LI hospitals collect staff to stay functioning in storm

Hospitals across Long Island implemented emergency plans to stay up and running during the snowstorm Wednesday, sending vehicles to pick up staff members for afternoon shifts and providing cots and food for doctors and nurses preparing to stay through the night.

Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow used its ambulances to pick up staff who didn't feel comfortable driving through the snow for the 3 p.m. shift, said Dr. Stephen Walerstein, the hospital's medical director.

And the 13 hospitals in the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System set up cots in conference rooms and administrative offices for those working extra shifts, North Shore spokesman Terry Lynam said. Hospitals ordered extra food and were providing free food for staff members in their cafeterias.

At the Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead, officials enacted a level-one emergency action plan Tuesday night, and were preparing Wednesday afternoon to shift it to level three, meaning employees on the grounds cannot leave unless they are released, said spokeswoman Denise Civiletti.

The plan ensures there's enough critical staff to operate the hospital through the end of a storm or other incident, she said. "We want to ensure we have the full complement of people we need," she said, adding that some workers unable to get to work have been picked up in four-wheel-drive vehicles.

At St. Francis Hospital in Roslyn, nonessential departments were closed and essential staff were preparing to spend the night, said Ruth Hennessey, executive vice president and chief operating officer.

"We had our generators tested this morning," she said.

Hospitals said they had not seen many storm-related injuries, but anticipated people with shoveling injuries may start arriving in emergency rooms once the snow stops.

With Mark Harrington

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