Amid a change in administration and on the brink of construction of two additional wings, New Island Hospital in Bethpage is taking on a new look - and a new role in surrounding communities.

New Island's Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Paul Seale, reported this week that he is finalizing plans to begin building 55,000 square feet of new space, in the form of two wings for emergency services, surgeries and recovery. Construction could begin as early as this fall.

The plans come on the heels of the takeover of New Island, formerly known as Mid-Island, by a joint venture sponsorship of Winthrop South Nassau University Health System and Catholic Health Services of Long Island (WSNCHS North, Inc.), and the appointment of Seale as its head administrator in the spring.

As the facility gets a facelift, its role in the eastern Nassau County communities it serves - including Farmingdale, Bethpage, Massapequa, Levittown, Hicksville and Plainview - is also changing. While the hospital no longer provides abortions and family planning services - in accordance with the religious directives of the Catholic Church - the planned construction will bring improvements in patient care and capacity, according to Seale. And, renovations that have already been done to the existing facility are helping to modernize it, he said.

One of the planned wings will feature 36 new medical surgical beds, which will replace outdated ones. The other, larger wing will be approximately 40,000 square feet, and easily visible from Hempstead Turnpike. It will be two stories high and situated about 75 feet from the turnpike, while the existing hospital is one-story and about 150 feet from the turnpike. "That's a very positive sign for the institution, because it's the first and only part of the hospital that will be two stories above ground. So it really will be a statement of the new life that New Island has as an institution," said Seale. A new emergency department as well as an ambulatory, surgery, and endoscopy treatment area will be on the first floor of this wing, while the second floor will boast seven new operating rooms, recovery space, and ambulatory surgery processing space, as well as a section for instrument sterilization.

While the hospital's emergency services currently serves 17,000 patients, the new construction will enable it to accommodate 30,000, according to Seale. The number of the hospital's operating rooms will jump from four to seven.

Seale noted that the larger wing will be the most visible part of the hospital, and a statement to the community that New Island plans to be an active participant in the health care market in the local area.

This would be a departure from the outdated services that plagued Mid-Island in the years preceding the takeover by the joint venture, a problem stemming from financial trouble.

"I think we're going to enhance the kind of tradition of Mid-Island in the community. Obviously, one of the problems that Mid-Island had, as an institution, was financial difficulties, which led it to its bankruptcy. If it wasn't for the coming together of Winthrop, South Nassau and the Catholic Health Services systems, supporting the new additions at New Island, Mid-Island Hospital might not be an active participant in the local healthcare economy," said Seale.

"By securing the future of New Island through pledges of financial support, as well as system support for developing healthcare efficiencies, and providing a network of providers that we are a part of, we secure a good future for New Island Hospital as a provider in the east Nassau region."

Financing for all of the changes is expected to come from a multi-million dollar bond issuance, which the hospital is currently negotiating with the state Dormitory Authority. The $48 million bond would cover the cost of construction as well as the acquisition of the assets of Mid-Island, according to Seale.

Financing approvals are expected by mid-September, and construction would begin soon after that, Seale noted, although it is contingent on building application approvals from the Town of Oyster Bay. The project would be complete 14 to 16 months later.

Currently, the hospital is doing some interim construction to make way for the new wings. Because part of the existing facility will be demolished to make way for the new structures, the hospital is finding temporary sites for services in the affected areas.

In addition to the planned new wings, some other upgrades have already been made since the takeover by the joint venture, according to Seale.

Over $2 million worth of interim renovations has already been done, including refurbishment of two primary nursing stations, modernization of patient rooms, corridors and lobbies.

Introduction of new services include the following: hyperbaric service, which is an enriched oxygen atmosphere treatment; and perinatology service, which entails state-of-the art ultrasound equipment used to assist in the diagnosis of perinatal problems in pregnant women, and the referral of many of these patients to Winthrop University Hospital. More upgrades are anticipated. "One of the things that we're going to look to do, is to get our feet back on the ground, financially, as an institution, look at what the community needs are in the local area, and try to focus on those services that will best serve the community's healthcare needs," said Seale.

For example, he noted, because geriatric patients comprise 50 percent of the hospital's patients, he wants to enhance geriatric capabilities, through using the resources of the WSNCHS network.

Replacement of other technical equipment is also planned, Seale noted.

Reaction from the community about the changes at the hospital has been mixed. While many have opposed the takeover by the joint venture because of concerns about the elimination of abortion and family planning services, others have said it was the only way to prevent the hospital's demise.

"Whether you believe in abortion or not, it's still your choice, and I think there, you just won't have a choice, and I think that it will be controlled too much by the church," said Lillian Lehman, of Massapequa.

Seale noted that, in accordance with state health department requirements, New Island has been advising patients who want abortion and family planning services about which local medical facilities provide them.

Emil Coppola, of North Massapequa, supports the changes at the hospital. "Mid-Island was lacking services, was lacking maintenance of the hospital...It was a shame to even walk in - it was so disgusting looking. And hopefully, with the new construction, and making a new wing, it will bring in some people to go there," he said. "Let's hope that Catholic [Health Services] makes something good out of it, and is going to be able to care for the sick, and care for the people."

As the changes at the hospital continue, Seale noted that New Island wants to become an active member of the WSNCHS network, and the local community, and to continue to enhance patient services.

"We would like New Island to be known as an excellent provider of primary care and secondary care services to the local community - eastern Nassau and people who live in western Suffolk - and to be an active member of the two systems we are sponsored by," he said.