NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst is part of an integrated health care system of hospitals, neighborhood health centers, long-term care, nursing homes and home care. NYC Health + Hospitals is committed to the health and well-being of all New Yorkers and we offer a wide range of high quality and affordable health care services to keep our patients healthy and to address the needs of New York’s diverse population.
Caring for a Diverse Community
NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst serves an area of nearly one million people in one of the most ethnically and linguistically diverse communities in the United States. Our patients come from across the globe, speaking a multitude of languages and dialects and bringing with them their particular beliefs and customs. Elmhurst is responsive to their needs, and makes every effort to alleviate cultural barriers and to ensure that our patients are provided with the quality healthcare they deserve. Culturally-sensitive care is a hallmark of our highly-regarded Mental Health Services.
A Leader in Women’s and Children’s Health
NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst excels in the areas of maternal and child health care; in fact, we established the country’s first children’s health center in 1918. Last year, more than 4,000 babies were delivered at Elmhurst. Our Women’s Health Service program offers a broad range of specialty care services and our obstetrics and neonatal intensive care services are the most comprehensive in the borough of Queens.
A State-of-the-Art Healthcare Facility
NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst is a completely modernized facility that has a highly-regarded Level I Trauma Center and Stroke Center; a 911 Receiving Hospital, and an Emergency Heart Care Station. Elmhurst is a regional referral center for trauma services, cardiac catheterization, neurosurgery, Adult, Adolescent, and Pediatric psychiatric services and rehabilitative medicine.
We are one of the top medical facilities in Queens for treating stroke and cardiac arrest patients. NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst has been a designated Stroke Center since August 2004, with a designated stroke team consisting of neurologists, emergency medicine physicians and emergency medicine nurses. Our Emergency Department and Cardiac Intensive Care Unit use the groundbreaking “Cooling Therapy” technique, a form of induced hypothermia that prevents brain damage in cardiac arrest patients. Elmhurst was the first hospital in Queens to be approved to perform Elective Angioplasty procedures – giving patients the choice to stay within the borough of Queens when having this procedure done.
In 2008, NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst opened The Hope Pavilion, a state-of-the-art cancer care facility. The Hope Pavilion at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst is home to some of the most innovative equipment in cancer care. The new building also houses a child day care center open to our employees and the general public.
Elmhurst is a teaching institution with an academic affiliation agreement with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst is a designated stroke center and our expert team of neurologists, emergency medicine physicians, and emergency medicine nurses makes us one of the top medical facilities in Queens for treating stroke patients. We are borough leaders in several surgical specialties. NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst was the first hospital in Queens to be approved to perform elective angioplasty procedures and the first New York City public hospital to conduct laparoscopic surgery using the da Vinci surgical robot.
We provide compassionate, culturally-sensitive mental health services for children and adults as well as chemical dependency treatment programs. To learn more about these and other services, click here.
Patient Safety
At NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, we are committed to improving patient safety, eliminating preventable harm, and promoting equity in healthcare. We focus on a broad range of efforts, including reducing medication errors, improving patient identification, adhering to universal protocols, preventing falls with injury, reducing hospital-acquired infections, enhancing patient flow, and addressing staff violence, among others.
While Zero Harm is our ultimate goal, these efforts are central to providing safe, reliable, and equitable care for every patient. Through initiatives like the HRO (High Reliability Organizations) Journey, Tiered Safety Huddles, Just Culture, TeamSTEPPS, Good Catch reporting, and Spark Connect, we continuously strengthen our safety practices, enhance collaboration, and foster a supportive environment for both patients and staff. With ongoing learning and active participation from all, including through system-wide data and best practice sharing, we work to create a safer, more equitable, and compassionate environment for everyone.
Quality, Safety, and Performance Initiatives for 2025
Our organization is committed to continuously enhancing the quality, safety, equity, and experience of care for the communities we serve. Each year, we identify priority areas that guide improvements across clinical, operational, and patient-centered services. These initiatives reflect our dedication to meeting accreditation standards, advancing health equity, and fostering a safe care environment grounded in our commitment to Zero Harm.
2025 Quality & Performance Focus Areas
- Hand Hygiene
We continue to promote a safe care environment through comprehensive hand-hygiene initiatives. These include ongoing education, awareness campaigns, monitoring, and coaching that reinforce infection-prevention practices. Our goal is to ensure that every staff member consistently contributes to our Zero Harm efforts by following evidence-based practices. - Culture of Safety
We will continue to strengthen our culture of safety by promoting transparent communication, reinforcing standardized procedures, and supporting nurse-sensitive and device-related care practices. Interdisciplinary teams will work collaboratively to advance safety, reduce preventable harm, and ensure accountability across all departments. - Patient Experience
We remain committed to creating a welcoming, supportive, and patient-centered environment. Our initiatives include:- Incorporating patient and family feedback
- Enhancing hospitality and overall care experience
- Supporting care partner and ambassador programs
- Advancing patient-experience committee initiatives
- Strengthening communication among care teams
- Cancer Screening Support
Our population health teams will continue to lead outreach and support efforts focused on cancer prevention and early detection. This includes:- Connecting patients with screening resources
- Engaging and educating providers
- Improving coordination between primary care and specialty teams
- Supporting timely follow-up and navigation services
- Patient Flow & Throughput
We will continue to improve care coordination throughout the hospitalization process by:- Streamlining discharge and transition workflows
- Enhancing interdisciplinary communication
- Improving room turnover efficiency
- Strengthening collaboration between clinical and operational teams
- Health Equity
Advancing equity remains a core organizational priority and an essential component of our mission to achieve Zero Harm for every patient. In 2025, we will:- Promote culturally competent care through staff training and education
- Improve accuracy and completeness of demographic and REAL data
- Enhance collection and use of Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) information
- Partner with community organizations to address disparities
- Ensure equitable access to services, resources, and language support
- Analyze outcomes data to identify and reduce inequities in care delivery
Commitment to Continuous Improvement
Our quality, safety, and performance initiatives evolve throughout the year based on data, patient and staff feedback, regulatory and accreditation requirements, and the needs of the diverse communities we serve. We remain dedicated to accountability, transparency, health equity, and our unwavering commitment to achieving Zero Harm across all aspects of care.
New York State Department of Health – Health Equity Impact Assessment Requirement Criteria
