Mount Sinai South Nassau: 5 new operating rooms

Mount Sinai South Nassau has opened five new operating rooms in its Feil Family Pavilion, expanding the hospital’s capacity for advanced surgery and laying the groundwork for an open-heart surgery program on Nassau County’s South Shore.

The new operating suites are opening in phases, with four additional rooms expected to become operational later this year. The nine-room complex features larger spaces, advanced imaging systems and robotic surgical technology designed to accommodate larger surgical teams and support more complex procedures.

“The opening of the new ORs marks a major milestone in the evolution and progress of our hospital,” said Dr. Joshua Kugler, interim president of Mount Sinai South Nassau. “The spacious design and new technology incorporated into the surgical suites will allow our surgeons to operate in a setting that will maximize their expertise while enhancing patient safety, comfort, and outcomes.”

The operating rooms, located on the second floor of the hospital’s four-story Feil Family Pavilion, are double the size of some existing suites. Their open layouts, high ceilings and enhanced lighting are designed to improve working conditions for surgical teams while accommodating modern equipment.

The complex also includes two hybrid operating rooms, which combine surgical equipment with advanced imaging technology, including CT scanners, MRI equipment and portable X-ray systems. The setup allows physicians to conduct imaging, diagnostic procedures and surgery in the same room, reducing the need to move patients between suites.

The hybrid rooms will primarily support vascular surgery, but can also be used for trauma, orthopedic and gynecologic procedures.

Two of the nine operating rooms were specifically designed for an advanced cardiac surgery program, including open-heart procedures. The program is expected to begin treating patients later this year and will be staffed and overseen by surgeons from the Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital in Manhattan.

“Our goal was to provide advanced care right on the South Shore so patients and families don’t have to travel to Manhattan, and these ORs will allow our surgeons to do just that,” said Tony Cancellieri, co-chair of the hospital’s Advisory Board and a Mount Sinai Health System board member.

The cardiac surgery program is expected to bring specialized care closer to home for patients who might otherwise need to travel to Manhattan or the North Shore for treatment.

The new operating rooms are connected to the Fennessy Family Emergency Department by a dedicated elevator, allowing patients who require immediate surgery to be transported more quickly.

“The new ORs provide an environment where we can expand the surgical capabilities of the hospital and enhance patient outcomes,” said Dr. Rajiv Datta, chair of the Department of Surgery and medical director of the Gertrude & Louis Feil Cancer Center. “With streamlined operating rooms and specialized equipment, we have the capacity to support larger surgical teams, improving both physician performance and patient care.”

The project was more than a decade in the planning and is part of a $500 million capital improvement initiative that includes the Feil Family Pavilion, an expanded emergency department, 40 critical care suites, a power plant and a parking garage.

Mount Sinai South Nassau performs more than 12,000 surgeries annually, ranging from joint replacements and cancer operations to cataract removal and neurosurgery. Hospital officials said the new suites will increase capacity for same-day, elective and emergency procedures as demand for care grows across the communities the hospital serves.