NYC hospital downsizing in response to changes in care models

Editor's Note

New York City’s (NYC’s) 825-bed Mount Sinai Beth Israel hospital will close in 4 years and be replaced by a much smaller 70-bed facility while expanding outpatient surgery, primary care, and behavioral health services, the May 25 New York Times reports.

Officials blame the high cost of health care and changes in care models and medical technology that make large hospitals less efficient than other care settings.

Nineteen other NYC hospitals have restructured or closed since 2000. Without downsizing, Beth Israel stands to lose $2 billion in the next 10 years because of changes in federal reimbursement. Last year the hospital had an operating loss of $115 million.

Mount Sinai Beth Israel, an 825-bed hospital that has served downtown Manhattan for more than 125 years, will close and be replaced by a much smaller building, hospital officials said on Wednesday.