E.J. Noble Hospital Reopening MondayIt's news the Gouverneur community has been waiting one month for: Monday morning, EJ Noble Hospital will be reopening, at least partially. The State Department of Health has given the hospital's laboratory the go ahead to begin performing a limited menu of tests again. The hospital has been more or less shut down since September 28th, when the State Department of Health closed the EJ Noble's laboratory because of deficiencies that threatened patient health and safety. A recent on-site survey of the lab found that "significant progress" has been made it correcting those deficiencies, according to a press release from the State Department of Health, first posted on the North Country Public Radio website this weekend.
The health department is now allowing the laboratory to begin performing a limited menu of tests again, which will allow the hospital to reopen, at least in part, at 9 a.m. Monday.
"Just in the nick of time, so to speak," said Ronald McDougall, acting Gouverneur Mayor. "Thank goodness for that, with the impending storm." The emergency room will be open, as well as a number of other services, but certain acute medical procedures, including obstetrics and and some surgeries, will still not be permitted. Patients needing those services will need to be stabilized and transferred elsewhere for the time being, until EJ Noble gets the green light to fully reopen again. McDougall says even the partial reopening is a great relief for the community: "It's much needed, not only for the economy, but for protection of the greater Gouverneur area. We need emergency services here, we need acute service here, and we also need the jobs here, I'll be frank with you," he explained. McDougall says he is not certain of the details about how many hospital employees will be going back to work when EJ Noble reopens Monday. He says he expects to have it fully opening in the not too distant future, but does not know the exact timeline at this point. According to the Department of Health press release, it plans to "continue to monitor lab services and patient safety at E.J. Noble and work with the hospital to address remaining issues related to laboratory services."
Most Popular |
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
, Watertown, NY
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled.
Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.
What's On TonightFull ScheduleOn Wall Street |
