Healthcare Facilities Battle In The Heights For Brooklyn’s New ‘Upscale’ Demographic

By on June 7, 2012 11:35 am in Brooklyn Heights, Development, Downtown Brooklyn, Real Estate

A turf war is taking place in Brooklyn Heights between major healthcare providers who want to nurture the sickly—now that the locale has become an “extension of the upscale lifestyle of most Manhattanites.” Crain’s New York reports that multi-specialty practices are establishing outposts in the neighborhood to cash in on the changing demographic in nearby Downtown.

“In one corner: Preferred Health Partners, which has had the home-team advantage since the 1950s and evolved from the former clinics operated by insurer HIP,” Crain’s says. And in the other is newcomer Mount Sinai, which, as BHB reported May 29, is leasing 75,060 square feet at One Pierrepont Plaza (300 Cadman Plaza) in the Heights, for an ambulatory care office, urgent care, cardiology, general surgery, neurology and plastic surgery, among other medical practices.

PHP board chairman Dr. Lesly Kernisant accuses Mount Sinai of “taking advantage of the demographic shift currently transforming Downtown Brooklyn into an extension of the upscale lifestyle of most Manhattanites.” The hospital’s “business planners are seeking an early advantage into this newly established opulent catchment area.”

He adds that Mount Sinai’s location is “strategically located just at the entry door to Manhattan. Credit should be given to those of us who have been providing health care in the borough for years.”

PHP has one site in Brooklyn Heights (at Montague Street and Court Street) and another Downtown (at Atlantic Avenue and Nevins Street). It offers a total of 11 Brooklyn offices, including Crown Heights, Bedford-Stuyvesant and East New York. The practice has 140 full-time doctors.

Partners Mount Sinai Medical Center and WESTMED Practice Partners (a Westchester-based physician-owned private medical practice) told The New York Observer that they have been looking to move into the Brooklyn market for some time. The private medical practice will occupy the 17th and 18th floors in the 19-story tower at One Pierrepont Plaza. After renovations, it is scheduled to move in January 2013. Mount Sanai did not respond in the Crain’s story.

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  • Mr. Crusty

    Some commenters on here will tell you this will be the end of the world and cause BH to become an intolerable place to live. Some people are silly.

  • malanga es malanga

    I’m confused. Can I, or can I not, get my methadone at the new medical offices?

  • A math major

    Only if you arrive by ambulance.

  • Marmac

    Hey, I’m all for free enterprise, but not if this will bring in the gang bangers looking to treat their bullet wounds or the parolees getting their weekly drug tests!

    Hah, thanks for the chuckle you guys!

  • PromGal

     Manhattan has some of the finest hospitals in the country. That is why the best doctors are there. People come from all over the world to these medical facilities, including people from Brooklyn Heights. 
      Unfortunately, Brooklyn does not have a world class, first rate hospital, and the top doctors that are affiliated with top hospitals. 
      It isn’t clear whether this new Mount Sinai at OPP is actually affiliated with Mount Sinai Hospital, which is first rate, or is just the name of a private medical group.

     I wish the best doctors were in Brooklyn, but they’re not. And until there are, I will continue to do my research and seek out the best medical available, with doctors affiliated with excellent hospitals. And travel that long, long distance for all my checkups. 

     The price is the same, all covered by insurance, and I’m not going to risk my health with a “no shot, dog bite” experience. 
     
      

  • EHinBH

    Sigh. Nobody in their right mind would EVER truly want a 75,000 square foot medical center to open down the block from them. It is absurd to think that it is a good thing for a community. Whatever.

  • Marmac

    You’re so right PromGal. I thoroughly research doctors before stepping foot in their office. There’s been no one in the immediate area who took my insurance and passed muster. No more trekking into Manhattan when I’m feeling crappy? Thanks! It’ll be a welcome alternative to the unfortunate LICH ER too. I’m praying Mount Sinai will take my lousy insurance.

  • Cranberry Beret

    EH, have you considered Wyoming? You’re almost guaranteed to live 75 miles from the nearest 75,000 square foot medical center. Sounds like it would be perfect for you.

  • Bette

    “opulent catchment area”? Have they eaten here?

  • yoohoo

    You should know that LICH has worldclass specialty surgeons on its staff.

  • Mr. Crusty

    EhinBH, I’ll venture to say you won’t even know it is there. It is a welcome addition to the community.

  • PromGal

    Unfortunately, LICH is not a world class hospital in any way. Certainly not comparable in any way to NYU, Lenox Hill, Mount Sinai, Hospital for Special Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering, etc.
    Google various procedures like knee, hip, heart valve replacement, bypass surgery, eye surgery, etc and “best outcome”. There are lists of best doctors in NY.
    There us a huge difference in outcome depending where you are first treated.
    In my experience with my family and friends, hospitals and doctors, and hospital staff who speak English is crucial. In the hospitals listed as top tier, everyone, from the head doctor/surgeon, to the nurses and housekeeping speak English.
    Of course, they have bilingual or multi-lingual personnel to accommodate non English speaking patients.

  • Andrew Porter

    As I’ve posted here, I was due to have a cancer op at LICH. When I went to see a surgeon, there was a giant water stain down his wall. I thought to myself, “If they can’t even keep his office in repair, what is the rest of the place like?”

    I went to Sloan Kettering, and 5 years later, I’m still around to denigrate LICH.

  • Gerry

    The people here in Brooklyn Heights go to Manhattan or out to Nassau County when they are sick NYU or North Shore/LIJ Hospital in Manhasset

  • WillowSt.Neighbor

    I agree that most of the top doctors are in Manhattan. I myself have seen three different specialists who are all in the city.
    But, there are many people here in the Heights who cannot or will not go into the city and will be happy to have the opportunity to see good doctors here too. I am sure the elderly will be happy to get medical care locally too.
    Andrew,
    I had an appointment at LICH to see a vascular surgeon and I was so disgusted by the condition of the waiting room that I walked out.I got a recommendation to see another surgeon at NYU and she is now listed in the Castle Connolly Guide as one of the best vascular surgeons in NY. I recommend the guide to anyone interested in researching top doctors. It has become an invaluable tool for me because once you’ve had a bad doctor and survived the experience, you don’t ever want to repeat that experience!