Northwell Health opened a new medical center devoted to cardiac care, the Sandra Atlas Bass Heart Hospital, at a ribbon cutting in Manhasset on Tuesday.
“This is something that years ago people thought would never be possible,” Northwell Health CEO Michael Dowling said. “It proves everything is possible.”
The facility is at North Shore University Hospital on Community Drive.
Its opening ends what the hospital group’s executive director of cardiothoracic surgery, Dr. Alan Hartman, called “an arms race between two cardiac campuses several miles apart,” which formerly belonged to the Long Island Jewish Medical Center and the North Shore University Hospital.
Long Island Jewish Medical Center and the North Shore University Hospital merged in 1997, though each hospital group’s cardiac care center remained separate.
“The Heart Hospital is the integration of these two campuses,” Hartman said.
With a staff of over 700, including surgeons, cardiologists, nurses and other specialists, the Heart Hospital will perform more than 1,500 open-heart surgeries and 3,000 cardiac interventions each year, Northwell Health said in a statement.
LIJ Medical Center will continue to offer cardiac interventions at its New Hyde Park campus, but all of the hospital’s cardiac sugery staff are now part of the Heart Hospital, the statement added.
“The Heart Hospital has its own entrance, valet parking and upgraded clinical facilities,” said Dr. Barry Kaplan, co-director of the Heart Hospital.
The Heart Hospital will also have access to North Shore University Hospital’s rooftop helipad, which will allow it to accept transfers from other hospitals through a helicopter emergency transport service.
Sandra Atlas Bass, the donor who made the Heart Hospital possible, has also donated to the Cohen Children’s Medical Center and the Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Northwell Health said. She serves as a life trustee of Northwell health.
“Unlike other cardiac programs in the region, the Heart Hospital accepts any patient, 24/7, without regard to the severity of his or her illness or socioeconomic level,” Hartman said.
Alexander Mullery, one of Hartman’s patients, recounted an aortic valve replacement he received in 1997. His life resumed without issue until last August, when he noticed an unusual heartbeat and was rushed to the hospital by his wife, Mullery said.
A helicopter brought him to North Shore University Hospital, where Hartman repaired an aortic aneurysm hours later. After nine days, Mullery left the hospital, he said.
“It’s hard to express thanks to Dr. Hartman for saving my life — and not once but twice,” Mullery said.
At Tuesday’s ribbon cutting, Hartman gave Mullery medical permission to resume playing golf this spring. The decision came with a gift: a new putter.
