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NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull Marks Emergency Department Expansion Completion
Oct 14, 2021
NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull today marked the completion of a major modernization and expansion of the hospital’s emergency department (ED). The ED expansion added 5,000 square feet of space that included 16 additional exam rooms, a new and improved state-of-the-art nurse’s station, a new isolation room, and a “transition hub”, where patients who are being discharged from the ED are linked to a primary care or specialty service follow up visit, can receive consultation regarding their medications, and access care management services.
The expansion project was fully funded by a $5 million capital allocation from the New York City Council’s Brooklyn Delegation. The strategic expansion of the ED reflects the public health system’s broader goals of building a sustainable organization that will continue to offer high-quality and accessible health care to the people of New York City.
“We’re excited to celebrate the completion of the ED expansion at Woodhull, which brings increased capacity, new state-of-the-art technology, and improved flow that will positively impact patients’ experience,” said NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Mitchell Katz, MD. “We thank the Council’s Brooklyn Delegation for their funding, and congratulate the Woodhull team that made this expansion happen during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“On behalf of Woodhull Hospital and the community, I extend our thanks and appreciation to Council Members Reynoso, Treyger and Rivera for their support which resulted in the City Council appropriation of $5 million to expand and renovate the Woodhull emergency room,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull CEO Gregory Calliste. “The expansion of our ED will allow us to provide more efficient patient care, decrease wait times, reduce the likelihood of patients leaving without being seen, and improve the overall patient experience. This significant improvement will help us accomplish our vision of being a model hospital and hospital of choice for North Brooklyn.”
“The completion of this expansion represents a huge step forward in Woodhull’s ability to provide the best in emergency care in a modern setting, said NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull Chief of Emergency Services Robert Chin, MD. “Our patients will experience a state-of-the-art environment that will enhance their privacy while providing a more streamlined and efficient flow through the ED.”
The $5 million allocation from the NYC Council Brooklyn Delegation also covered the purchase of new medical equipment, including stretchers, portable EKG machines, telemetry monitors, vital sign paraphernalia and ventilators.
“I am thrilled to celebrate the opening of the newly expanded emergency department at NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull,” said Council Member Carlina Rivera, Chair of the Committee on Hospitals.” Woodhull is leading the way in their services for immigrant New Yorkers, new families and our LGBTQ+ community. This effort, made possible by the commitment of the Brooklyn delegation, is the sort of targeted investment we need to ensure all New Yorkers are able to access the highest quality of patient care at our nation-leading hospital system.”
“Even prior to this pandemic, the Brooklyn Delegation led by my office and Council Member Reynoso’s office, made it a top priority to enhance and upgrade our public hospital system. The residents of NYC deserve a high quality, world class public hospital system,” said Council Member Mark Treyger, Co-Chair of the Brooklyn Delegation. “I am proud to have delivered on this budget commitment and congratulate NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull on this incredible expansion and thank all of the staff for your vision and dedication to providing exemplary service to their patients and families.”
“The expansion of Woodhull’s emergency department is crucial to the health and safety of our North Brooklyn Community,” said Council Member Antonio Reynoso. “We could not have anticipated back in March of 2019 that we were about to face a global pandemic that would not only put a strain on our hospital system, but also highlighted inequities faced by communities of color and the health facilities that serve as their anchors. Thanks to the support from my colleagues at the Brooklyn Delegation of the City Council, its co-chair Council Member Mark Treyger and Hospitals Committee Chair Council Member Carlina Rivera, we were able to allocate $5 million in capital funds to improve the space and services. It makes me incredibly proud to support my local hospital- the level of service and care from the entire Woodhull family that I have seen and experienced reinforces that government dollars should be spent on services and care for our neighbors. I look forward to seeing the renovated emergency department and continuing to support NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull.”
On average, NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull’s ED provides treatment for 100,000 patients annually.