HHC Appoints New Chairman of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Announces Plans to Resume Labor and Delivery Services at North Central Bronx Hospital
Nov 11, 2013
The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) today announced the appointment of Michael Zinaman, M.D. as Chairman of the HHC North Bronx Healthcare Network’s Obstetrics (OB) and Gynecology (GYN) Department. Dr. Zinaman will oversee inpatient and outpatient women’s health services and labor and delivery services at Jacobi Medical Center and North Central Bronx Hospital beginning in mid-December. With the appointment of the new Chair, HHC will begin to plan the reopening of labor and delivery services at North Central Bronx Hospital (NCBH) in 2014.
“After an extensive national search, we are pleased to have been able to recruit Dr. Michael Zinaman, an outstanding physician leader, researcher, professor, and surgeon with extensive experience in all areas of women’s health” said William Walsh, Sr. Vice President of the HHC North Bronx Healthcare Network, which includes Jacobi, NCB Hospital and the Health Centers at Tremont and Gun Hill. “With Dr. Zinaman’s leadership, we will step up recruitment efforts for other outstanding physicians and are confident we will have a plan in place to reopen a safe and efficient maternity service at North Central Bronx Hospital.”
“I am excited to lead this talented OB and GYN team of nurses, physicians, midwives and others who are so dedicated to providing quality care to the women and newborns of the North Bronx,” said Dr. Zinaman, who currently serves as Chair of the department of Obstetrics and Genecology at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Boston and is a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Tufts University School of Medicine.
The NCBH maternity services were suspended in August due to senior physician vacancies and concerns about appropriate staffing. As a result, HHC consolidated labor and delivery services from two campuses at NCBH and Jacobi, to one campus at Jacobi, to better target resources and ensure optimal staffing to provide the most comprehensive, safe and efficient model of inpatient obstetrical and gynecological care for patients.
No employees from NCBH lost their jobs as a result of the consolidation and most chose to transfer to Jacobi and follow their patients there.
The majority of expectant mothers from NCBH continued to receive their outpatient services at NCBH and since the consolidation more than 250 NCBH moms chose to deliver their babies at Jacobi Medical Center.
Mr. Walsh announced the plan to reopen maternity services at NCBH at the hospital’s November 6th Community Advisory Board meeting and will update hospital staff and members of the community as the reopening plan is developed under the leadership and direction of Dr. Zinaman.
More about Michael Zinaman, MD
Since 2008 Dr. Zinaman has served as Chair of the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Boston and has been Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Tufts University School of Medicine. He is also an accomplished minimally invasive surgeon and has trained a generation of fellows and residents. His research interests include reproductive health, uterine anomalies, fibroids, endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome, pediatric endocrinology, menopause and infertility. He has published numerous articles in the Lancet and The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. He also recently chaired several NIAID study sections on HIV.
Dr. Zinaman is a member of the Society for Reproductive Endocrinologists, the Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics, and the Accreditation Council for Gynecologic Laparoscopy. He has an MD degree from the State University of New York and did his fellowship at Georgetown University and the National Institutes of Health. He was recognized in 2001, 2003 and 2006 as “Best Physician in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility” by Chicago Magazine. In 2010, he was also included in Boston Magazine’s Top Doctor recognition.
Contact : Ian Michaels (HHC) (212) 788-3339
North Central Bronx Public Affairs(718) 918-4055
About the HHC North Bronx Healthcare Network
The North Bronx Healthcare Network consists of Jacobi Medical Center (JMC), North Central Bronx Hospital (NCBH) and two community health care centers at Gun Hill and Tremont. JMC holds numerous center of excellence designations for its renowned trauma center, burn center, regional stroke center, breast health center and bariatric surgery service and serves as a site for high risk maternity patients. The facility also has a multi-person hyperbaric unit and a surgical intensive care unit. NCBH specializes in behavioral, geriatric primary care and ambulatory care services for women and children. Its renowned outpatient department has led the way in community-based care delivered in a compassionate and culturally-sensitive manner.
NBHN was established by the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) in 1994 to improve patient care and better respond to community needs. NBHN is the sole public provider of health care services in the North Bronx, with an annual average of 35,400 inpatient discharges, 162,000 emergency visits, 558,500 outpatient visits and 4,300 ambulatory surgery visits. In FY 13 over 48,000 maternity outpatient visits were provided and 3091 babies were delivered. NBHN supports a variety of specialty services has received many distinctions for the care it provides. As with any HHC facility, it provides compassionate care to those in need, regardless of ability to pay.
About HHC
The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) is a $6.7 billion integrated healthcare delivery system with its own 420,000 member health plan, MetroPlusHealth, and is the largest municipal healthcare organization in the country. HHC serves 1.4 million New Yorkers every year and more than 475,000 are uninsured. HHC provides medical, mental health and substance abuse services through its 11 acute care hospitals, four skilled nursing facilities, six large diagnostic and treatment centers and more than 70 community based clinics. HHC Health and Home Care also provides in-home services for New Yorkers. HHC was the 2008 recipient of the National Quality Forum and The Joint Commission’s John M. Eisenberg Award for Innovation in Patient Safety and Quality. For more information, visit www.nychhc.org/hhc or find us on facebook.com/NYCHealthSystem or twitter.com/NYCHealthSystem.