A grand day at NUMC

Oversized scissors and bright-colored ribbons have become regular features lately at the Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow.          

For NuHealth, the organization that operates NUMC as well as the A. Holly Patterson Extended Care Center in Uniondale and community health centers on the South Shore, the two most recent grand openings were more steps toward the healthcare provider’s long-term revitalization plans. 

The NUMC was the site for two grand openings on Jan. 18. That afternoon, NuHealth launched the Child, Adolescent and Family Outpatient Support Center and unveiled the renovated amphitheater. 

The new Child, Adolescent and Family Outpatient Support Center is geared toward offering more services for children, youth and their families who struggle with emotional, behavioral, environmental and medical issues.

“To better address the lack of outpatient mental health services for children, we are proud to open the new child, adolescent and family outpatient center, a wonderful addition to our department of psychiatry and behavioral health science and a much-needed service in Nassau County to promote emotional wellness for children and their families,” said Art Gianelli, president and CEO of NuHealth. 

“This is an important event for our community,” said Dr. Steven J. Walerstein, NuHealth’s executive vice president for medical affairs and medical director. “Nassau County has suffered for years from a lack of outpatient mental health capacity for our children. This new initiative is a big step in addressing that need.” Arlene Gonzalez-Sanchez, commissioner of the state Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services, joined officials from NuHealth and the county at the grand opening. 

An interdisciplinary team of psychiatrists, psychologists, psychiatric social workers and pediatric nurses will provide the outpatient services in the NUMC’s Butler Building.