Hurricane Sandy Recovery Continues as Patients Return to Their Dialysis Center

OCEANSIDE, N.Y. - May 3, 2013 - PRLog -- Within hours after Superstorm Sandy swept over Long Island on October 29, 2012, leaving a massive trail of destruction in its wake, South Nassau Communities Hospital took immediate and decisive action to begin the process of re-opening the doors of its Outpatient Dialysis Center (OPD) to the patients who rely on it to serve as their “home away from home” as they receive dialysis treatments that are critical to their overall daily health and wellness

The 10,000 square foot free-standing center (located in Oceanside, NY, on the South Shore of Nassau County) incurred significant damage from Sandy’s storm surge, with much of its interior and medical equipment destroyed.  Renovation of the center commenced promptly and was ongoing 10 hours a day, 7 days a week until it was completed.

While plans for the renovation were under discussion, the dialysis center’s staff was working with alacrity to place the patients in area dialysis facilities to receive their treatments without going off schedule.  Within 36 hours after Superstorm Sandy, all 136 of the center’s patients were receiving the dialysis services they needed at dialysis facilities in the immediate area, including North Shore-Long Island Jewish, Freeport Dialysis Center, Lynbrook Dialysis and South Shore Dialysis in Bellmore and Hemsptead.

On Friday, April 26, the arduous, determined journey home concluded as the center’s staff and 112 of its patients joined by hospital administrators and board members as well as government, civic and business leaders gathered to celebrate the grand re-opening of South Nassau’s Outpatient Dialysis Center.  Combining cutting-edge medical technology and expert dialysis care with home-like amenities, the center has been refinished to match its pre-Superstorm Sandy floor plan.

“This celebration and the renovated center is testimony that we can and will overcome any challenge to our commitment to provide a healthcare delivery system that offers superior, accessible and convenient services,” said Mr. Richard J. Murphy, president and CEO of South Nassau.  “In the tradition of our mission to meet the communities’ needs for standard-setting healthcare services, we celebrate the grand re-opening of our Outpatient Dialysis Center with one person in mind – the patient.”

First opened in June 2000, the center features 18 patient suites equipped with dialysis technology that is capable of performing a variety of procedures.  The suites also include satellite-linked HDTVs, high-speed Internet service, personal telephones, and individual lighting and heating control.  Additional features of the Center include conference and snack rooms, a fully-equipped examination room, a spacious reception area and a warm decor.  DVD players are also available on request.

The center’s multidisciplinary, experienced staff ensures the delivery of high-quality dialysis care, and provides services in patient education and rehabilitation programs. The staff provides patients with advice and counseling on issues such as maintaining a high quality of life despite the restrictions caused by their conditions, lifestyle changes, diet and coping, and stress management.  In addition, the Center’s information station offers free literature and resources on dialysis care and patient health and wellness.  For more information about South Nassau’s Outpatient Dialysis Center, call 1-877-South-Nassau.

South Nassau Communities Hospital is one of the region’s largest hospitals, with 435 beds, more than 900 physicians and 3,000 employees.  Located in Oceanside, NY, the hospital is an acute-care, not-for-profit teaching hospital that provides state-of-the-art care in cardiac, oncologic, orthopedic, bariatric, pain management, mental health and emergency services.  In addition to its extensive outpatient specialty centers, South Nassau provides emergency and elective angioplasty and is the only hospital on Long Island with the Novalis Tx™ and Gamma Knife® Perfexion radiosurgery technologies.  South Nassau is a designated Stroke Center by the New York State Department of Health and Comprehensive Community Cancer Center by the American College of Surgeons and is recognized as a Bariatric Surgery Center of Excellence by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.  For more information, visit www.southnassau.org.