30 million "immediately" to spruce up its decaying medical plant – one originally erected in 1952.
The newly-strengthened facility is expected to enable Mount Sinai to better compete with its rivals, according to the administrator.
Paul Pickard, a spokesperson for NYHQ, had this to say about his Hospital’s new competitor:
"Western Queens has had a relationship with Mount Sinai for several years, as has Elmhurst Hospital. The competition among health care providers in Queens is intense. We have and will continue to meet that competition by delivering a broad range of high-quality health care services so that Queens residents can stay in Queens for major surgery or severe illnesses without having to go to Manhattan for their care."
Schwab, an experienced hospital administrator who recently left Babies Hospital at Presbyterian Hospital as its executive director, had previously served as Mayor Ed Koch’s health care advisor.
She painted an optimistic picture of Mount Sinai of Queens.
"We’re in a planning stage now,"Schwab said. "Our goal is to offer our community the services it needs."
The Hospital is staffed by 400 attending physicians and what Schwab said is a "first class" nursing staff.
Schwab said future plans call for a separate ambulance entrance to the emergency room, more privacy and enhanced radiology services. She added the small general hospital offers such specialties as cardiology, orthopedics, vascular medicine, breast health and diabetes.
"Our patients are a true melting pot," she said. "We’re fortunate to have a medical staff who speak 25 different languages – a necessity in a Hospital such as ours."
Like most hospitals in the city, Mount Sinai of Queens has its difficulties with managed care. Schwab said that administrative staff spends considerable time negotiating with the HMOs (health maintenance organizations) that provide care for its patients.
The HMOs pose a problem because they repeatedly seek to whittle down hospital fees.
"We have a big advantage," Schwab said, "since our office staff at Mount Sinai in Manhattan helps us in dealing with the HMOs."
She said the area the hospital serves has a bright future.
"Right now the architect is working on a master plan for the facility – one that will change the hospital’s face. Our future looks optimistic."," Schwab said.