REPORT TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS – October 2024

Mitchell H. Katz, MD
NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS
PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
REPORT TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
October 31, 2024

UPDATES FROM NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS’ FACILITIES

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS RECOGNIZES BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

As a part of national Breast Cancer Awareness Month, many NYC Health + Hospitals facilities participated in events that engaged staff and patients to learn more about the disease and schedule screenings.

Cristina Contreras, CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln implored patients and New Yorkers to schedule their annual mammogram. In an Instagram reel, she spoke about why it is so important for women to get screened for breast cancer. To further emphasize the ease of screening, Contreras then documented her own mammogram screening. She ended the short reel speaking to the camera about the experience and urging others to speak to their providers about getting screened.

Many of our sites also participated in the American Cancer Society’s annual Making Strides walk in Central Park, Flushing Meadows, Staten Island, and Coney Island. NYC Health + Hospitals/Sea View staff raised over $10,000 for the Staten Island event.

LONG TERM CARE FACILITIES ENCOURAGE THEIR RESIDENTS TO VOTE

NYC Health + Hospitals’ long-term care facilities actively engaged their residents in the voter education and registration process. Staff supported residents and families with the voter registration process and access to absentee ballots, which are collected and mailed by each facility.

NYC Health + Hospitals/Sea View hosted a voter awareness day and registered 50 residents to vote and completed 10 absentee ballots. NYC Health + Hospitals/Gouverneur hosted a voter education and civic participation day for its residents. By the end of the week, the facility had completed 25 absentee ballots, conducted voter education tabling during their Resident Council meeting, and daily engagement on the various floors.

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/ELMHURST HOSTS FIRESIDE CHAT WITH WHITE HOUSE OFFICE OF PANDEMIC PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE

NYC Health + Hospitals hosted a fireside chat about pandemic preparedness and critical lessons learned from recent infectious disease outbreaks, including MPOX and COVID-19 at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, the epicenter of the epicenter during the first wave of the pandemic. The discussion drew on the health System’s experiences and insights documented in the book The COVID-19 Response in New York City: Crisis Management in the Epicenter of the Epicenter. The event featured Dr. Nikki Romanik, Deputy Director and Chief of Staff of the White House Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response within the Executive Office of the President, alongside the health System’s own Chief Biopreparedness Officer Syra Madad and Elmhurst Hospital Chief Medical Officer Dr. Laura Iavicoli, who were both leaders during the System’s COVID-19 response as well as editors of the COVID-19 textbook.

NYC Health + Hospitals has been on the frontlines of numerous outbreaks, including its critical involvement in the MPOX response. The fireside chat provided a forum to share best practices on outbreak preparedness and explore strategies to strengthen future response efforts. During the event, Dr. Romanik provided insights into how the Federal Office drives interagency coordination and supports Federal capabilities to respond to domestic and global health threats. The discussion also drew from the health System’s comprehensive approach outlined in the recently published book, offering insights on managing high-impact outbreaks and reinforcing preparedness plans for future public health emergencies.

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/BELLEVUE HOSTS 10 YEAR REUNION OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS WITH PATIENT WHO RECOVERED FROM EBOLA

NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue hosted an emotional reunion with Dr. Craig Spencer and the medical team who cared for him when he was hospitalized with Ebola 10 years ago this month, remembering the tense time during Spencer’s 19-day hospitalization and discussing ongoing preparedness and response strategies as special pathogens continue to emerge around the world. Dr. Spencer was the only confirmed Ebola patient in NYC. He had returned from treating Ebola patients in Guinea on a tour with Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) when he fell ill. He was admitted to Bellevue Hospital on October 23, 2014 and was treated by a specially-trained team of experts and intensive care nurses. He left 19 days later, on November 11, 2014, when doctors declared that he was healthy and able to be discharged from the hospital. None of the staff treating him became infected, a meaningful accomplishment as healthcare workers in other parts of the country and in West Africa had become ill.

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITAL/ELMHURST IS THE FIRST HOSPITAL IN QUEENS TO OFFER HIGHLY SPECIALIZED TREATMENT FOR LIVER CANCER PATIENTS

Elmhurst Hospital now offers hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAI), an innovative technique to treat patients with cancers affecting the liver and gastrointestinal systems that have reached advanced stages. Elmhurst Hospital is the first public hospital on the East Coast and the first hospital in Queens to offer this groundbreaking therapy, which involves surgically placing a pump directly into a branch of the hepatic artery. High doses of chemotherapy are then delivered directly to the liver in a course of treatment that typically lasts six months, including follow-up visits every two weeks. 

HAI chemotherapy has a number of positive benefits for patients. Research has shown that in some cases HAI chemotherapy may help people with cancers in advanced stages live longer. HAI also shrinks tumors with fewer side effects than traditional chemotherapy, delivering treatment directly to cancer cells and limiting how much of the drug reaches healthy parts of the body.

VENTILATOR WEANING PROGRAM AT NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/CARTER RECEIVES ENHANCED RESPIRATORY CARE ACCREDITATION

NYC Health + Hospitals/Carter received the enhanced respiratory care accreditation from the Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety for its ventilator weaning program. Carter is the first nursing home in New York City and the first long-term acute care hospital (LTACH) in the country to receive this recognition. Carter’s specialty hospital has a 72% success rate in weaning patients from a ventilator, surpassing the industry standard of 50%. Since April 2023, Carter’s 14-bed ventilator weaning program identified 194 patients who qualified for ventilator weaning and 140 of them were successfully weaned.

Until recently, there was no unified standard for service quality in Mechanical Ventilation (MV) facilities. This lack of standardization sometimes resulted in a lower quality of life for patients and their families, with problems including lung injuries, hypotension, and dependency on MV. Consequently, the facilities experienced inefficient resource use and increased liability insurance rates.

Enhanced Respiratory Care, endorsed by the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC), is the first and only standard in the field. This evidence-based approach includes advancements in weaning, patient care, and ventilator unit technology. It benefits everyone involved: patients and their families.

NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY SCANNER DEBUTS AT
NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/HARLEM

NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem announced the installation of a new computed tomography (CT) scanner to obtain quicker and more accurate diagnostic imaging and improve outcomes for patients. CT scans are used to diagnose an array of injuries and diseases, including heart disease, stroke, cancer, bone fractures, and blood clots. The newly installed scanner is one the fastest and most powerful units in the industry. The new scanner is capable of very detailed brain imaging, allowing physicians to rule out acute stroke in less than five minutes. In addition, its fast and high-resolution scanner means pediatric patients, who may have trouble laying still, are less likely to need repeat scans or sedation and have a lower dose of radiation. The $3 million, 3-month renovation also upgraded the patient table to accommodate bariatric patients of up to 675 pounds.

ASSOCIATION OF PERIOPERATIVE REGISTERED NURSES RECOGNIZES
NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/QUEENS WITH DUAL AWARDS

NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens was recognized by the Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN) with two prestigious awards: the ‘Go Clear’ Award, designating the facility as a Center of Excellence in Surgical Safety: Smoke Evacuation, and the Center of Excellence in Surgical Safety: Prevention of Retained Surgical Items (RSI). Surgical smoke is a hazardous byproduct of any surgery involving a laser or an electrosurgical unit, and the Go Clear Award signifies that Queens Hospital’s surgical teams have successfully completed the comprehensive, evidence-based program and adopted technologies to ensure a surgical smoke-free environment for its patients and staff. Unintentionally retained surgical items, or RSIs, refer to any surgical sponge, instrument, tool, or device that is unintentionally left in the patient at the completion of a surgery or other procedure, and the Prevention of RSI award signifies the hospital has successfully completed the months-long comprehensive, evidence-based program.

This dual recognition underscores the hospital’s commitment to providing high-quality and safe patient care. AORN’s Guidelines for Perioperative Practice serve as the gold standard for evidence-based recommendations, ensuring safe and effective perioperative patient care while safeguarding workplace safety.

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/GOTHAM HEALTH RECEIVES $150,000 FROM CITY COUNCIL MEMBER ALTHEA STEVENS

Council Member Althea Stevens secured $150,000 in City funds to support necessary infrastructure improvements and enhance patient services at NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health. This funding will provide medical technological updates for 50 exam rooms at Gotham Health, Morrisania, including vital sign machines that are space-saving, wall-mounted integrated units that include a blood pressure machine, otoscope, ophthalmoscope, pulse rate, pulse oximeter, and thermometer, all integrated into the Electronic Medical Record system. This will not only speed up appointments, but also make them more convenient, providing patients with a smoother and more personalized experience.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS COMMITTEE REPORT

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORTS STRONG FISCAL PERFORMANCE

The most recent Finance Committee meeting was held on Tuesday, October 22, where the System shared its FY’24 performance and highlights as well as a preview of its FY’25 budget strategies.

The System closed Fiscal Year 2024 this past June with approximately $582 million, or approximately 20 days, of cash on-hand. Furthermore, the System finished a positive Net Budget Variance of $178 million or one percent. Direct Patient Care Receipts for both inpatient and outpatient were $321 million higher in FY-24 versus the same period last year. Patient care volume in FY-24 exceeded pre-COVID levels, including 1% up on discharges and nearly 11% up on visits. The health care System’s revenue base remains strong and resilient, primarily driven by returning patient volume.

As the health care System looks ahead, it is focused on continuing its efforts to earn additional revenue and expand patient access. It also plans to push for continued efficiencies by expanding cross-facility partnerships, investing in staff recruitment and infrastructure, and managing our increased demand through the further implementation of staffing models.

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS EMPLOYEE APPOINTMENTS AND AWARDS/RECOGNITIONS

ERIC WEI, MD, MBA, APPOINTED CEO OF NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/BELLEVUE; AMIT UPPAL, MD, NAMED CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER

Earlier this month NYC Health + Hospitals announced that William Hicks, MS, RT, DHL (Hon), will step down as Chief Executive Officer of NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue after 11 years leading the hospital and 30 years of service to the health System. Eric Wei, MD, MBA will succeed him as CEO, effective January 6, 2025.

Hicks has worked 46 years in healthcare, and 30 of those years have been spent at NYC Health + Hospitals. He was a Radiographer at NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County from 1978 to 1980 and Radiology Administrator at NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens from 1996 to 2000. Mr. Hicks served from 2000 to 2010 at Woodhull Hospital in Brooklyn in various positions culminating in Deputy Executive Director/Chief Innovation Officer. From 2010 to 2013 he served as Deputy Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer at Lincoln Hospital in the South Bronx. He worked for 16 years in the private health care sector.

Dr. Wei currently serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Quality Officer for NYC Health + Hospitals. He is also a practicing Emergency Medicine physician who rotates through all 11 Emergency Departments in the System. Since joining NYC Health + Hospitals in 2018, he has overseen the creation of Helping Healers Heal (H3), the health System’s peer support program to address healthcare provider trauma, burnout, and compassion fatigue. H3 was expanded during the Covid-19 pandemic and has served thousands of employees. Dr. Wei served as Interim CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln earlier this year, NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem in 2021, and NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst in 2020.

Additionally, Amit Uppal, MD has been appointed as Chief Medical Officer (CMO) at the hospital, effective January 6, 2025. He will succeed Dr. Nate Link, who is stepping down as CMO after twelve years in the position. Currently, Dr. Uppal serves as Bellevue’s Chief Quality Officer. He has been at the hospital since he arrived as a trainee in 2008. He continues to care for patients in the ICU and is a member of the Special Pathogens Team at Bellevue. Dr. Uppal is also an Associate Professor at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine and a member of the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, & Sleep Medicine.

CRAIN’S NEW YORK RECOGNIZES NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS’ BLACK LEADERS

NYC Health + Hospitals/South Brooklyn Health’s Director of Nursing for Behavioral Health Services Seun Ajibade, NYC Health + Hospitals/Harlem’s Chief Executive Officer Georges Leconte, and NYC Health + Hospitals/South Brooklyn Health’s Director of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery Cedric Olivera were recognized on the Crain’s New York Business list of ‘2024 Notable Black Leaders.’ The list celebrates Black New Yorkers’ success and advancement across various industries including health care, law, and finance. The nominees were put forward for consideration by their peers, companies and acquaintances, and then selected by Crain’s New York Business editors based on their demonstrated accomplishments, professional success and meaningful contributions to their respective industries. Crain’s New York Business connects businesses across the five boroughs by providing analysis and opinion on how to navigate New York’s complex business and political landscape.

38 SYSTEM NURSE LEADERS RECOGNIZED FOR ACHIEVING DOCTORAL DISTINCTION

On Thursday, October 17, 38 health care System nurse leaders who had attained doctoral-level education were recognized at the health System’s third annual Doctoral Circle of Excellence event. The Circle includes nurses who have earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Doctor of Health Administration (DHA), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Doctor of Public Health (DrPH), or Doctor of Education (EdD) in nursing. The program supports and promotes mentoring and networking among nurses across the health system. It also connects nurse researchers with aligned interests so that they can work together across facilities to generate new knowledge and integrate nursing research and evidence-based practices into clinical and operational processes. These 38 nurses join 107 other nurses in the health System who have achieved this level of distinction. In 2022, 17.4% of the nation’s registered nurses held a master’s degree and 2.7% held a doctoral degree. The current demand for nurses with a master’s- or doctor’s degree who are prepared for advanced practice, clinical specialties, teaching, and research roles far outstrips the supply.

SCHNEPS MEDIA RECOGNIZES THREE NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS LEADERS AS “POWER WOMEN OF BROOKLYN” FOR 2024

Schneps Media recognized three leaders from NYC Health + Hospitals for its “Power Women of Brooklyn” recognition list for 2024. The honorees include Angela Cooper, Assistant Director of Communications, Public Affairs & Volunteering Services at NYC Health + Hospitals/McKinney; Lisa Scott-McKenzie, DHA, CEM, FABC, FACHE, Chief Operating Officer at NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull; and Seanna-Kaye Denham Wilks, Ph.D., Chief Experience Officer at NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County. The recognition honors trailblazing female leaders making an impact in Brooklyn and improving the lives of New Yorkers throughout the City. 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.

NURSING PROFESSIONALS HONORED FOR THEIR DAISY AWARD AND BEE AWARDS

As part of its 3rd Annual Post-Acute Care Nursing Awards, NYC Health + Hospitals honored 10 nursing professionals from across its five long-term care facilities, including five registered nurses nominated for the DAISY Award and five certified nursing assistants nominated for the in-house Being Exceptional Everyday (BEE) Award.

The DAISY Award, sponsored by the DAISY Foundation, is the international leader in nurse recognition. This award recognizes nurses or nurse-led teams who are experts in person-centered care, demonstrate integrity and compassion, and work collaboratively with their peers to achieve the best health outcomes for patients and residents.

The BEE award was established to recognize exceptional caregivers in supportive nursing roles including Certified Nursing Assistants, Patient Care Technicians, Patient Care Associates, and Medical Surgical Technicians. These individuals play an integral role on resident care teams, providing care that includes feeding, bathing, grooming, and taking vital signs such as blood pressure and temperature checks. Becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant is a starting point for anyone interested in becoming a nurse.

JOSE A. PAGAN, NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS’ CHAIR OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, NAMED TO ‘2024 LATINO POWER PLAYERS’ LIST

NYC Health + Hospitals’ Chair of the Board of Directors José A. Pagán, PhD, was recognized by PoliticsNY and amNY Metro’s 2024 Latino Power Players list. Launched in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, the inaugural list features elected officials, business executives, entrepreneurs, and community leaders from the Latino community making an impact in New York City. The 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.

HEALTH CARE SYSTEM RECOGNITION

AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION HONORS NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS FOR PROMOTING WELL-BEING AND REDUCING PHYSICIAN BURNOUT

NYC Health + Hospitals earned the bronze-level Joy in Medicine recognition from the American Medical Association (AMA) for enhancing physician well-being and reducing burnout. After peaking during the COVID-19 pandemic, the national physician burnout rate has dipped under 50 percent for the first time in four years. This is a milestone in preventing and reducing physician burnout, but continued efforts are essential to ensure doctors receive the support they need to thrive and achieve national health goals. Today’s announcement builds on the health System’s commitment to the mental health and wellness of its frontline staff.

In July, NYC Health + Hospitals was recognized as a 2024 WellBeing First Champion for its efforts to remove invasive mental health questions on physician credentialing applications. In March, the health System announced a partnership with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to implement the Interactive Screening Program, an online self-screening tool for staff to connect to peer and clinical support before a potential crisis emerges. In addition, NYC Health + Hospitals’ Helping Healers Heal program offers emotional first aid to health care providers who are suffering from workplace stress or anxiety and may be at high risk of feeling depressed caused by the demanding circumstances of the job and unexpected patient outcomes.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS LEADS MULTI-AGENCY TRAINING EXERCISE FOR H5N1

Last week the health care System led a training exercise testing its ability to screen and isolate a patient with simulated symptoms and relevant exposure history of H5N1, also known as bird flu, and safely transport them from NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County to NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue. The drill involved a simulated patient who was pre-screened through a collaborative protocol between NYC Health + Hospitals’ Virtual ExpressCare and the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. The patient, exhibiting mild respiratory symptoms following close contact with an H5N1-infected bird, was evaluated by a provider through Virtual ExpressCare and sent to NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County for influenza testing. Simulated samples were then sent to the NYC Health Department’s Public Health Laboratory for confirmatory testing.

In 2024, 27 human cases have been reported in the U.S., primarily among dairy and poultry workers, though no fatalities have been reported. The risk of H5N1 coming to New York City is low. Health care workers seeing the simulated patient were informed that this was an exercise to test the health System’s various protocols for bird flu. The exercise was a coordinated effort between the health system and the NYC Health Department.

VIRTUAL EXPRESS CARE

ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY TELEHEALTH ABORTION CARE

This month NYC Health + Hospitals celebrated the one-year anniversary of its telehealth abortion care through its Virtual ExpressCare service. In its first year, the service has provided over 2,700 virtual visits, mailed over 800 medication abortion kits, and referred an additional 1,050 patients for in-person care. The average wait-time for a virtual visit is less than 7 minutes. Over 75% of the patients identify as people of color. The service has a 90% patient satisfaction rate and a Net Promoter Score of 74. The service allows patients in NYC seeking abortion care to speak to a New York State-licensed health care professional on demand by video or phone for an assessment, counseling and access to medication if eligible. The telehealth service is available 7 days a week, 9am – 9pm, and will provide patients with access to safe and legal abortion care.

NYC CARE

NEW GIG WORKER’S RESOURCES TOOLKIT

NYC Health + Hospitals’ NYC Care program released a Worker’s Resources Toolkit to connect more New Yorkers from across the City to the health care access program. The toolkit features messaging geared toward workers across several industries, with a particular focus on gig workers who may be less likely to receive information about the program from their employer. The toolkit includes posters, flyers, and social media content in Arabic, Bangla, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, French, Haitian Creole, Korean, Polish, Russian, Spanish, and Urdu. NYC Care will partner with its 22 community-based organization partners, city agencies, and advocates on digital and in-person outreach initiatives to ensure this information is shared with NYC Care-eligible New Yorkers.

COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS REMINDS NEW YORKERS TO GET THEIR FLU AND COVID SHOTS

NYC Health + Hospitals announced this year’s updated flu and COVID-19 vaccines are available for established patients at its hospitals and Gotham Health sites. The health care System encouraged all New Yorkers 6 months of age and older to get vaccinated for the flu and COVID-19, which can be administered on the same day and are essential to keeping yourself and your family healthy and safe. Vaccines for flu and COVID-19 are safe, quick, and available at no out-of-pocket cost to patients who are vaccinated at NYC Health + Hospitals facilities and Gotham Health sites. The flu, or influenza, is a serious, highly contagious, and sometimes deadly disease, and the severity of each flu season is unpredictable, making annual vaccination the best defense against illness. COVID-19 is a highly contagious respiratory infection that may cause severe and even fatal illness, and staying up to date with your vaccinations remains the best defense. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends everyone over the age of six months get vaccinated against influenza and COVID-19, especially people at higher risk for severe disease.

Studies show the flu vaccine reduces the risk of illness by between 40 and 60 percent among the overall population. Many people at higher risk from flu are also at higher risk for severe disease from COVID-19. The 2024-2025 updated COVID-19 vaccines offers enhanced protection over the prior vaccine against the current and emerging variants circulating in our communities. In addition, the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) vaccine remains available for people between age 60 and 74 years with additional risk factors, all people age 75 years and older and pregnant women between weeks 32 and 36 gestation who are at higher risk of severe disease.

HEALTH CARE SYSTEM LAUNCHES TWO MARKETING RECRUITMENT CAMPAIGNS AND REACHES MILESTONE OF 50,000 FOLLOWERS ON ITS INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT

This month, the NYC Health + Hospitals Communications and Marketing team launched two multi-platform recruitment marketing campaigns to help address critical vacancies for the health care System. In mid-October it launched a provider recruitment campaign, which includes digital advertising on physician-related sites and outdoor placements in subways and bus shelters. This campaign is expected to drive provider awareness of employment opportunities in the health care System.

Last week, through a joint effort between the Communications and Marketing and Office of Behavioral Health, the health care System launched a Psychiatry Recruitment campaign with digital ads, video ads and placements on Link NYC displays throughout the city.

Additionally, the health care System’s Instagram account reached a new milestone of 50,000 followers. Instagram, a photo and video sharing social network, allows the system to share events, health tips, and the occasional shout out to New York City goings on.

HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE/HERRCS

RESPONDING TO THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS – SERVICES FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS

Now two years into our humanitarian response to the asylum seeker crisis, NYC Health + Hospitals continues to play a key role in the City’s efforts to manage the influx of asylum seekers. Our 13 humanitarian centers currently provide housing for approximately 23,000 individuals across the City and we continue to oversee the City’s Arrival Center, the front door for all newly arriving asylum seekers. The Arrival Center has provided a dignified welcome to approximately 170,000 new arrivals from over 160 countries since the facility was established in May 2023. At the facility our teams prioritize providing all new arrivals immediate communicable disease screenings, urgent care, behavioral health screenings, and vaccinations. Our teams have now administered nearly 150,000 vaccinations to asylum seekers at the City’s Arrival Center, humanitarian centers, and our hospital facilities.

At our humanitarian centers our staff maintain a commitment to ensuring that all of our guests, the majority of whom are families with children, receive compassionate, dignified care. Our humanitarian centers offer comprehensive services to support asylum seekers journey toward a better life. Over the last year, our case management teams have accelerated efforts to help our guests’ complete applications for work authorization, asylum, and temporary protected status, as well as connections to job trainings and job placement.

Earlier this month, the Mayor’s Office announced that the Randall’s Island humanitarian center, which currently houses approximately 2,200 single adults, will close in February 2025. We will continue to provide dedicated operations at the facility till then.

EXTERNAL AFFAIRS UPDATE

City

On October 29th, The New York City Council held a hearing regarding “Examining the Effects of Hospital Closures on Community Needs”, during which the health system’s Chief Medical Officer at Elmhurst Hospital participated in Q&A. On November 1st, The New York City Council will hold a hearing regarding “Ambulance Response Times”, in which the health System’s Office of Quality and Safety will participate in for Q&A.

State

In October, NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln was thrilled to welcome Speaker of the Assembly Carl Heastie, Assembly Member Amanda Septimo, and Borough President Vanessa Gibson for their generous $6 million funding for the Lincoln Recovery Center and Bridge Clinic announcement. The funding will enable Lincoln Hospital to provide comprehensive treatment and harm reduction services to those in need. We are grateful to the Speaker, Assembly Member, and the Borough President for their generous support!

On the legislative front, of the 805 bills that passed both houses of the NYS Legislature, 444 bills have been acted upon by the Governor. The Governor has until the end of the calendar year to consider the remaining 360 bills. Most of the health care bills we are tracking have not been delivered to Governor. On the election front, early voting has begun and we are tracking the NYS races that will impact our facility representation for 2025.

Federal

Congress voted to pass a continuing resolution funding the government through Dec. 20, avoiding a government shutdown. 12 full-year appropriations bills are yet to be enacted to fund the government for FY 2025. Included in these conversations are Congressionally-Directed Spending (“earmark requests”), for which NYC Health + Hospitals has applied. Prior to the end of 2024, Congress also has to address a few expiring provisions, including those that allow expanded use of telehealth and continuing the delay of the Medicaid DSH cuts.

NEWS FROM AROUND THE SYSTEM

• Primary Care for All Americans: How NYC Health + Hospitals makes primary care available to all New Yorkers.
• El Diario: NYC Care opened its doors for me
• Becker’s Hospital Review: NYC Health + Hospitals taps new hospital CEO
• Univision Nueva York: Dr. Jonathan Jiménez on Staying Safe During Flu Season
• Queens Latino: Latino pride at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst
• ESSENCE: Why Black Women Are At Greater Risk Of Dying From Breast Cancer, Even When It’s Treatable
• Bronx Times: $6 Million allocated for new facility to combat opioid crisis in the Bronx, tripling treatment capacity
• ABC 7: 2 artists share their stories as their work gets featured in Brooklyn’s Hall Street migrant shelter
• Harlem World: NYC Expands Telehealth Abortion Care, Offering Medication By Mail To Residents
• Caribbean Life: NYC Health + Hospitals recognizes nursing professionals for DAISY, BEE Awards