Mount Sinai Opens Westchester Emergency Facility in October
Key Takeaways
- •Mount Sinai's new 112,000-square-foot Westchester facility opens in early October.
- •The location features 26 emergency bays, the system's largest freestanding emergency department.
- •Three upper floors remain available for future development as a full-service hospital.
Mount Sinai Medical Center has completed construction on its first phase of expansion in Westchester and will begin treating patients in early October, marking a significant milestone in bringing healthcare services to underserved areas of Miami-Dade County.
The four-story, 112,000-square-foot facility will officially celebrate its opening with a ribbon cutting ceremony scheduled for September 25, according to Matt Barnard, Mount Sinai's associate vice president of facility planning and construction.
The new location will debut with 26 emergency bays, making it the largest freestanding emergency department in the Mount Sinai system and the second-largest emergency facility overall across the organization's network. Patients will have immediate access to advanced diagnostic equipment including an MRI machine, two CT scanners, and ultrasound services.
Barnard emphasized that the imaging equipment will serve a dual purpose. Beyond supporting emergency department operations, the technology will be available for community residents who need outpatient imaging services, providing access where none existed previously.
The facility received its temporary certificate of occupancy in June, a critical regulatory milestone that allowed non-construction personnel to begin preparing the building for operations. Since then, clinical staff and technicians have been working through a lengthy certification and testing process required for medical facilities.
"Given the nature of the facility, there are a lot of certifications," Barnard explained, noting the complex work involving medical equipment and laboratory and pharmacy accreditations that must be completed before patient care can begin.
Mount Sinai has been simultaneously training employees hired specifically for the Westchester location, positioning the organization to deliver care immediately upon opening. The hospital is actively recruiting for clinical and administrative positions to staff the facility, though specific employee counts were not disclosed.
A noteworthy addition to the facility is a dedicated Baker Act receiving unit, integrated with Mount Sinai's Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein Behavioral Health services. This specialized space will provide care for patients experiencing mental health crises.
Barnard described the Westchester facility as Mount Sinai's flagship expansion project in that community, building on the hospital's existing presence in adjacent areas. The organization conducted extensive research identifying substantial unmet healthcare needs in the region.
The first phase includes the complete shell and core of the four-story structure with the emergency department occupying the ground floor. Mount Sinai has designed the three upper floors for future development as a full-service hospital, though no timeline has been announced for that expansion.
The project represents both immediate job creation through construction employment and ongoing economic impact through permanent clinical and administrative positions at the facility.
