Long Beach Medical Center Update

Editor's Note: The following information was provided by Long Beach Medical Center Chief Executive Officer Douglas L. Melzer on a special Facebook page set up for post-hurricane updates.

As we all continue to deal with the aftermath of this unprecedented and tragic event, we want you to know that the well-being of you and your families is uppermost in our hearts and minds.

We know that you have many questions about the future of the Medical Center Hospital and Komanoff Center. Despite the damage that was sustained, we are working day and night to bring our Medical Center back to life. This will be a challenging effort, but one that we are determined to accomplish. The Komanoff Center, which sustained less severe damage than the Medical Center is already under repair and we hope to resume services there soon. The Medical Center, where the damage is more extensive, has also begun recovery efforts and we will have a more thorough estimate of the restoration time once we have a more complete assessment of damages and the necessary repairs.

Part of the damage was the incapacitation of our computer system, which includes the programs used to prepare our payroll. Our IT department has been working fervently on its restoration; however they have been unable to restore the system in time to submit the payroll which was due to be paid on Wednesday, November 8th. We acknowledge that this is an added difficulty for you and assure you that we are doing everything possible to get the payroll processed as soon as possible. We anticipate that the payroll will go out mid next week with checks being mailed to everyone.

We continue to meet with New York State and Federal agencies as well as our insurance carriers to seek immediate financial assistance that can be utilized for payroll purposes. While we have assigned some of our staff to care for our patients and resident who were evacuated to other facilities many employees do not have assignments. We are working with the Nassau Suffolk Hospital Council to enable our staff to work at other area hospitals and nursing homes where the need exists and remain on our payroll. We will advise you as soon as more information is available on this program. We will continue to post updates on this matter on our Facebook page (Long Beach Medical Center Hurricane Sandy Info).

Once again, we recognize that all of you are facing hardships and uncertainty and we appreciate how difficult this is for you. Please be assured that we are doing everything we can to support our loyal employees in every way possible.

The Medical Center has always been a family and it is our deepest desire that that remain so.