PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Jesús Pérez, District Manager of Manhattan Community Board 6
2:42:58
·
121 sec
Jesús Pérez, District Manager of Manhattan Community Board 6, testifies against the closure of Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital, emphasizing its critical importance to the community and the potential negative impacts of its closure.
- He argues that the New York State Department of Health acted hastily and irresponsibly in approving the closure.
- Pérez highlights the indispensable nature of the hospital's services, including emergency care, surgery, testing, and cardiac care.
- He warns of increased health disparities, longer emergency response times, and potential overcrowding of nearby hospitals if the closure proceeds.
Jesús Pérez
2:42:58
Thank you.
2:42:59
Good afternoon.
2:43:01
Chairwoman Narciss, consuelo Rivera.
2:43:05
Thank you for the opportunity to testify before you today.
2:43:08
My name is Jesus Perez.
2:43:09
I am the district manager of Manhattan Community Board 6.
2:43:12
Manhattan Community Board 6 strongly believes that the New York State Department of Health acted very hastily and irresponsibly in their decision to approve the closure of Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital and has not addressed the issues raised by our community.
2:43:26
The state department of health did not fully consider the impact that approving the closure of Mount Sinai Beth Israel would have on our neighbors and the district.
2:43:34
The hospital services are indispensable to our community, providing critical emergency care, surgery, testing, and cardiac care to thousands of residents annually.
2:43:43
The closure would significantly impact the health and well-being of our community, particularly the elderly and vulnerable populations who rely on MSPI for access to medical services.
2:43:54
Over the past decade, emergency response times have increased significantly across all categories, including EMS for life threatening situations.
2:44:03
The heavy traffic conditions in Manhattan Community District 6 emphasize the critical importance of keeping MSPI open.
2:44:12
As swift access to 24 hour emergency room care is vital in cases involving cardiac or stroke patients, where delays in transportation could lead to preventable loss of life.
2:44:23
This decision is not this decision not only exacerbates health disparities, but also creates additional barriers to health care access.
2:44:30
The hospital's closure would force patients to travel farther for emergency care, increasing risk of adverse health outcomes due to delayed treatment.
2:44:39
Additionally, the closure would place an undue burden on nearby hospitals, potentially overwhelming their capacity and compromising the quality of their care.
2:44:48
The decision by the New York State Department of Health will have devastating consequences to our community, particularly those with chronic conditions who require regular and immediate medical attention.
2:44:58
Thank you very much for your attention.
