Inquiry by Queens Forum Newspaper re: Peninsula Hospital

A few days ago, we posted an article from Crains Business New York regarding the possible closure of Peninsula Hospital. 

Shortly thereafter, Eric Yun, a reporter from the Queens Forum Newspaper, contacted the association via email stating:

“I saw your e-mail about the possible closure of Peninsula Hospital. As a civic leader, I was hoping to get your thoughts about how this hospital shutdown would impact residents of Broad Channel.”

On behalf of the Association the following response was forwarded to Mr. Yun earlier today.

Eric...

Back in May of 2009 both St. John’s and Mary Immaculate Hospitals in Queens were closed. More than 100,000 patients  were serviced in these two hospitals emergency rooms annually.

It goes without saying that the emergency rooms at Jamaica Hospital (as well as Elmhurst and N.Y. Hospital of Queens) are now required to service that displaced E.R. population.

Should Peninsula Hospital close, the one remaining hospital in the Rockaways (St. John’s) will be required to service the patient E.R. population displaced as a result of that closure.

The drawback of any local hospital closure is that patients, who preferred being treated at the closing hospital, will have to go somewhere else.

Additionally, closing a hospital decreases patient choice. If patients gain utility from increased treatment locations, then a hospital closure decreases and individual’s welfare even if it would not be their top choice for treatment.

The above notwithstanding, the primary concern of Broad Channel residents centers on the possible  loss of our local emergency room, and the accompanying and increased travel times to receive hospital services.

The Peninsula Hospital E.R. is presently only a 3 mile ambulance ride from Broad Channel.  Should Peninsula Hospital close, the only remaining emergency room treatment centers available to our community would be St. Johns in Far Rockaway, 5.25 distant from Broad Channel and Jamaica Hospital Center, over 10 miles away.

The closure of a local hospital and its emergency room is not unlike the closure of a local firehouse. When there is an emergency - minutes matter. So closing a hospital can be the difference between life and death.. ….any increase in that period of time where trauma victims don't have that surgeon or that operating room working on them could, in some cases, affect survivability.

Our community of Broad Channel also recognizes that increased travel time to a hospital will most significantly affect the most vulnerable of our residents - the elderly and the disabled.

We only became aware of the possible closure of Peninsula Hospital Medical Center earlier this week and we have only begun to explore the impacts such closure will have on our community.

We will be reaching out to our elected representatives and the appropriate city agencies to obtain as much information as possible regarding this situation so as to keep our neighbors informed.

Additionally, we will be seeking the advice of  Chief Dan McIntyre of the Broad Channel Volunteer Fire and Medical Emergency Services regarding how best to proceed in this matter
. 

We would also like to extend our appreciation to the Forum for taking an interest in this issue.