Expectant parents can look forward to delivering their babies in a new, nurturing environment at Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH) in late 2023 thanks to a recent $2 million in federal funding secured by Rep. Nicole Malliotakis. That money comes on top of more than $2.5 million donated by the Vincent Gruppuso Foundation for the center’s construction.
The Gruppuso Family Women and Newborn Center will feature 10 labor, delivery and recovery rooms; three operating rooms; 37 maternity beds in private rooms; and 12 nursery bassinets. It offers a seamless birth experience for mothers, babies and families by locating the maternity unit, labor-and-delivery unit and NICU on a single floor.
Women and newborn services are currently offered in three different locations across two floors, said Dr. Brahim Ardolic, executive director of the hospital. He explained that the new center will provide more efficient care for mothers and infants at the hospital.
“Since this hospital opened, maternal child services have not been aligned for efficiency and, just as important today, not aligned in the way families choose to experience this level of care and service,” Ardolic said. “This new building solves the efficiency issue, and frees up existing space to be converted into advanced surgical suites to bring more services to Staten Island – it’s a win-win.”
The new center will be a 52,000-square-foot building at 475 Seaview Avenue. It will be connected to the hospital by a bridge.
For Michael Caridi, whose late father-in-law’s namesake foundation made the groundbreaking donation for the new addition to the hospital a reality, it’s a long time coming. “Twenty-five years ago my wife was having our first daughter at Staten Island University Hospital. She was in a room with another new mom who had just gone through a difficult labor and delivery and was in a lot of pain,” explained Caridi. “When the hospital began working on a concept for the new center, we saw that there was a need for families to have dignity and privacy during their hospital stay.”
To that end, Caridi said the center will honor what Vincent Gruppuso cherished most. “My father-in-law loved children. Everything was about his grandchildren and his family,” said Caridi. “The Gruppuso Family Women and Newborn Center is all about family and children.”
SPONSORED CONTENT BY STATEN ISLAND UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL
