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Walsh Ambulatory Pavillion is unveiled By MELISSA BERMAN mberman@liherald.com
With a ceremonial ribbon cutting and applause from a packed crowd of health care leaders, elected officials and residents, Episcopal Health Services unveiled the Walsh Ambulatory Pavilion at St. John’s Episcopal Hospital — a sweeping expansion of outpatient care aimed at transforming how medicine is delivered across the Rockaway Peninsula. The five-story, 65,000-square-foot facility at 19-20 Brookhaven Ave. is designed to transform how care is delivered locally by bringing primary care, specialty services and advanced treatment options into one centralized, patientfocused setting. The celebration took place on May 1. “This is a defining moment for our organization,” said Dr. Donald Morrish, president and chief executive officer. “We are not just expanding our footprint, we are changing the way care is accessed. The goal is simple: catch illness earlier, treat it more effectively and keep people healthier so they can stay out of the hospital.” Morrish underscored that the pavilion represents a shift toward preventive and relationship-based care. “We want patients to have a medical home,” he said. “Somewhere they can call, be seen quickly, and build trust with their providers. When that happens, you see better compliance, earlier diagnoses and ultimately better outcomes.” He added that improving access was central to the project’s mission. “For too long, gaps in access have led people to rely on emergency rooms for routine care,” Morrish said. “This gives the community a better option — one that is more coordinated, more personal and more effective.” The pavilion houses a wide range of services, including primary care, women’s health, behavioral health, specialty practices and an endoscopy center, all aimed at reducing fragmentation in care. “It’s about convenience, but it’s also about continuity,” Morrish said. “When your providers are connected, your care
Courtesy Episcopal Health Services
Episcopal Health Services Board of Trustees and senior executive leadership celebrate the launch of the Walsh Ambulatory Pavilion with a ribbon cutting, on May 1. is stronger.” A key component of the facility is the new EHS Cancer Center, which officials described as a long-awaited resource for the peninsula. “This is incredibly meaningful for our patients,” said Karen Paige, executive vice president and chief operating officer. “We are now able to offer a fully comprehensive cancer program from prevention and screening to diagnosis, treatment and survivorship all in one place.” Paige said the addition of radiation oncolo g y services is par ticularly impactful. “Radiation therapy is not a one-time visit it can require daily treatment for weeks,” she said. “Previously, that meant repeated travel off the peninsula, which is a real burden. Now, patients can receive that care close to home, surrounded by their support systems.” She emphasized the importance of bringing multiple specialties together. “When you co-locate services, you remove barriers,” Paige said. “Patients don’t want to travel from one office to another. They want a seamless experience, and that’s what we’ve created here.” Dr. Marc Warshawsky, chief of hematology and oncology, said the Cancer
Center represents a major leap forward in clinical capability. “This is the first time we’ve been able to offer all three pillars of cancer care — surgical oncology, medical oncology and radiation oncology — under one roof,” Warshawsky said. “That level of integration is critical to delivering the highest standard of care.” Warshawsky noted that collaboration among specialists will directly benefit patients. “Cancer treatment is complex, and it requires constant communication between disciplines,” he said. “Now, those conversations can happen in real time, with everyone in the same building. That leads to more coordinated treatment plans and better outcomes.” He also pointed to the emotional and logistical relief for patients. “Being treated for cancer is difficult enough,” Warshawsky said. “Anything we can do to reduce stress — like eliminating the need to travel long distances — makes a real difference. This facility allows patients to focus on healing, not logistics.” Hospital leaders said the pavilion is part of a broader effort to address health disparities in Far Rockaway and surrounding communities by expanding access to
high-quality care. “We’re listening to what this community needs,” Morrish said. “And what they’ve told us is clear — they want accessible, comprehensive care close to home. This pavilion delivers on that.” Paige echoed that sentiment. “This building reflects our promise,” she said. “To be here for our patients, to grow with our community and to ensure that no one has to leave the neighborhood to receive exceptional care.” Appointments at the EHS Cancer Center can be scheduled at ehs.org/ oncology or by calling medical oncology at 718-869-7949, radiation oncology at 718-869-7101, or surgical oncology at 718347-3627. For the Walsh Ambulatory Pavilion, patients can call 718-EHS-DOCS (3473627) or visit ehs.org/walsh. “This is more than a ribbon cutting,” Morrish said. “It’s a statement about the future of health care in this community and we’re just getting started.”