NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital Statement On ER Overcrowding Concerns
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Statement from NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in response to a public hearing held on concerns over wait times at its emergency room:
"Every patient who comes to a NewYork-Presbyterian facility receives the same high-quality, compassionate care from our dedicated staff.
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and its employees take enormous pride in serving our community. We are committed to ensuring that all of our patients and their family members receive outstanding, compassionate care and excellent service from our hospital and every member of our team.
In 2012, we began a $100 million expansion of the Adult Emergency Department in response to the growing demand for emergency services. Once completed in 2017, the new Morgan Stanley Adult Emergency Department will comprise 45,000 square feet —double its current size — and will be equipped with 88 treatment bays — also double the current capacity. Importantly, the Emergency Department will remain open throughout the renovation, and the number of beds will not decrease during the process.
NewYork-Presbyterian is also improving the patient experience through a number of care initiatives that are yielding impressive results:
• The NewYork-Presbyterian Regional Health Collaborative, a health care program designed to address the specific needs of the Washington Heights-Inwood community, has reduced emergency department visits and hospitalizations for high-risk patients by more than 25%.
• The Alexandra and Steven Cohen Pediatric Emergency Department opened in June 2011, quadrupling its capacity. There were over 52,000 patient visits last year.
• The NewYork-Presbyterian Ambulatory Care Network (ACN) provides high-quality, affordable, patient-friendly care with an emphasis on wellness and prevention. In Washington Heights-Inwood, the ACN comprises 7 primary care practices, 7 school-based clinics, 10 school-based mental health clinics, and more than 50 specialty care clinics. Last year, these clinics received more than 450,000 visits.
In addition, NewYork-Presbyterian is launching an awareness campaign working with community organizations and residents about when it's necessary to go to the emergency room and when it's better to seek care at a doctor's office, ambulatory care center or urgent care center."
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