Good Samaritan Remains Open Ahead Of Sandy

Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip remains open as of Saturday evening and hospital officials have made no decision as it pertains to a possible full evacuation of patients, a spokesperson told Patch.

Christine Hendriks, vice president for Public and External Affairs with Catholic Health Services (CHS), said the hospital is transferring a limited number of patients to other CHS hospitals as a precaution.

“These patients are located in units that have a potential for flooding,” she said. “We will accomplish this over the next two days and will continually assess weather and operating conditions over the next five days.”

Hendriks said key operational leaders throughout CHS are engaged in the process of deciding whether Good Sam will stay open or possibly close as Sandy approaches the south shore of Suffolk County.

In August 2011, Good Samaritan Hospital evacuated as Tropical Storm Irene approached. It was the first time in the 50-plus year history of the hospital that patients were moved to other medical centers on Long Island as a precaution for a weather-related issue.