Eastern Long Island Hospital to Affiliate with Stony Brook Hospital
Eastern Long Island Hospital (ELIH) announced Thursday its decision to affiliate with Stony Brook University Hospital subject to the successful completion of the agreement and regulatory and other approvals.
“Our Board has deliberated over the past several months and has focused on a strategic partner that will assist ELIH in fulfilling its mission and that will best address the evolving healthcare needs of our community,” ELIH Board of Trustees Chairman Thomas E. Murray Jr. said. “We believe by joining Stony Brook University Hospital, the stewardship of the Hospital’s mission to care for the residents of the North Fork of Long Island is in good hands.”
Paul J. Connor III, the president and CEO of ELIH, added, “While the delivery of healthcare and especially hospital care is rapidly changing, becoming a part of Stony Brook University Hospital will allow ELIH to make this complex transition while continuing to carry out our long-time promise to the community. The hospital has been here for 110 years and this affiliation will ensure that the healthcare needs of the community are met for years to come.”
An immediate collaborative planning effort will begin with ELIH and Stony Brook to develop a long-term strategic plan to insure current and future healthcare needs are addressed.
“The decision made tonight by Eastern Long Island’s board to pursue an affiliation with Stony Brook is an important first step towards advancing our collaboration to ensure that residents of the North Fork of Suffolk County and beyond, have continued access to high-quality coordinated care close to home,” said Kenneth Kaushansky, MD, MACP, the senior VP for health sciences and dean of the Stony Brook University School of Medicine.
New York State Assemblyman Fred Thiele praised the announcement. “Eastern Long Island Hospital’s decision to partner with Stony Brook University Hospital is another step forward towards creating a stronger Suffolk health care system on the East End. Combined with the planned partnership of Southampton Hospital and Stony Brook University Hospital, the face of health care in eastern Suffolk is about to change in a very good way.”
State Senator Kenneth LaValle added, “I could not be more pleased with Eastern Long Island Hospital’s decision to move forward with Stony Brook Medicine. Throughout my tenure, I have worked hard to make certain that quality, affordable medical services are accessible to residents throughout my district. This unanimous decision ensures that people on the North Fork and Shelter Island will continue to receive expert medical care close to home. I applaud the ELIH Board and CEO, as well as Stony Brook Medicine’s Team for their hard work and commitment to East End residents. We have had tremendous support from SUNY Leadership and the SUNY Board of Trustees and I look forward to working together to successfully build the first wholly integrated Suffolk County hospital network.”