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1994.03.09 : Settlement with Mt. Sinai Hospital, NYC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                   Contact:  HHS Press Office
Wednesday, March 9, 1994                          (202) 690-6343

          HHS OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS SIGNS AGREEMENT
               WITH MT. SINAI MEDICAL CENTER

     An investigation by the Department of Health and Human
Services' Office for Civil Rights into allegations of
discriminatory practices at Mt. Sinai Medical Center, New York
City, has resulted in an agreement by the hospital to ensure that
its maternity floors are fully integrated.

     "This agreement between Mt. Sinai and OCR includes significant
protections for maternity patients and ensures equal treatment,"
stated Dennis Hayashi, director of the Office for Civil Rights. 
"The spirit of voluntary cooperation by Mt. Sinai's representatives
in resolving this matter was exemplary."

     In November 1993, OCR launched an investigation of Mt. Sinai
after receiving information which alleged violations of Title VI of
the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Hill-Burton Act.  

     Information drawn from a statistical analysis indicated that
room assignments on the hospital's two maternity floors resulted in
one floor accommodating primarily minority patients, and the other,
non-minority patients.  It also appeared that the hospital's
explanation of the policy of assigning Medicaid beneficiaries and
uninsured patients to a specific floor, leading to the disparity,
did not significantly further any legitimate objective.  

     The investigation included an analysis of a one-year patient
census that identified the patient population by floor
distribution, race and method of payment.

     The agreement with Mt. Sinai specifically outlines a series of
actions to be taken by the hospital and monitored by the OCR
Regional Office over the next two years.  The provisions include
assurances that the hospital will not discriminate against minority
and Medicaid patients, that non-discrimination notices will be
posted within the facility and that a two-hour training session to
staff on appropriate civil rights protections will be developed by
the hospital.