APRIL 2020 • LONGISLANDPRESS.COM 31
MOUNT SINAI SOUTH NASSAU HOSPITAL
ON THE FRONT LINES
Inside a pair of red, white, and blue
medical triage tents recently erected
to treat coronavirus patients without
infecting the emergency room at Mount
Sinai South Nassau Hospital in Oceanside,
medics battle the pandemic.
The efforts are designed to allow doctors
and nurses to continue compassionately
caring for the usual hospital full
of patients being treated for assorted
injuries and afflictions, as well as a
rising tide of people being diagnosed
with COVID-19 despite unprecedented
government-mandated mitigation initiatives
restricting work, school, and
socialization.
“The healthcare system is already overwhelmed
by this,” says Dr. Aaron Glatt,
a national expert on infectious diseases
who chairs the Department of Medicine
at the hospital. “I think that the real
heroes of the virus are the healthcare
workers that are putting themselves
on the line despite the very difficult
conditions that they’re under.”
It has been the worst flu season in a decade
with 400,000 hospitalizations and
24,000 deaths nationwide by March
21. Then the coronavirus pandemic
exploded on Long Island, quickly
filling up the remaining bed
space at the more than two dozen
hospitals across Nassau and Suffolk
counties. Temporary federal
hospitals were erected to handle
the overflow. Hotels were being
eyed as a last resort for
makeshift hospitals as of
press time.
At South Nassau, staffers
converted conference
rooms into patient care
space and ensured that the hospital’s
airflow systems didn’t spread coronavirus
to other patients.
“We’re basically creating an entire
hospital as an intensive care unit,” Dr.
Glatt says.
Although Mount
Sinai South Nassau
is one of the region’s
largest hospitals,
with 455 beds, more
than 900 physicians,
and 3,500 employees,
Dr. Glatt remains
worried about
c a p a c i t y
ahead of the
virus’ anticipated
peak
in mid-April.
“The amount of patients that need ventilators
is a concern,” he says, noting that
there were more than 200 coronavirus
patients, 50 of whom were on respirators,
as of press time.
While COVID-19 spreads in similar
ways as the flu or common cold, there
is still much health experts do not know
about this virus. The U.S. Centers for
Disease Control warns that the coronavirus
may have a long-lasting impact,
and, while researchers are working
on a vaccine to combat it, one is not
currently available.
“Follow the advice of the public health
experts,” Dr. Glatt says. “The only reason
the public should be going outside
is to get food. And if they can get food
delivered, even better.”
-TB
PRESS HEALTH
Dr. Aaron Glatt, Department of Medicine
chair at Mount Sinai South Nassau
Hospital.
Dr. Jacquelline Leva D.O is a board certified physician
who treats patients with: Hair Loss, Thinning and Graying
• Male and female pattern hair loss • Certain types of scarring alopecia
• Chronic inflammation type of hair loss, • Post surgical and post chemotherapy,
as well as patients who have autoimmune hair conditions.
Dr Jacquelline only uses FDA Approved product Wharton Jelly
which contains over 200,000 stem cells per injection
320 Laurel Road, Northport, NY 11768 • 631-261-0158
BEFORE AFTER
OFFICES:
94-06 59th AVE Suite E9, Elmhurst NY 11373 • (718) 699-9737
Wednesday 12pm-7pm • Some Saturday
and Sunday 9am-3pm
Monday 11am-6:30pm • Tuesday 11am-6:30pm • Thursday 11am-6:30pm
Friday 11am-6:30pm • Some saturdays
/LONGISLANDPRESS.COM
