Statement from SUNY Director of Communications David Doyle on Long Island College Hospital
November 7, 2013
“Last night, because of a shortage of medical specialists, measures were taken in conjunction with FDNY to ensure that Long Island College Hospital did not receive patients beyond its capabilities.
“At the direction of the chancellor, SUNY is mustering resources as a short-term remedy, including using doctors from UHB and from other SUNY institutions across the state, with the goal of allowing for the safe and rapid resumption of BLS ambulances tomorrow.
“The day-to-day situation at LICH remains fluid and will continue to be until there is clear resolution of the many complicated issues involving the future of the facility. SUNY is making every possible effort to safely maintain current levels of service until such an agreement can be reached.
“In September, the hospital voluntarily agreed to partially restore ambulance-receiving status for basic medical cases brought by the FDNY. Because of the continuing absence of the appropriate medical personnel, at no time have we been accepting the most serious medical cases by ambulance. Those patients are urged to seek care at other facilities and will continue to be transferred in the interest of their safety and welfare.”
About the State University of New York
The State University of New York, which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country’s oldest school of maritime, the state’s only college of optometry, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.4 million students amongst its entire portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.1 billion in fiscal year 2022, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and one in three New Yorkers with a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit suny.edu.
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Holly Liapis
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