Sinai Health System has opened a new hybrid short stay observation unit at Mount Sinai Hospital to serve both adult and pediatric patients on April 22nd as the first part of a two-phase project. The hybrid unit will provide care for patients who only need a short stay in the hospital for observation and follow up after an emergency department visit or transfer from another provider. The unit is designed to take care of short-term patients who need stays of 72 hours or less. Better throughput and decompression of the Emergency Department will also enable improved management and efficiency in terms of staff assignments and utilization across high volume units receiving patients from emergency and other sources. The new adult unit will be staffed by existing physicians and nurses providing coverage for 16 dedicated beds. The pediatric unit is simultaneously being developed for 24/7 coverage, and will include child-friendly rooms to accommodate pediatric patients and their families. The entire unit will also expansively utilize the latest digital health technology, such as mobile tablets with access to patient medical records and physician notes, to share data and increase diagnostic availability and efficiency. Sinai is currently recruiting pediatric-trained nurses to staff the new unit when the pediatric component opens in July.