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Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip is transforming and entering a new era in its over 60-year history.
On Wednesday morning, dozens of elected officials, hospital administration, healthcare workers, and community members gathered for the unveiling of the medical facility’s new name: Good Samaritan University Hospital.
Featured speakers touched on the importance of this momentous day for the hospital and how it will inspire the next generation of healthcare professionals who enter Good Samaritan University Hospital’s doors.
The name change is to reaffirms the hospital’s commitment to its residency and fellowship programs, said Patrick O’Shaughnessy, president and CEO of Catholic Health, the hospital network Good Sam is a part of.
“We educate and train the healers of tomorrow,'” said O’Shaughnessy. “These leaders and the next generation of leaders will continue to advance our programs to be the highest quality health system in our region — they are the right people providing the right care at the right time.”
Hospital president Ruth Hennessey said the new name combines the following values of Good Samaritan, which are “compassionate care, quality and excellence, leading-edge medical and surgical diagnosis and treatment, award-winning clinicians, and a robust graduate medical education program.”
Since 1994, more than 500 physicians have been educated through Good Samaritan’s Graduate Medical Education Program, O’Shaughnessey added.
In addition to its new name, Good Samaritan University Hospital is also undergoing a physical change with the construction of its $500 million, 300,000-square-foot patient care pavilion.
The patient care pavilion will feature a state-of-the-art 75-bay, 70,000-square-foot adult and pediatric emergency department, along with 16 high-tech operating rooms and three floors of private patient rooms. The building is slated to open in early 2025.
Pastoral care is a unique trait of the faith-based medical center and a program that will be enhanced through the private patient rooms and other elements of the new patient care pavilion.
“If I could sum up one word that really encapsulates the meaning of pastoral care, it would be the word presence — simply to be with another person and truly listen in an accepting, compassionate and nonjudgmental manner,” said Sister Mary Anna Euring, former director of pastoral care of Good Samaritan University Hospital. “We all have the power to be God’s instruments of healing…such healing continues as we eagerly await the opening of the new patient care pavilion.”
A few former patients took to the podium to share how Good Samaritan University Hospital changed their lives, including Maria Rizzuto who was successfully treated for a brain aneurysm.
“I thought my life was ending…little did I know my answers and my angel were a few streets away from my home,” said Rizzuto through tears. “The level of care in West Islip in this hospital is second to none.”
Top: The attendees under signage with the new name of the West Islip medical center, Good Samaritan University Hospital.
