By Bill Parry
Mount Sinai Queens opened a new medical facility which treats cancer and blood disorders as part of a $125 million expansion. Community leaders, elected officials and the hospital’s administration held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Mount Sinai Queens Infusion Center last Friday, across the street from the main hospital, at 25-10 30th Ave. in Astoria.
“When it comes to providing comprehensive outpatient cancer care, Mount Sinai is second to none,” Mount Sinai Queens Executive Director Caryn Schwab said. “This newly renovated center is just the latest example of our commitment to patients and their families during the most difficult fight of their lives.”
The new center will provide a quiet and comfortable place for treatments such as chemotherapy and blood transfusions in seven infusion bays with updated examination rooms. There is also a large open-concept waiting room with a patient nutrition center.
“Our new center fills a need for the community by bringing together as many cutting-edge cancer treatments available in one, easy-to-access location,” Dr. Howard Greenberg, the director of the Mount Sinai Infusion Center, said. “The center allows me and my colleagues, including Dr. Che-Kai Tsao and the rest of our expert medical staff, to continue to provide a level of cancer care usually seen only in large tertiary care hospitals, right here in Queens.”
State Sen. Michael Gianaris (D-Astoria) called the center a great example of the outstanding care and service Mount Sinai Queens “continues to offer residents of this community.” City Councilman Costa Constantinides (D-Astoria) said, “Our borough is a growing and thriving community, and one that deserves the type of world-class care offered by Mount Sinai. That is always what your hospital has delivered, and I look forward to continuing to support that.” He added that the City Council had allocated $2 million to the hospital during the past budget cycle.
The $125 million construction project includes a new building annex called the Ambulatory Care Pavilion, a five-story building with an enlarged emergency department, new operating suites, a multispecialty outpatient care and advanced imaging and laboratory services. The extension to the original hospital is expected to be completed next year.
Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas (D-Astoria) said, “Because of Mount Sinai Queens, people in this community no longer have to go through tunnels or cross bridges to receive world class treatment and care.”
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparr
