COVID-19 ALERT: Find COVID-19 Testing Sites. COVID-19 Vaccine Info. New Visitor Policy. Make a Donation.
Governor Hochul, Dr. Katz Thank U.S. Department of Defense Medical Team at NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx
Feb 02, 2022
Governor Kathy Hochul today joined NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Dr. Mitchell Katz, Representative Adriano Espaillat, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, and Council Member Eric Dinowitz to thank the U.S. Department of Defense medical team who are supporting health care workers at NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx. The DoD team is comprised of providers, nurses, army medics, respiratory technicians, and command staff. The team arrived last Tuesday, they were trained on hospital policies and procedures, and then they began to shadow staff. Their first full day at the hospital was Friday, January 29. The team will be mobilized at NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx for a minimum of 30 days. This is the second DoD medical team to assist NYC Health + Hospitals through the COVID-19 Omicron variant surge.
“As we’ve fought the COVID pandemic for the past two years, health care workers at North Central Bronx Hospital and across New York State have been on the front lines providing life-saving care,” Governor Hochul said. “On behalf of all New Yorkers, I want to thank our federal partners and the Department of Defense medical team for answering the call of duty and joining our fight against the pandemic. Working together with our health care heroes in New York, I know they will be a critical part of our efforts to defeat the winter surge.”
“The health care workers at NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx have done a tremendous job taking care of our patients through every wave of the pandemic and it’s time they get a much-needed break,” said NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Mitchell Katz, MD. “It was great having Gov. Hochul at our hospital, visiting with our staff and meeting the military medical team. We thank the governor for her continued leadership and support, and we’re grateful to the Biden Administration and the Department of Defense for assisting us in the fight against COVID-19.”
“Bronx families have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic and the borough continues to see some of the highest COVID-19 positivity rates across the city,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx CEO Christopher Mastromano. “Our staff has been working around the clock to care for our neighbors and we thank the DoD medical team for supporting us as we nurse The Bronx back to health.”
“My Soldiers, active-duty military doctors, nurses, and respiratory therapists, come from a variety of military installations across the nation and bring with them an overabundance of medical experience and knowledge, and a ‘can do’ spirit,” said U.S. Army Capt. Elizabeth Huizenga. “Our attitude and expertise, coupled with the proficiency of the NCB hospital staff, will prove invaluable as we work together to tackle a rise in hospitalizations from coronavirus.”
“I commend President Biden, Governor Hochul, the Department of Defense, FEMA and HHS for deploying Military Medical Teams to New York City, which made today’s announcement possible,” said Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13). “The DoD care and assistance will be critical in our response to the recent COVID-19 spike. We have made progress throughout our city – but our fight is far from over – especially as our frontline health care workers at the North Central Bronx Hospital and around New York have worked tirelessly to care for our communities – for the last two years. We are grateful to them daily for their ongoing efforts and are equally grateful for the support of the DoD medical team to reinforce their work in this fight against COVID-19.”
“The Bronx has been one of the hardest hit areas in our city by the Covid-19 pandemic, and Governor Hochul has been a constant presence here in The Bronx to provide real support. Our frontline healthcare workers have been making continued sacrifices to provide care for their patients,” said Council Member Eric Dinowitz. “I deeply appreciate the Department of Defense medical team for providing North Central Bronx Hospital with the support they need to continue to serve, and reliably attend to our fellow Bronxites.”
The DoD medical team will provide staffing support in key areas such as the emergency department, intensive care units and the medical-surgery unit to ensure uninterrupted and timely care continues to be delivered.
NYC Health + Hospitals received support from the DoD across the health care system during the first wave of COVID-19. The medical teams also addressed the emotional and mental health needs of frontline staffers.