NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull Opens New Minor Surgery Suite, Expanding Access and Enhancing Patient Experience
State-of-the-art suite improves efficiency, reduces wait times, and supports multidisciplinary care in a modern, patient-centered space
Oct 29, 2025
NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull proudly unveiled its new Minor Surgery Suite, a modern and efficient addition designed to enhance patient access, reduce wait times, and optimize surgical operations across multiple specialties.
The new suite provides a comfortable, streamlined environment for same-day procedures, supporting a wide range of services and helping to free up capacity in the hospital’s main operating rooms for more complex surgical cases. Built in alignment with Joint Commission and Department of Health standards, the suite reflects the hospital’s ongoing commitment to safety, efficiency, and patient-centered care.
“The opening of our new Minor Surgery Suite reflects Woodhull’s continued commitment to innovation and patient-centered excellence,” said Sandra Sneed, Chief Executive Officer, NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull. “This investment allows us to expand access, enhance efficiency, and ensure that every patient who walks through our doors receives safe, timely, and compassionate surgical care close to home.”
“The opening of the Minor Surgery Suite is a significant step forward for Woodhull and our patients,” said Dr. Lisa Scott-McKenzie, Chief Operating Officer, NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull. “The suite will allow us to provide top-notch care in beautiful surroundings as well as free up valuable OR time to grow our comprehensive surgical services. Congratulations to the multidisciplinary teams that contributed to this project.”
“The Minor Surgery Suite will improve efficiency and wait times for our patients, while freeing up our Operating Rooms for continued growth. In the end, it’s all about meeting the needs of our patients, with safety as our North Star. The opening of the Minor Surgery Suite is a great multidisciplinary achievement, and I’m so grateful to all those who played a role in this important project,” said Dr. Ross MacDonald, Chief Medical Officer, NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull.
“Opening of the Minor Surgery Suite is a major customer service incentive that enhances our ability to provide timely, efficient care to our community,” said Althea Senior-Morris, Chief Nursing Officer, RN, NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull “This allows greater access to care in both the Minor Surgery Suite and the Operating Room, thus decreasing wait times for surgical procedures here at NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull. It allows us to deliver focused, high-quality care in a space designed for safety, comfort, and continuity.”
“Our mission is to ensure all our patients obtain timely treatment with the best outcomes, and opening this suite after many years of dormancy allows for expanded OR capacity,” said Stephan Shaw, Chief Financial Officer, NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull.
“The new Minor Surgery Suite is a win-win for everyone,” added Javier Andrade, MD, Chair of Surgery and Chief of Perioperative Services, NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull. “By moving smaller procedures here, we instantly boost our overall OR efficiency and slash patient wait times. This strategic move ensures our main operating rooms are wide open for major, life-saving cases, while delivering a faster, more focused, and better patient experience for all.”
“We are very excited to open the new Minor Suite area for all of our local surgical cases,” said Lani Garris, RN, Director of Nursing, Perioperative Services. “The minor suite allows for rapid turnovers in between cases, improving efficiency and enhancing the overall experience for both patients and staff.”
The Minor Surgery Suite was developed using staff and patient feedback to optimize workflow and comfort, ensuring a seamless experience from admission to discharge. The space also supports multidisciplinary use, allowing for flexible scheduling and greater access to specialty care as clinical demand grows.
This project represents another milestone in NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull’s ongoing mission to deliver safe, equitable, and high-quality care to the North Brooklyn community.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Julissa Herrera, NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull
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About NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull
NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull, part of the NYC Health + Hospitals health care system, is the major tertiary care provider in the borough of Brooklyn. It is a premiere health care organization for key specialties, including surgery, women’s health, pediatrics, rehabilitation medicine, renal services, ambulatory care/primary care, emergency medicine, and behavioral health services. Last year, the hospital received close to 480,000 ambulatory care visits and close to 100,000 emergency room visits. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/woodhull, and stay connected on Facebook
About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal health care system in the nation, serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city’s five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system’s trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlus health plan—all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 46,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
