Long Beach Medical Center's History

“In 1922, the sands of Long Beach became fertile ground for good medicine.”

Beginning as a beachside emergency aid station in 1922, today's health care facility has since grown to include a 162-bed acute care hospital, 200-bed skilled nursing facility specializing in rehabilitative medicine, several Centers of Excellence and numerous outpatient programs. 

Our history began when a concerned group of community leaders recognized the need for comprehensive health care services on their barrier beach island.  Their fundraising efforts, and the continued support of community residents, help support what is now a 90-year legacy of quality care.   

 

Date

Event

1922

The Hospital is founded as a beachside emergency station

1924

With the support of City leadership and a group of concerned citizens, the hospital is incorporated as Long Beach Hospital and construction begins on a new building at the hospital’s current site.  

1927

The new building is dedicated with a community-wide celebration.   

1948  

The Hospital is renamed Long Beach Memorial Hospital in commemoration of soldiers and sailors killed during WW II

1950

The Hospital establishes an emergency dock for boaters.

1953

Central Pavilion is completed.

1953

The Long Beach Memorial Hospital Ladies Auxiliary is established

1958

The Hospital hosts its first anniversary Autumn Ball to raise funds for patient services.

1960

East Pavilion is completed.

1964  

The Hospital constructs its new Pediatrics wing for hospitalized children.

1965

The Hospital opens its Family Care Center, which provides primary and specialty clinic services to individuals and families with limited financial resources. 

1967

Main Pavilion constructed

1969

The Hospital establishes the first suburban Methadone Maintenance

Program in the nation.

1971

The Hospital establishes its outpatient Mental Health Counseling Center

1972

Long Beach Medical Center names its Auditorium after Manny Goldstein, Chairman of the Board. The Goldstein Auditorium is the hospital’s main venue for conferences and meetings. 

1974

The 200-bed Komanoff Center for Geriatric and Rehabilitative Medicine opens as The Komanoff Pavilion, named in honor of Isidore and Hannah Komanoff, Trustees.  

1975

The Medical Center establishes its Family Alcohol Counseling and Treatment Service (FACTS), serving individuals and families. 

1977

The Hospital opens the Grumbacher Coronary Care Unit, honoring Joseph Grumbacher, Trustee. 

1979

With a gift from the Osterland family, The Komanoff Center for Geriatric and Rehabilitative Medicine dedicates its Auditorium in memory of the Segermans, parents of Charlotte Osterland.

1982

To ensure continuity of care to newly discharged patients, the Medical Center establishes the Long Beach Hospital Certified Home Health Agency to provide home care services.

1984

Long Beach Medical Center becomes a clinical campus of the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine

1985

Long Beach Medical Center sponsors the first Martin Sperling Memorial Golf Classic to raise funds for new programs and equipment. 

1987

The Medical Center establishes its Family Practice Residency Program and accepts it first intern.

1988

The Medical Center completes construction of its West Wing, a $45 million project that includes a new Emergency Department, Laboratory Suite and 24-bed inpatient Psychiatric Unit. 

1990

The Komanoff Center establishes a Long Term Home Healthcare Program (The Nursing Home Without Walls) as an alternative to traditional nursing home care.

1990

The Natan Celnik Pavilion is dedicated in honor of Natan and Celia Celnik.

1991

The Hospital celebrates the opening of its 15-bed inpatient Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit, which is renamed The John B. Cullen Rehabilitation Unit in 2006.

1992

The Medical Center has new bulk heading installed along its waterfront.  

1994

The Hospital becomes the first hospital on the east coast of the United States to receive JACHO’s Accreditation with Commendation

1994

Long Beach Medical Center establishes an affiliation with the Mount Sinai Health System.

1995

The Hospital acquires its first CAT scanner, as it was then commonly known.

1995

Long Beach Memorial Hospital is renamed Long Beach Medical Center in recognition of its extensive breadth of services

1996

The Komanoff Pavilion is renamed The Komanoff Center for Geriatric and Rehabilitative Medicine to reflect its concentration in physical medicine and rehabilitation services. 

1998

In response to the unmet specialized needs of residents of the Atlantic Hotel (Adult Home), Long Beach Medical Center’s Counseling Center developed the Atlantic Home Extension Clinic, offering psychiatric aftercare, case management, and medical services for its residents.  

1998

In response to the unmet specialized needs of residents of the Brighton Hotel (adult home), Long Beach Medical Center’s Counseling Center instituted a part time Clinic offering behavioral (mental health and substance abuse) health, primary medical and podiatry services for the residents of the adult home.    

2000

In response to the increasing public health concern related to underage drinking on Long Beach Island, Long Beach Medical Center applies for and is awarded grant funds to establish a coalition whose mission is dedicated to using evidence-based practices to reduce the incidence of underage drinking. 

2000

The Central Three Wing is dedicated in honor of Charlotte and Alfred Osterland, Chairman, Board of Trustees. 

2000

The Medical Center celebrates the opening of its new Wound Care and Hyperbarics Center.

2001

In the immediate aftermath of the September 11th tragedy, Long Beach Medical Center instituted Project Liberty, a program offering behavioral health services and emotional support to individuals affected by the 9/11 tragedy. 

2002-03

Long Beach Medical Center undergoes a $2.4 million technology upgrade in its Diagnostic Imaging Department, including a new CT scanner, interventional room equipment, web-browser for computed radiography, 3-D color echocardiography heart station equipment, and Powerscribe, a voice-recognition dictating system. 

2003

Long Beach Medical Center was awarded a federal grant of $100,000 to continue the work of its Coalition to Prevent Underage Drinking and extend its mission to include underage tobacco and marijuana use. 

2004

Long Beach Medical Center installs the latest generation MRI, the Toshiba Vantage.  The event is so significant that Toshiba’s lead research engineer attended the event, traveling all the way from Japan.   

2004

Long Beach Medical Center celebrates the installation of a second hyperbaric chamber in its Wound Care and Hyperbaric Center to address the growing prevalence of hard to heal wounds.    

2004

In response to the unmet specialized needs of the residents living in the Atlantic Hotel and the Brighton Hotel in Long Beach and The Abbey Manor in Island Park, Long Beach Medical Center’s Counseling Center develops an Adult Home Supportive Case Management Program which provides case management services and mental health care services for the residents of these adult homes.   

2004

Long Beach Medical Center establishes its Diabetes Education Center, and earns accreditation by the American Diabetes Association for its diabetes self-management education classes. 

2004

With a gift from Dorothy and Bernard Kennedy, President of the Board of Trustees, Long Beach Medical Center enhances the patio and gardens of The Komanoff Center for Geriatric Medicine and dedicates it in memory of Mr. Kennedy's mother, Mrs. Gertrude Kennedy.

2005

In recognition of the expanding senior population in Long Beach and the surrounding areas, Long Beach Medical Center opens its Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center, bringing the first rheumatology practice to the Long Beach area.

2006

To compliment its rehabilitation services, the Medical Center establishes a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation residency program with the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine. 

2006

With a gift from the Cullen family, Long Beach Medical Center’s rehabilitation unit is renamed The John B. Cullen Rehabilitation Center in honor of John B. Cullen, a resident of Point Lookout and staunch advocate of the Medical Center. 

2006

Long Beach Medical Center establishes a post-graduate residency training program to train physicians to become specialists in physical medicine and rehabilitative medicine.

2007

Long Beach Medical Center expands its behavioral health services with the opening of its inpatient Chemical Dependency Unit for medically-managed detoxification. 

2007

The Medical Center hosts a dedication ceremony, naming its Emergency Department Waiting Room in honor of James Portnof, Executive Vice President of LBMC and his wife, Maxine.  

2007

The Medical Center’s Laboratory goes live with the “Misys” Laboratory Information System. 

2007

Long Beach Medical Center secures a grant to establish its “ENABLE” program (Enhancing Abilities and Life Experience Program), entitled “Connections,” providing therapeutic and recreational learning and developmental services for the residents of New Central Manor (Adult Home), 

2008

Long Beach Medical Center was awarded additional federal grant funds ($125,000 and $50,000) to enhance its Coalition to Prevent Underage Drinking. 

2009

Long Beach Medical Center becomes an approved and credentialed Department of Defense Military Tricare provider and develops a Military Health Care Program.  

2009

Long Beach Medical Center secures a second grant to establish another “ENABLE” program (Enhancing Abilities and Life Experience Program) entitled “Think Healthy,” providing therapeutic and recreational learning and developmental services for the residents of New Central Manor (Adult Home), 

2009

In addition to its alcohol, drug/chemical substance, and tobacco addiction treatment services, Long Beach Medical Center earns certification to provide treatment for Gambling Addiction as part of its comprehensive Behavioral Health services.    

2009

Long Beach Medical Center invests $4.3 million in diagnostic imaging upgrades, including a new 16-slice CT scanner, PACS (picture archiving system), new radiology suites in the Emergency and Imaging Departments, radiofluroscopy, portable x-ray system, digital ultrasound and heart station equipment. 

2009

Long Beach Medical Center installs EmpowER™ electronic medical record system in its Emergency Department. 

2009

Long Beach Medical Center establishes a clinical affiliation with New York University/Langone Medical Center and Hospital for Joint Disease in the specialty of Orthopedics.  

2010 

Long Beach Medical Center begins the installation of its system-wide Electronic Medical Record system. 

2011

Long Beach Medical Center becomes a smoke-free campus, eliminating tobacco use from its entire campus, including all indoor and public outdoor areas.   

2011

With a significant gift from Debra and Russell Rosenthal, Long Beach Medical Center opens the Annette Goldberg and Shepard Rosenthal Dialysis Center, a state-of-the-art outpatient dialysis service.  The Dialysis Center is named in memory of Mr. Rosenthal's parents. 

2011

Long Beach Medical Center’s Coalition to Prevent Underage Drinking is awarded an $871,000 grant to expand its work in reducing the incidence of underage drinking throughout Nassau County.  This grant is specific to high school aged students and is based on evidence-based environmental change practices.    

2011

Long Beach Medical Center establishes a Geriatric Fellowship program to train physicians to become specialists in geriatric medicine.

2011

Long Beach Medical Center embarks on a multi-million dollar modernization project to construct a new main entrance to the Hospital, renovate inpatient Nursing Units and install new systems and equipment.

2012

New York State awards $4,962,357 to Long Beach Medical Center to construct a new outpatient mental health clinic.  The new building will provide more space for individual and group counseling and include a children's play therapy room.

2012

New York State HEAL funds are awarded to be used to upgrade the Medical Center's electronic medical records and wireless network.

 

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