The Nassau Health Care Corporation is taking what some say is a drastic measure to save the Nassau University Medical Center (NUMC) and a struggling nursing home in Uniondale.

Officials say downsizing will be the key to breathing new life into NUMC and the A. Holly Patterson Nursing Home. They say the plan involves building a newer, smaller nursing home on the same site and selling the rest of the land to a developer. Health officials say the nursing home presently has 889 beds but only 572 patients. They say it has been a long time since the home was filled to capacity.

Plans for the land include assisted living, senior housing and a community center. Arthur Gianelli, acting chief of the health care corporation, says a rough timetable to sell the land, rebuild and open the new center is 3 to 5 years.