NYC Hospitals First to Receive Grants from Jonas Center for Nursing Excellence

HHC awarded funds to support nurse leadership and retention

New York City - The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) and Queens Hospital Center of HHC are among the first recipients in New York City to receive grants from the Jonas Center for Nursing Excellence. 

HHC was awarded more than $800,000 over a three year period.  The funds will establish a corporate nursing leadership academy and launch a registered nurse retention project at Queens Hospital Center.

"Our nurses play a vital role in our mission to provide safe, effective, efficient and patient-centered care," said Alan Aviles, HHC President.  "We are proud to support leadership opportunities for them as they maintain quality care standards and actively seek ways to improve the health care system."

The Jonas center, created by the Barbara and Donald Jonas Family Fund, is dedicated to addressing the challenges facing those in the nursing field.  The center's initiatives include supporting nurse recruitment and retention, racial and ethnic diversity, enhanced practice settings and modern practice models.  It also strives to develop healthy relationships among nursing leaders, health care professionals and policy makers.

"It became abundantly clear that nurses - the unsung heroes of our health care system - needed more champions," said Donald Jonas, Co-Chair and Advisor to the Barbara and Donald Jonas Family Fund. "The nursing crisis is having a profound effect on our city. Barbara and I want to galvanize every possible sector, from policy makers to philanthropists, to take an active role in remedying the system's ills and establishing a model for change that can be replicated nationwide."

The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) is the largest municipal healthcare system in the country.  HHC operates a network of 11 hospitals, six diagnostic and treatment centers, four long-term care facilities, more than 80 community clinics and a home health care agency.  HHC provides care to all regardless of ability to pay.  HHC serves 1.3 million New Yorkers annually, including more than 450,000 who have no health insurance.  For more information about HHC, visit www.nyc.gov/hhc.