Nearly 4,500 Patients Treated in Emergency Department in Three Months

New York (July 15, 2013) – Healthcare professionals at the new Montefiore Westchester Square have treated nearly 4,500 patients in the Emergency Department during the facility’s first three months of operation. At the Ambulatory Surgery Center, doctors have performed more than 1,300 outpatient procedures in a range of specialty areas. Additionally, 250 patients have been rapidly and seamlessly transferred to the best hospital for their condition.

In late March, Montefiore Medical Center acquired the assets of the former Westchester Square Medical Center, which had been bankrupt for more than seven years. The new Montefiore Westchester Square is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and the emergency room accommodates walk-in patients as well as ambulance service. Over time, primary care and specialty care will be expanded.

“We are so pleased the community has embraced Montefiore Westchester Square,” said Steven M. Safyer, M.D., president and chief executive officer of Montefiore Medical Center. “Our goal from the very start was to preserve access to the best of healthcare services by providing exceptional care to meet the community’s needs as well as to preserve jobs and support the local economy.”

Montefiore committed to offering employment to all qualified nurses and members of 1199, the service employees’ union, and hundreds of jobs have been saved. Nearly 200 full-time employees accepted positions at Montefiore Westchester Square and more than 100 employees accepted positions at Montefiore Medical Center’s other campuses and locations.

Prior to the acquisition, approximately half of Westchester Square Medical Center’s medical staff had privileges at Montefiore. Now, more than 100 additional doctors and other medical professionals from the former institution have been granted privileges, bringing the total with privileges at Montefiore to more than 200.

Patients are benefitting from the seamless care offered across the Montefiore system, which provides a breadth of leading services including primary care, advanced specialty and surgical care, rehabilitation and home care. Montefiore Medical Center also is renowned for its Centers of Excellence in areas including cardiology, oncology, pediatrics and transplantation. Patients at Montefiore Westchester Square who require in-patient care are easily and rapidly transferred to the Montefiore facility that is best able to meet their needs.

Separately, capital improvements at Montefiore Westchester Square are well under way. The lobby and all patient care areas, including the Emergency Department, operating rooms, laboratory and radiology, have been refurbished. The public areas outside the building have been landscaped, new awnings have been installed and exterior lighting has been added for enhanced security. Additional improvements are planned for the coming year.

“This is just the first step to enhance the delivery of healthcare for the community,” Dr. Safyer said. “We’re committed to ensuring Montefiore Westchester Square remains a vital part of the community and reflects the same standards of excellence as all Montefiore facilities throughout the Bronx and Westchester.”