GOUVERNEUR — E.J. Noble Hospital in Gouverneur reopened at 9 a.m. this morning after the state Department of Health determined its laboratory can perform limited testing.
The 37-bed hospital had been closed since the end of September, when the Department of Health shut down its clinical laboratory. Service deficiencies made the lab a risk to patient health and safety, the department said in a news release.
But the laboratory has made “significant progress to correct the deficiencies,” according to the Department of Health. It will allow the lab to perform a pared-down list of tests.
As a result of those testing limitations, some acute medical procedures will still be unavailable at the hospital. They include obstetric services and some surgeries.
The hospital can receive patients for emergency medical services, however. Any patients that need treatment outside of the hospital’s current capabilities will be stabilized and transferred to other facilities.
The Department of Health intends to continue monitoring patient safety at E.J. Noble and work to address remaining issues with its laboratory services, it said in a news release.
Contact Seltzer at rseltzer@cnybj.com
