Mitchell H. Katz, MD
NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS
PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
REPORT TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
May 30, 2024
NYC HEALTH + HOSPITAL FACILITIES RECOGNIZE
NURSES AND HOSPITAL POLICE DURING SPECIAL MAY OBSERVANCES
At various ceremonies and recognition events, NYC Health + Hospitals highlighted the critical roles our nurses and hospital police play at our facilities.
The System’s 9,600 nurses are a vital part of the high-quality care that we deliver every day to our patients. NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln hosted multiple events throughout the month and had a closing ceremony last week. It has been a great year for our nurses. Our Chief Nurse Executive and Senior Vice President Natalia Cineas, SVP, has hired over 1,000 new nurses in the past 8 months, and we expect several hundred more to join our health system before the end of the year.
Our highly-trained hospital police are also on the frontlines of our facilities – they are often the first people that our patients meet when they enter a facility. The officers provide patient and family assistance, on-site security, and enforce state and city laws at all NYC Health + Hospitals facilities. In recognition of National Peace Officers Day, on May 16, NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull unveiled a newly renovated hospital police command center.
MAYOR ADAMS AND NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS HAS HIRED OVER 1000 NEW NURESES
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Dr. Mitchell Katz today announced that more than 1,000 new union nurses have been hired over the past eight months at the City’s public hospital System, replacing many temporary nurses. This investment in the health System’s workforce ensures patients are served by permanent employees who are committed to the mission, come from the community, and have developed institutional knowledge. New Nurses Can Take Advantage of Nurse Residency Program, Nursing Fellowships, Tuition Reimbursement, Loan Forgiveness, and Scholarship Programs
CHIEF QUALITY OFFICER DR. ERIC WEI AND NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/ELMHURST CEO HELEN ARTEAGA LANDAVERDE JOINED SENATOR GILLIBRAND IN CALLING FOR MORE INTERAGENCY COORDINATION TO RESPOND TO THE AVIAN FLU OUTBREAK IN CATTLE
On Tuesday, May 21, Senator Gillibrand held a press conference to advocate for additional interagency coordination to respond to the avian flu outbreak in cattle. She was joined by NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst CEO Helen Arteaga Landaverde, Chief Quality Officer and Senior Vice President Dr. Eric Wei, and the CEO of Mt. Sinai. In a letter the Senator wrote to the White House Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response Policy, she urged the agency to give information regarding its role in coordinating amongst Federal agencies and continue to provide the public and State agencies with up-to-date, accurate information on the spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), also known as H5N1.
NYC Health + Hospitals officials spoke to the health System’s critical role at the front line in responding to the public health crisis in New York City, including its response to Ebola and the recent COVID-19 pandemic.
OMER CABUK, ME APPOINTED TO LEAD HEALTH SYSTEM DECARBONIZATION EFFORTS
NYC Health + Hospitals appointed Omer Cabuk, ME as its first ever Chief Decarbonization Officer. In this role, Cabuk will spearhead the organization’s robust decarbonization initiatives, adhering to the targets set by Local Law 97 of 2019, which mandates a 40% reduction in operational emissions by 2025 and a 50% reduction by 2030. He will serve as an executive-level strategist, partnering with leadership team, capital project leads, facilities management staff, and other key stakeholders to fully embed energy efficiency, electrification, and renewable energy initiatives for the built environment into corporation’s policy, operations, and capital planning. He will also advise executive leadership on strategic opportunities, critical issues, and risks impacting decarbonization efforts within the organization’s operations. His appointment was effective April 8.
Cabuk will also support the health System’s Climate Resiliency Goals by implementing decarbonization projects and initiatives that reduce environmental impacts, enhance energy reliability, improve public health, and ensure sustainable and resilient infrastructure. Today’s announcement builds on the health System’s Climate Resiliency Plan announced last week.
Cabuk brings experience and a proven track record to his new role. As the former Senior Director of Decarbonization and Sustainability at NYC Health + Hospitals, he led significant decarbonization projects that substantially reduced both direct and purchased energy emissions. These initiatives were crucial in enabling the organization to sign the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Sector Climate Pledge in May 2022, which included commitments to reduce direct and purchased energy emissions, complete a climate resilience study, and conduct an inventory of all indirect greenhouse gas emissions that occur in an organization’s value chain. Additionally, during his tenure, Cabuk managed an annual utilities budget of $100 million, optimizing and reducing costs associated with gas, electricity, and district steam utilities.
NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS CELEBRATED NATIONAL SKILLED NURSING CARE WEEK AND RECOGNIZED THE HIGH-QUALITY SERVICES ACROSS ITS FIVE NURSING HOMES
In celebration of National Skilled Nursing Care Week, formerly Nursing Home Week, NYC Health + Hospitals/Post-Acute Care proudly celebrated its five skilled nursing facilities and Long-Term Acute Care Hospital, recognizing their new services and high-performance ratings. In the past year, NYC Health + Hospitals/McKinney and NYC Health + Hospitals/Sea View began offering Parkinson’s care, NYC Health + Hospitals/Carter launched telemetry services and hospice care, NYC Health + Hospitals/Gouverneur launched enhanced dining for its residents, and NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler opened The Coler Café.
The facilities are widely recognized for providing high quality care. In 2024, Newsweek ranked Carter, Coler, Gouverneur, and Sea View in the Top 10 of Best Nursing Homes 2024 in New York State, and McKinney ranked in the Top 30. U.S. News & World Report recognized NYC Health + Hospitals/Carter, Gouverneur, McKinney, and Sea View for high performance in short-term rehabilitation, and for the latter three sites, high performance in long-term care. NYC Health + Hospitals/Sea View, Coler, Carter, Gouverneur and McKinney consistently earn four- and five-star ratings from the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), which designates five-star rated skilled nursing facilities among the top 10 percent of nursing homes in the country. Additionally, NYC Health + Hospitals/Post-Acute Care facilities are ranked in the top 1st quintile in the New York State Department of Health Nursing Home Quality Pool.
LEGAL SERVICES FOR PATIENTS EXPAND AT THE HEALTH SYSTEM
In late April, the health System announced the expansion of free health-related legal services for its patients in partnership with LegalHealth, a division of the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG). Nearly 5,000 patients accessed legal services at NYC Health + Hospitals in 2023. The expansion includes increased staffing, capacity building for increased patient access, and data-driven analysis on how legal services can impact patient health. Patients can access free health-related legal services over the phone or in person at one of twelve brick-and-mortar sites in the health system through a referral by a doctor, social worker, or community health worker. This is one of the longest-running and largest medical-legal partnerships in the country, which dates back to 2002 and has provided free legal assistance to thousands of New Yorkers seeking help with public benefits, immigration, health insurance, advance planning, and housing, among other legal issues. The medical-legal partnership is funded in part by the New York City Council.
26 NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS DOCTORS RECOGNIZED
AT ANNUAL DOCTOR’S DAY CELEBRATION
At the beginning of May, NYC Health + Hospitals celebrated its Doctors’ Day and the 26 doctors recognized for their outstanding patient care. This year, for the first time, NYC Health + Hospitals honored three physicians at the new Gotham Health Centers of Excellence, which provide Long COVID services as well as primary care services. The doctors were nominated by their facility’s Chief Medical Officer to qualify for the achievement. This year’s honorees include pediatricians, primary care doctors, emergency department physicians, an oncologist, a pathologist, a neurologist, an HIV specialist, an optometrist, and others. They come from a diverse array of nations such as Ukraine, Nigeria, China, Burma, Nepal, Bangladesh, Cyprus, Haiti, India, and Pakistan.
NEW PSYCHIATRY RESIDENCY ESTABLISHED AT NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/QUEENS
Earlier this month, NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens received initial accreditation for a new psychiatry residency at the hospital. This new program will allow the health System to be more equipped to face the challenges of hiring in the behavioral health workforce. Recruitment of adult psychiatrists in our region has become increasingly competitive in recent years. Residents will have a rich clinical and educational exposure during their training at Queens Hospital. The addition of residents will also enhance the psychiatric service provided to our patients, particularly in busy rotations, including, but not limited to our Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program for adult, Extended Emergency Length of Stay (EELOS) for child and adolescent patients, inpatient psychiatry service, outpatient mental health clinic, Consultation-Liaison Service, Addiction Psychiatry Service, Partial Hospitalization Program, Assertive Community Treatment Teams, Medicine, and Neurology.
We anticipate that a prolific and rewarding experience will continue to encourage retention within the NYC Health + Hospitals system upon graduation.
NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS HAS SERVED NEARLY 14,000 PATIENTS
THROUGH ITS TELEHEALTH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICE
Nearly 14,000 patients have received behavioral health care through the health System’s telehealth service, Virtual ExpressCare, since the program launched in 2022. Through this service, patients can speak to a provider on demand via video or phone for help with anxiety, depression, stress, burnout, substance use disorders, withdrawal, and emotional distress. The service provides patients with immediate access to a wide range of behavioral health professionals, including psychiatrists, social workers, addiction counselors, and mental health nurse practitioners. A significant enhancement to this service is its expanded capacity to provider specialty services to children and adolescents, addressing a crucial need within this population. This responsive on-demand service model is tailored to meet the urgent behavioral health needs of the City.
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest provider of behavioral health in New York City. The system provides almost 60% of behavioral health services citywide serving over 75,000 patients annually across emergency, inpatient and outpatient care.
NYC CARE HOSTS ITS 22 NEW AND RETURNING COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO ASSIST WITH CONNECTING NEW YORKERS TO HEALTH CARE
The NYC Health + Hospitals’ NYC Care program hosted its 22 community-based organizations (CBOs) from across the city to provide outreach, education, and NYC Care enrollment services. The CBOs have a presence across all five boroughs, and have a proven track record of serving NYC Care priority zip codes, which represent areas with the highest rates of uninsured New Yorkers and the lowest rates of NYC Care enrollment. Additionally, the organizations have staff that speak over 30 different languages and many come from the communities they serve, highlighting their roles as trusted messengers. The majority of the selected CBOs are multi-service organizations representing additional programmatic areas, including civic engagement, housing and homelessness, and food security, among others. Many of the CBOs have worked with the program previously since it launched in the Bronx in 2019. The current CBO partners’ success in outreach and enrollment is such that the zip codes they currently serve were not included as priority targets in the new round of funding.
INAUGURAL BLACK MATERNAL HEALTH FORUM HELD
AT NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/GOTHAM HEALTH, GOUVERNEUR
The health System held its inaugural Black Maternal Health Forum on Tuesday, May 21 at NYC Health + Hospital/Gotham Health, Gouverneur. Gotham Health’s Regional Medical Director Morris Gagliardi, MD, MBA and system Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President Machelle Allen, MD gave open remarks alongside Gotham Health’s Regional Director of Nursing Marie Wilson, DNP, APRN, WHNP. The forum focused on the current state of Black perinatal health, the legacy of Black midwives, and a panel discussed “A Solution Approach to Supporting Black Birthing People.” The event was open to all NYC Health + Hospitals staff in person and virtually via Webex.
NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS AND METROPLUS LEADERS RECOGNIZED
AS “AAPI POWER PLAYERS” BY POLITICSNY AND amNY
Four leaders from across the health system and MetroPlusHealth were named to PoliticsNY and amNY Metro’s 2024 “AAPI Power Players” list. Launched in honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the recognition list honors leaders from a range of industries and fields making a bold impact across New York. This year, the list recognizes Lila Benayoun, Chief Operating Officer for MetroPlusHealth; Dr. Zeshan Chaudhry, Director of Neuroradiology for NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County; Dr. Khoi Luong, Senior Vice President of Post-Acute Care for NYC Health + Hospitals; and Dr. Eric Wei, Senior Vice President and Chief Quality Officer for NYC Health + Hospitals. The 2024 AAPI Power Players recognition list is part of a monthly series by PoliticsNY and amNY Metro on New York’s Power Players, including business executives, educators, government affairs experts, and nonprofit directors.
BLOOMBERG CONNECTS APP FEATURES NEARLY 850 PIECES
OF NYC HEALTH + HOSPITAL ART
NYC Health + Hospitals is the first health care organization on Bloomberg Connects, which features more than 350 cultural organizations, including many of the world’s major museums. The Arts in Medicine department has been working closely with Bloomberg Connects to add content to its app. Nearly 850 works of art from the health System’s collection are available to view worldwide on the free app. The NYC Health + Hospitals guide includes artwork by nearly 400 artists and can be accessed by searching the artist’s last name, the location of the art, or in a featured story. In addition, nearly 850 artworks across the health System’s facilities now have informational wall text and a QR code leading to additional material on Bloomberg Connects. The Arts in Medicine department at NYC Health + Hospitals is made possible in part with the generous support of the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund.
NEW MURALS INSTALLED ON THE FENCING OUTSIDE OF NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/METROPOLITAN
In partnership with ArtBridge, two new murals were installed on the scaffolding of NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan. The works were developed by artists Dario Mohr and JR in collaboration with residents from the nearby East River Houses over a series of workshops and community engagement events. Dario Mohr’s work, Adinkrahene, is tied together through Adinkra symbols originating from the Asante Kingdom. East River Houses residents contributed their own Adrinkra symbols to this mural, which also features elements of works by Knii Shippie Afotey of Ghana and Faith Omole of Nigeria. The second mural, The Peoples’ Art Project, is an exhibition based on input from the East River Houses community, created by renowned artist/activist JR as part of his well-known Inside Out Project, drawing on global participation from 152 countries with nearly 600,000 photos contributed to date, intended to spark conversations and collaborations that lead to social change. The two murals are located on 2nd Avenue between 97th Street and 99th Street. Once the scaffolding is taken down, Metropolitan Hospital will host a permanent display of the works. ArtBridge transforms construction fencing and scaffolding in New York City with new art developed by artists. The project received support from the health system’s Arts in Medicine program.
NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/HARLEM’S BURN INTENSIVE CARE UNIT RECOGNIZED WITH SILVER-LEVEL BEACON AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE
Harlem Hospital’s Burn Intensive Care Unit recently received a silver-level Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN). The unit at NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem is the only Burn Intensive Care Unit in New York City, only the second in New York State, and only one of four in the United States to earn this silver-level designation. The Beacon Award for Excellence — a significant milestone on the path to exceptional patient care and healthy work environments — recognizes unit caregivers who successfully improve patient outcomes and align practices with AACN’s six Healthy Work Environment Standards.
The silver-level Beacon Award for Excellence signifies an effective approach to policies, procedures and processes that includes engagement of staff and key stakeholders. The unit has evaluation and improvement strategies in place and good performance measures when compared to relevant benchmarks.
HEALTH SYSTEM LAUNCHES NEW COMPREHENSIVE PATIENT BLOOD MANAGEMENT INITIATIVE TO IMPROVE PATIENT OUTCOMES
As patient blood management has become standard across health care systems, the NYC Health + Hospitals’ Office of Medical and Professional Affairs and Office of Quality and Safety launched the Comprehensive Patient Blood Management initiative. The initiative is focused on improving patient outcomes by managing and preserving a patient’s own blood, while promoting patient safety and empowerment.
DIAGNOSTIC RADIOLOGIC INTERPRETATION SERVICES GOES ONLINE
NYC Health + Hospitals has embarked on the implementation of teleradiology to provide diagnostic radiologic interpretation services to several acute care hospitals for some inpatient and Emergency Department exams performed evenings, nights, and weekends. It will also include all NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health outpatient radiology exams with the exception of mammography.
With teleradiology the health System is able to improve both the quality of clinical care and operational efficiencies. The system will continue to employ on-site radiologists to effectively coordinate care for patients. The second phase of the effort is expected to begin this fall, will bring to 24/7 coverage utilizing a hybrid of onsite and Teleradiology models.
NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/SOUTH BROOKLYN HEALTH MARKS ONE YEAR WITHOUT A CATHETER-ASSOCIATED URINARY TRACT INFECTION (CAUTI)
NYC Health + Hospitals/South Brooklyn Health reached a significant milestone in ensuring the highest quality of care for its patients: one year without a single catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI). A CAUTI is a common infection that occurs when bacteria enter and infect the urinary tract through a urinary catheter, a tube placed in the body to drain and collect urine from the bladder. Up to three-quarters of urinary tract infections are caused by a placed urinary catheter. The hospital achieved this milestone by implementing a daily review system for its patients, accountability protocols and care team collaboration. There were two reported CAUTI infections in the previous year.
NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/WOODHULL UNVEILS NEWLY
RENOVATED HOSPITAL POLICE COMMAND CENTER
On May 16, Woodhull Hospital unveiled its newly renovated Hospital Police Command Center, which is situated in the main floor lobby. The revamped space is characterized by its modern design, spacious layout, and abundant natural lighting, providing an optimal environment for effective command operations. Equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including multiple screens displaying real-time footage from hospital cameras, the command center empowers hospital police officers to monitor events throughout the facility. With the ability to monitor all areas of the hospital, the dedicated team of Hospital Police can efficiently coordinate responses to ensure a safe and secure environment for employees, patients, and visitors.
HEALTH SYSTEM DETAILS CLIMATE RESILIENCE PLAN,
BUILDING ON EXISTING EFFORTS AND COMMITMENT
Last week, NYC Health + Hospitals announced the completion of its Climate Resilience Plan, a significant milestone in its commitment to ensuring the resilience of the health System’s infrastructure in the face of climate change. The plan fulfills a key commitment under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Sector Climate Pledge, which NYC Health + Hospitals signed in May 2022. It is the result of a thorough survey of the health System’s hospitals and post-acute care facilities. A team studied the impact of climate hazards, such as stormwater flooding, coastal flooding, extreme heat, and wind, on each facility under different levels of projected greenhouse gas emissions and the resulting extreme weather due to climate change. It considered the impacts on key facility operations, including electrical power, natural gas, steam, telecommunication, potable water, wastewater, transportation, and logistics. The Plan recommends a series of infrastructure projects, such as installation of additional emergency generators linked to critical HVAC equipment, improving the drainage capacity of roofs and windows, building additional flood barriers, and installing green infrastructure to reduce ponding and heat island effect.
This effort builds on the health System’s commitment to addressing climate change while reducing its carbon footprint. NYC Health + Hospitals has already achieved a 30% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions since 2006 and is continuing its efforts to achieve a 50% reduction by 2030. The Climate Resilience Plan aligns with the Mayor’s PlaNYC: Getting Sustainability Done long-term strategic climate plan.
PRIDE CENTER AT NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/BELLEVUE HONORED FOR ADVANCING EFFORTS TO TRAIN AND EDUCATE LGBTQ+ PROVIDERS
Building the Next Generation of Academic Physicians (BNGAP) selected Bellevue Hospital’s Pride Health Center as the recipient of its Organizational/Institutional Leadership Award. The award recognizes Bellevue’s commitment to advancing efforts to train and educate health care professionals on LGBTQ+ health and healthcare. The award was presented during the LGBTQ+ Health Workforce 12th Anniversary Conference, held in early May in New York City.
Building the Next Generation of Academic Physicians (BNGAP) works to help diverse medical students and residents become aware of academic medicine as a career option and to provide them with the resources to further explore and potentially embark on an academic medicine career. The theme of this year’s conference was Creating a Roadmap to Empower the LGBTQ+ Health Community.
The Pride Health Center at Bellevue was established in 2018 to address the needs of LGBTQ patients and communities across New York City.
NEW STUDY WILL EVALUATE THE IMPACT OF MURALS IN HOSPITALS
NYC Health + Hospitals is participating in a first-of-its-kind global evaluation of the impact of murals in hospitals, being led by the Jameel Arts & Health Lab (JAHL) and NYU Steinhardt in collaboration with the World Health Organization.
In the first study of its kind, HoME seeks to advance understanding of the impact that murals in hospitals and other clinical settings can have on people who view these large visual artworks including patients, staff, and visitors. The project will involve a mixed-methods study at sites in Slovenia, Nigeria, the UK and US, assessing possible correlations between viewing murals and workplace belonging, perceived quality of care, and wellbeing.
The HoME research team, overseen by NYU Steinhardt Associate Professor and JAHL Co-Director, Dr. Nisha Sajnani, and co-led with JAHL Research & Evaluation Associate, Marcel Foster, MPH. The team consists of members from the Jameel Arts & Health Lab, the Center for Arts in Medicine at the University of Florida, Harvard University, a research team from the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, The Art of Healing, Norwich University of the Arts, Hospital Rooms, the Arts in Medicine department at NYC Health + Hospitals, the University Children’s Hospital in Ljubljana, and the Nordic Art Initiative.
RESPONDING TO THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS – SERVICES FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS
The public health System continues to help lead the City’s response to the historic influx of asylum seekers. Last week, New York City’s Arrival Center, the city’s one-stop, centralized intake facility for all newly arriving asylum seekers, celebrated its one-year anniversary of dedicated service. Since the Arrival Center first opened its doors in May 2023, our staff have registered and provided care to nearly 150,000 people from over 160 countries, creating a modern-day Ellis Island that expedites asylum seekers’ access to streamlined, responsive services moments after they arrive in New York City.
The Arrival Center successfully addresses three significant challenges of the asylum seeker crisis — providing immediate medical screenings and healthcare for all new arrivals, coordinated reconnections for people whose intended destination is not New York City, and case management services to help people complete their journeys quickly, including same day referrals for legal assistance.
Since the crisis began, we have seen asylum seekers’ with acute and urgent need for medical care. At the Arrival Center, our staff address this need by offering immediate medical screenings, urgent care, behavioral health screenings and care, and vaccinations. Clinicians provide urgent care for common medical conditions and dispense medications and prescriptions as needed and can refer asylum seekers to NYC Health + Hospitals’ facilities to receive more intensive care. To date, staff at the Arrival Center and NYC Health + Hospitals’ 13 Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Centers (HERRCs) have performed over 130,000 depression screenings and administered over 70,000 vaccinations.
From managing the Arrival Center, to establishing emergency humanitarian centers that currently house 25,000 people, and coordinating case management services across the City shelter sites, NYC Health + Hospitals remains a cornerstone of the City’s efforts to provide life-changing care to the nearly 200,000 asylum seekers who turned to our City for help.
METROPLUSHEALTH OFFERS MEDICALLY TAILORED MEALS (MTM) AS A PERMANENT MEDICAID BENEFIT
Increasingly, food is recognized as medicine, whether as part of a plant-based lifestyle or medically-tailored meals. Evidence is mounting that securing access to nutritional food is critical to health and well-being. Notably, NYC Health + Hospitals is leading the way nationally in creating unique opportunities for New Yorkers to be able to benefit from this progress. In 2022, New York State Medicaid approved MetroPlusHealth to implement the cost-effective medically-tailored meals (MTM) program, designed to be delivered to members’ homes either in lieu of Personal Care Aide (PCA) service hours used for meal preparation and food shopping, or in lieu of hospital inpatient stays and/or emergency department visits. Initially launched as a pilot program, it is now approved as part of the permanent Medicaid benefit package.
The largest plan of its size to implement this State-funded program, MetroPlusHealth delivers MTM through unique partnerships: with God’s Love We Deliver, the direct provider of the meals, and with NYC Health + Hospitals, which helps identify and refer members to the program in addition to the members the Plan identifies. Once enrolled, participants living with certain chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, meet with a registered dietician who designs their menu, taking their chronic conditions into consideration, and provides them with unlimited nutrition education and counseling. Through the program, members receive up to two meals a day delivered to their homes, seven days a week.
To date, MetroPlusHealth and its partners have enrolled almost 1,200 members. Among those enrolled, 82% are aged 40+, 66% are Black or Hispanic, 59% live in the Bronx or Brooklyn. The top chronic conditions of enrolled members were diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and chronic kidney disease.
According to a formal evaluation conducted among enrolled members, member feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with 95% expressing satisfaction with the MTM program, and 94% feeling that the meals assist them in managing their disease. Through this program and the unique partnerships that support it, MetroPlusHealth is doing more to ensure that an increasing number of New Yorkers have access to a healthy lifestyle and diet to improve their health.
ROBOTIC SURGERY PROGRAM EXCELS AT NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/HARLEM
Harlem Hospital celebrated the one-year anniversary of its Robotic Surgery program. In 2023, Harlem Hospital introduced the state-of-the-art da Vinci surgical system as a means to perform surgical procedures with the advanced capabilities of robotic technology. The Robotics team has since grown to include a total of seven highly skilled surgeons specializing in Bariatrics, General Surgery, Gynecology and Urology. Together, they have leveraged the da Vinci system to perform complex procedures with precision, leading to enhanced patient outcomes including improved patient recovery times and overall satisfaction. Within just one year, the Robotic Surgery team has successfully completed over 400 surgeries using the da Vinci system. This remarkable achievement reflects not only the advanced capabilities of robotic technology, but also the dedication, skill, and teamwork of the staff.
NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/COLER OPERNS WELLNESS ROOM TO OFFER EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT FOR STAFF
NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler opened its new, dedicated wellness room to support the physical and mental well-being of more than 700 employees serving its five-star rated nursing home and rehabilitation center. This new, permanent space includes amenities designed to help busy staff relax and destress, such as coffee machines, aromatherapy, calm music, fruit-infused water, healthy snacks, and designated areas for creative activities or just healthy conversation between colleagues. The dedicated space has modern lounge-style furniture, soothing color patterns, and windows adorned with natural green landscapes. The designers focused on comfort and functionality to create an inviting space that will encourage staff to invest time in their self-care. The wellness room also includes art from the health system’s art collection installed by the Arts in Medicine department.
ELEVEN NYC HEALTH + HOSPITAL AND METROPLUSHEALTH
EMPLOYEES HONORED AS “HEALTHCARE HEROES”
Eleven staff members were recognized as honorees in Schneps Media’s annual “Healthcare Heroes” recognition list. Health care professionals from New York City to Long Island were celebrated for their dedication to serving their patients and advancing their fields. Schneps Media is a local media company that reaches over 2 million readers per week across two daily newspapers and a large group of community newspapers, magazines, and websites.
ONE OF THE OLDEST MEDICAL HONOR SOCIETIES, ALPHA OMEGA ALPHA, INDUCTS NYC HEALTH + HOSPITAL’S PARTNER CUNY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
Located in Harlem, a Federally designated Health Professional Shortage Area (HSPA), CUNY School of Medicine is the only public medical school in Manhattan and is distinguished by its mission to recruit and train diverse students, many of whom come from, and go on to practice in, communities that are underserved and underrepresented in medicine. As a partner, many CUNY Medicine students join the health System after graduating to further their career in medicine. NYC Health + Hospitals has six providers who have been previously inducted into the prestigious society.
HEALTH SYSTEM PARTNERS WITH THE NYC ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN’S SERVICES TO ENHANCE FAMILY SUPPORT FROM COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS
NYC Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) and NYC Health + Hospitals launched Pathways to Prevention, a new pilot initiative aimed at connecting more families in need with family support services, while also reducing unnecessary reports made to the State’s child abuse hotline. The initiative is just one of the ways in which New York City is working to make sure families have direct access to the resources and services they need.
As part of the pilot, social workers, physicians and other staff at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst and Lincoln, and NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Morrisania will be trained on how to best identify and connect patients to beneficial family support services. Staff will be able to facilitate such connections through the findhelp.org social services directory or by contacting one of the participating ACS prevention providers directly. The pilot will be rolled out with the following ACS community-based prevention partners: JCCA, Children’s Aid, Cardinal McCloskey, Good Shepherd Services, SCO Family of Services and The New York Foundling.
NEW HOME HEALTH SIMULATION SATELLITE OPENS
NYC Health + Hospitals/Community Care opened a new Home Health Simulation Satellite site for all home health nurses to use. The site gives home health nurses a way to practice various scenarios, from routine procedures to emergencies, in a simulated home or other community-based setting. Nursing simulation is a training technique that provides an opportunity for students and qualified nurses to practice responding to various clinical situations and then to reflect on how they performed, what went well and what needs to be changed. This is key to their development of clinical skills and judgement, including critical thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
LOCAL AUTHOR CARMEN NOBOA-ESPINAL READS TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AT NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/QUEENS EVENT
Local author Carmen Noboa-Espinal recently promoted children’s literacy through family reading at NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens. Noboa-Espinal, a talented author known for her captivating storytelling in adult fiction and children’s literature, shared her children’s book “Abuelita and the Magic Stove” with children and families in the Pediatric Clinic waiting area. Her visit to the hospital served as an important reminder of the power of storytelling and the impact it can have on young minds.
Through readings in both English and Spanish, the author captivated the audience with her narrative that celebrates the cherished values of love and family. Inspired by her personal experiences with influential women in her family, Noboa-Espinal’s storytelling resonated with all those present, spreading joy and fostering a love for reading.
The event highlighted NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens’ commitment to promoting children’s literacy through various initiatives. The hospital has an 18-year partnership with the Reach Out and Read program and participates in New York City’s Pediatric Bundle Initiative. Reach Out and Read encourages parents to read to their children regularly, while the Pediatric Bundle Initiative focuses on comprehensive care for pediatric patients, such as HealthySteps, developmental screening, maternal depression screening, and Triple P – Positive Parenting Program.
HEALTH SYSTEM EXPANDS LIVE CONCERTS FOR STAFF, PATIENTS, AND VISITORS THROUGH NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH SING FOR HOPE
NYC Health + Hospitals is expanding its live concert series, Music for the Soul, with a new partnership with Sing for Hope. For the first time, the program will offer concerts during the night shift and in locations throughout the hospital beyond the main lobby. The live concert series began as virtual performances in 2020 in partnership with the Mayor’s Office as a way to honor the work of NYC Health + Hospitals frontline staff during the height of the pandemic and support local musicians while music venues were closed. The program has since transitioned to in-person concerts and includes New York City-based musicians who perform a variety of genres, including Jazz, Classical, Folk, Hip Hop, and Latin music. The first concert of the season took place last month at NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx, where the musicians Larry Siegel, Hasan Bakr, and Victoria Paterson played during the night shift, followed by a concert at NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens by The FAB 4 String Quartet and one at NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi by The JuanMa Trio. Music for the Soul is run by the health system’s Arts in Medicine department and funded by the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund.
AS PART OF INTERNATIONAL EARTH MONTH,
NYC HEALTH + HOSPITAL/ELMHURST GOES GREEN
Elmhurst Hospital hosted a series of activities in April to highlight the hospital’s commitment to energy conservation and environmental stewardship. These included community outreach activities, a virtual and in-person conference called “Decarb the OR” on greening operating rooms and reducing medical waste, and an Earth Day celebration featuring a plant-based cooking demo and a presentation by ConEdison on the impact of climate change and how consumers can reduce energy consumption.
EXTERNAL AFFAIRS UPDATE
City: The City released its FY-25 Executive Budget on April 24. The budget is balanced at $111.6B, and does not reflect any further PEGs. NYC Health + Hospitals’ Executive Budget hearing was held on May 13. Dr. Katz testified along with John Ulberg and Patsy Yang. We are grateful to the Chairs of the Hospital, Health, and Finance Committees and to all of our Council Member partners for their ongoing support of our system.
State: The NYS Legislature is in the final stages of the 2024 session, with less than two weeks remaining. We are advocating for workforce provisions that were not accomplished during the budget negotiations.
We will also be watching the NYS primary, which takes place on June 25, and is expected to impact some facility representations due to retirements. We will be encouraging staff to vote, no matter their political affiliations, as we do before every election.
Federal: Congress continues to debate appropriations priorities for FY-25, which begins on October 1. NYC Health + Hospitals submitted several Congressionally-Directed Spending (“earmarks”) requests to Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, and we remain thanking for their consistent support.
Community Affairs: Community Affairs hosted our annual CAB Education Conference on May 17, titled “Utilizing Effective Communication Techniques to Develop Influential, Culturally Competent Leaders.” The conference was well attended, with over 80 CAB members and staff liaisons actively participating in the discussions and activities.
Community Affairs also hosted two internal Billing and Revenue Educational Webinars on May 22 with the Health + Hospitals Revenue Cycle Institute and NGS (National Government Services). Topics covered included Medicare Part A and B, national coverage determination versus local coverage determination, top billing errors, and coding edit procedures. The two webinars were well attended by NYC Health + Hospitals staff, with over 200 attendees.
The next Central Council of Auxiliaries meeting will be on June 5, and the next Council of CABs meeting will be on June 11 before the summer break. The current Chair of the Council of CABs will be terming out, so they will be voting in a new Chairperson for the Council of CABs, along with all the seats on the Executive Committee.
The 20th Annual Marjorie Matthews Celebration will be on July 18 at NYC Health + Hospitals/Coler, where we will be celebrating all our CAB and Auxiliary volunteers.
NEWS FROM AROUND THE SYSTEM
- NY1: Arrival Center Announces One-Year Anniversary of Opening
- Becker’s: Mayor Adams Announces 1,000+ New Nurses Hired By NYC Health + Hospitals
- Time Out: These murals in front of NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan are turning ugly scaffolding into beautiful art
- Harlem World: NYC Care Program Teams Up With Community Orgs To Enhance Health Access
- mHealth Intelligence: How telehealth is boosting care access among NYC’s homeless population
- NPR: A Girl Scouts troop offers hope and ‘sisters for life’ for migrant children
- Politics NY: Dr. Wei, Dr. Luong, Dr. Chaudhry, Lila Benayoun Named AAPI Power Players
- STAT News: From sewage to safety: Hospital wastewater surveillance as a beacon for defense against H5N1 bird flu
- Brooklyn Paper: South Brooklyn Health honors the ‘profound impact’ of its nurses during National Nurses Month
- WNYC: Morning Edition with Guests CM Brooks-Powers and Dr. Katz
- Becker’s: New York City hospital goes 1 year CAUTI-free