NUMC prepares for Sandy

Officials at the Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow and the A. Holly Patterson Extended Care Facility in Uniondale are busy preparing for Hurricane Sandy, which is expected to inflict its most damage on Monday afternoon.

At 8 a.m. on Monday, the NUMC's Emergency Command Center will be opened to manage the impacts of Hurricane Sandy on both NUMC and the AHP.

According to a news release issued late Sunday morning by the hospital, 57 patients from Long Beach Hospital were evacuated and transferred to NUMC. It was expected that Long Beach Hospital would also send clinical staff to assist with caring for these additional patients.

All ambulatory and family health centers appointments for Monday and Tuesday have been canceled.

On Saturday, Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano issued a state of emergency for Nassau County, and also ordered mandatory evacuations for residents who live south of Sunrise Highway.

Arthur A. Gianelli, president and CEO of the NuHealth System, said in a written release on Friday that both NUMC and AHP have adequate levels of food and water for the hospital's patients, staff and visitors for anywhere from four to seven days. The health system could sustain itself for at least 96 hours, the release continued.

In case of electrical failure, the health center's generators and pumps have been successfully tested, and hospital staff determined that the facilities have adequate supplies of fuel.

The hospital staff also ensured adequate levels of medical supplies, including medicine and blood.

Ambulances are also available for transport, if needed, and the hospital's emergency department will increase its number of staff during the storm to accommodate more patients.