Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: Tuesday, November 27, 2001
Release # 371-01

Contact: Lynn Rasic (212) 788-2958
  Jane D. Zimmerman, Ph.D. (HHC) (212) 295-5589


MAYOR GIULIANI JOINS HHC TO OPEN NEW KINGS COUNTY HOSPITAL
AFTER $86 MILLION MODERNIZATION



Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, together with the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC), today opened a state-of-the-art 8-story, 338-bed hospital in central Brooklyn. The official ribbon-cutting ceremony marks the completion of the first phase of an ambitious four-phase, twelve-year development plan for Kings County Hospital Center.

"This modern and efficient new hospital will provide superior services to the Brooklyn community in the 21st Century," Mayor Giuliani said. "The rebuilding of Kings County Hospital is evidence of HHC's ability to achieve major modernization projects ahead of schedule and within budget."

Originally built in 1831 as a public infirmary, the hospital expanded rapidly to provide a full spectrum of health services. By the 1980's, however, the hospital urgently required renovation. Attempts to provide the needed improvements floundered, until 1997, when the Giuliani administration announced its decision to rebuild this crucial facility.

This substantial modernization was made possible by HHC's increased financial strength, which began in 1996. After decades of operating at a deficit, the public hospital corporation has finished with a positive bottom line for five consecutive years. The financial markets were quick to respond to HHC's improved financial performance. Soon after posting its first positive year-end results, HHC was able to gain access to the capital it needed to start the major rebuilding effort at Kings County and at other public hospitals. This new $86 million facility is one of the first major renovations that HHC has completed in its partnership with The Dormitory Authority of the State of New York.

"From our perspective, the successful completion of this project is particularly gratifying, because it means that our patients will continue to have access to the high quality health care on which they have come to rely," said Richard T. Roberts, Chairman of HHC's Board of Directors. "We applaud the Mayor's commitment to the health care needs of the Brooklyn community."

Dr. Luis R. Marcos, President of HHC noted, "This is the new HHC. We are spending $1.1 billion to modernize our hospitals and clinics. As opposed to the early 90's when some of our hospitals failed in the accreditation standards, today all of our hospitals have full 3-year JCAHO accreditation with scores averaging 94 while the national average is 89, and our patients tell us that we are better than ever."

This new facility encompasses 250,000 square feet and houses pediatric services, obstetrics and neo-natal intensive care units as well as critical care, medical/surgical and rehabilitation services all under one roof. Reception and food service areas are on the first floor and a high-tech robotic pharmacy is located within the basement of the building. The centralization of general patient care as well as ancillary services enhances the ability to treat patients more efficiently while improving the quality of care.

"The private and semi-private rooms were designed to maximize patient comfort and provide a comfortable and personalized environment," said Jean Leon, Executive Director of Kings County Hospital Center. "The new building and other major campus improvements demonstrate our commitment to provide our patients with access to the best quality health care."

HHC is a $4.3 billion public benefit corporation that operates eleven acute care hospitals, four skilled nursing facilities and six diagnostic and treatment centers. Each year 1.3 million people - or one in six New Yorkers - are treated in an HHC facility, including more than 560,000 uninsured New Yorkers. In a recent survey, eight out of ten patients said that they would recommend HHC hospitals to family and friends.

Kings County Hospital will be conducting community tours of the new facility from Wednesday, November 28th through Friday, November 30th. For information and tour times, call 718-245-3911.



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