By Ivan Pereira
The state has ordered St. John’s Episcopal Hospital in Far Rockaway to stop its services related to blood work after the medical center’s lab failed to meet New York state health standards.
The state Department of Health issued the 30-day block of services Friday after inspectors found that the lab was not suitable for blood transfusion and blood banks. No further details were provided by the DOH as to why the stay was issued.
During the suspension the hospital, at 327 Beach 19th St., can continue to perform blood transfusions only if it uses an outside lab to handle pre-transfusion blood testing and “demonstrates to DOH that proper protocols and procedures are in place for protecting patient safety,” the state said.
A spokeswoman for the hospital said it has reached out to other medical centers in the borough and is working to rectify the situation.
“With the assistance of the laboratory of North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, Episcopal Health Services fully expects unconditional operations will be resumed within the next 30 days if not sooner,” St. John’s Episcopal spokeswoman Penelope Chin said in a statement.
