New York, NY - April 29, 2009— - The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) recognized National Volunteer Week by honoring two outstanding volunteers who work in the public hospitals in the borough. These individuals represent more than 8,000 men and women who together have dedicated nearly one million hours of service to the city’s public hospitals system over the last year. HHC is also encouraging more New Yorkers to consider the interesting and rewarding volunteer opportunities available to help patients served by HHC. For information on volunteer openings at HHC visit NYCService.org.

HHC’s volunteers serve important supportive roles such as interpreters, patient librarians, patient advocates, chaplains, community and auxiliary board members.

“HHC volunteers have answered the call to service and exemplify the new era of volunteerism promoted by President Obama and Mayor Bloomberg. Our volunteers are a diverse group of New Yorkers who give back to their communities by donating their time and talent. They are a vital part of our mission to deliver quality, safe, compassionate healthcare to all,” said HHC President Alan D. Aviles. “We invite more New Yorkers to lend a hand in our hospitals, nursing homes and health centers and help us serve the 1.3 million patients who rely on our care every year.”

Queens Volunteers Honored

Jorge Succar began volunteering at Elmhurst Hospital Center in 1998 and has logged a remarkable 10,000 hours of service. Initially he helped patients and staff in the Ambulatory Care Specialty Services then transferred to the Volunteer Department. He completed a training program in medical interpreting and is a certified Spanish interpreter. He is called on to interpret throughout the hospital including the psychiatric units where a skilled interpreter is invaluable.

Samuel Kleinman came to Queens Hospital Center to volunteer after fifty years as a licensed Optician. He assists providers in the Ophthalmology Department’s Glaucoma Clinic teaching patients how to appropriately apply eye drops which are necessary to reduce ocular pressure. He spends time reinforcing instructions from the provider to the patient giving the patients a greater probability of a successful outcome from the eye treatment.

The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC), the largest municipal hospital and health care system in the country, is a $5.4 billion public benefit corporation that serves 1.3 million New Yorkers and nearly 400,000 who are uninsured. HHC provides medical, mental health and substance abuse services through its 11 acute care hospitals, four skilled nursing facilities, six large diagnostic and treatment centers and more than 80 community based health centers. For more information about HHC, visit www.nyc.gov/hhc. For volunteer opportunities go to NYCService.org.