By Stephen Stirling
Jamaica Hospital opened its $44 million Trump Pavilion Friday, which officials hope will alleviate some of the tremendous strain that has been placed on the medical center in recent months
David Rosen, chief executive officer of the Medisys Network, introduced the new facility %u2014 a 224-bed nursing and rehabilitation center he said will give some relief to the immense tide of patients coming into Jamaica Hospital’s emergency room due to swine flu and the closure of Mary Immaculate and St. Johns Hospital in March.
“This is a poignant moment for me because this could not have come at a better time,” Rosen said. “We’ve seen some significant shifts in this borough and through it all we’ve been here. And with the addition of this building, we’ll be ready for the next round of challenges.”
The new Trump Pavilion replaces the original Trump, which was built in 1975 and named after Mary Trump, real estate mogul Donald Trump’s mother. It is located within Jamaica Hospital’s main campus at 89-00 on the Van Wyck Expressway service road.
The facility boasts a four-story atrium, expanded dining areas, comfortable patient lounges with Internet access, a hair salon, a fully equipped and ultra modern therapy gym and spacious bi-axial rooms designed to offer individuals more privacy.
“Our staff and patients are going to get to go from a very antiquated space to this beautiful new facility,” said Greg Bradley, executive vice president of Trump Pavilion. “It’s not cramped, its bright and cheery. It’ll be a big improvement.”
Rosen said Jamaica Hospital will now be able to use space that housed the old Trump Pavilion to expand some of its critical facilities, such as operating room space.
“Considering we had a record 663 patients come into our emergency department one day a few weeks ago and our average in 2008 was 312, I would say this will be a big help,” Rosen said.
Hospitals across the borough have experienced a sharp increase in patients during the last month as anxious parents fearing swine flu infection brought their children to medical centers in droves. Coupled with the closure of Mary Immaculate and St. John’s Hospitals in March and Parkway Hospital in the fall, this trend has led to record levels of emergency room visits across Queens, placing an added burden on an already strained system.
Reach reporter Stephen Stirling by e-mail at sstirling@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 138.
