Allocated funds will support replacing the hospital's Hyperbaric Chamber and clinic renovation to expand Hyperbaric Medicine Services.
Bronx, NY
NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi was awarded $10M in Fiscal Year 2023 capital funding through Council Member Marjorie Velázquez and New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams to replace the hospital’s Hyperbaric Chamber and expand Hyperbaric Medicine services. In addition to the $10M in capital funding, Council Member Marjorie Velázquez also awarded NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi $286K to purchase new ultrasound machines and $500K to acquire echocardiography ultrasound machines. The new ultrasound machines will replace the current end-of-life units at the facility over 11 years old. The new upgrade will prevent disruption of services due to faulty and aged equipment and offer better resolution and state-of-the-art modules that will enhance diagnostic care for patients.
The current Hyperbaric Chamber at NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi provides Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO). This medical treatment allows patients to breathe 100% oxygen while sitting or lying comfortably inside a pressurized chamber. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy rapidly reverses life-threatening carbon monoxide poisoning and prevents delayed neurological injury. Also, patients with chronic wounds that conventional wound healing methods cannot address have improved outcomes while undergoing HBO. Treatment for non-emergent conditions takes approximately 110 minutes, and patients are always personally accompanied by a clinician.
“I am grateful to Council Member Marjorie Velázquez and Speaker Adrienne Adams for awarding this capital funding to make the replacement of the Hyperbaric Chamber possible,” said Christopher Mastromano, CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi | North Central Bronx. “The expansion of our Hyperbaric Medicine services will allow us to continue to serve our community while simultaneously allowing our facility to be the regional treatment facility for patients needing hyperbaric emergency care throughout the tri-state area.”
“Our public health system is vital in providing access to health care for all,” said Mitchell Katz, M.D., CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals. “These funds totaling over $10M allow NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi to acquire modernized, reliable equipment to better respond to the health care needs of our patients to help build stronger, healthier communities across the tri-state area. I am thankful for the responsiveness of elected officials Council Member Marjorie Velázquez and Speaker Adrienne Adams for these recent allocations.”
“The people of the Bronx deserve a health care system that works for them,” said Council Member Marjorie Velázquez. I was glad to work with Speaker Adams’ to secure this historic level of funding to improve the quality of care and services NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi is able to provide. Investing in Health + Hospitals is an investment in the quality of life for our entire City, and to secure over $10million for a public hospital that serves my community is a real triumph.”
“The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the need to invest in healthcare and address serious inequities in our city,” said Speaker Adrienne Adams. “The Council fought to deliver investments that our communities need in this budget, and we are pleased to have secured this critical funding for NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi to expand medical services for Bronx residents. The Council prioritized strengthening the health of our neighborhoods by expanding the budgetary resources available to our local healthcare heroes and institutions, because we know that healthier communities are safer. I am proud to have partnered with Council Member Velázquez to achieve this critical goal for the Bronx and our city through this budget allocation, and I thank her for her tremendous leadership.”
The demand for hyperbaric treatments at NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi has increased. The hospital performs approximately 1300 hyperbaric treatments per year. Over the past two years, the facility has seen a 50% influx in patient volume, seeing patients referred from New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. The allocated $10M will provide a new Hyperbaric Chamber that will be larger, measuring about 25.5 feet long and 8 feet in diameter, allowing the hospital to accommodate more patients. The current chamber can treat nine patients plus two staff members. However, the replacement will be able to treat 13 patients plus two staff members.
Additionally, the new Hyperbaric Chamber will have four rectangular doors allowing patients to walk in and out both sides quickly and be fully wheelchair accessible. During treatment under pressure, the new chamber will be more comfortable. It will feature a temperature regulation system, a quieter operation, improved seating, better lighting, and television for patient entertainment. Computer touch screens will replace the manual controls. Moreover, the expansion of the Hyperbaric Clinic at NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi will provide two new examination rooms, a waiting area, changing space, and two new restrooms.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is critical to treat specific life-threatening emergencies such as:
- Carbon monoxide poisoning (from fires, malfunctioning heating, or auto exhaust systems). HBO therapy rapidly removes carbon monoxide from the body.
- Decompression sickness – a severe scuba diving injury that can cause paralysis
- Gas Gangrene
- Acute Gas Embolism
NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi is the only facility within the NYC Health + Hospitals system to offer Hyperbaric Medicine and the only facility in the five boroughs providing a multi-patient, walk-in chamber. Hyperbaric Medicine specialists are available 24/7 for life-threatening emergencies. NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi Hyperbaric Medicine Service is well-known and highly regarded as the long-standing primary referral site for numerous NYC, state, and northeast region emergency response agencies. The US Navy authorizes the facility as a treatment center for US Navy personnel with diving-related illnesses and injuries. In addition, NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi is the designated New York City Referral Center for the Diver’s Alert Network, providing emergency care for divers with decompression illness.
For more information about Hyperbaric Medicine or to make an appointment, call 718-918-7521, or email HyperbaricReferral@nychhc.org
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