Einstein Medical Center Montgomery Gets First Patients Tomorrow

By Ian Bush

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The Philadelphia area's first new hospital in more than a decade is getting its first patients tomorrow morning. They're transfers from a hospital in Montgomery County that's closing down after more than a century.

From the moment Einstein Medical Center Montgomery in East Norriton opens its doors, doctors and nurses will be busy.

"We'll be beginning to transfer the remaining inpatients and any patients who happen to be in the emergency department at the time over to Einstein Medical Center Montgomery."

Chief operating officer Beth Duffy says there are several dozen people ready to make the three-mile trip from Montgomery Hospital in Norristown.

"All the patients are transported in ambulances."

And, before the old place goes dark for good and the patients are wheeled in the 146 private rooms in the new Einstein-Montgomery, "Working with them to make them feel comfortable with their loved one or themselves being moved."