KINGS COUNTY HOSPITAL CENTER GETS A $260 MILLION MODERNIZATION
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani announced today that the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) will undertake a comprehensive modernization of Kings County Hospital Center, at an estimated cost of $260 million. The proposed four-phase redevelopment plan is expected to be completed within eight years. "This ambitious renovation will provide modern and more efficient health care facilities to the Brooklyn community," said the Mayor, adding that "top quality health care for the residents of central Brooklyn will be assured as we enter the 21st century." Built in 1831 as a one-room infirmary for publicly supported care of the sick, the 809-bed hospital today provides a full spectrum of health services and specialties in all fields of modern medicine. Kings County also operates a Level One Trauma Center, one of only two in Brooklyn, which serves the 2.6 million residents of Brooklyn and Staten Island.
Brooklyn Borough President Howard Golden said, "This is welcome news for those who rely on Kings County Hospital Center for health care services. It is also welcome news for those who have long advocated for the rebuilding of this crucial facility".
Each phase of the project will provide state-of-the-art patient care facilities, and completion of the project will eliminate obsolete structures on the campus. New and remodeled facilities will house 550 inpatient beds in private and semi-private rooms, and accommodate more than 500,000 ambulatory care visits annually, including emergency services.
Councilwoman Una Clark, who serves on the Health Committee and has devoted herself to meeting the health care needs of central Brooklyn, has worked tirelessly toward the goal of rebuilding Kings County Hospital. "This is a victory for all of Brooklyn, particularly central Brooklyn. I have an intimate knowledge of the important role that Kings County plays in the lives of those I represent. Because Kings County Hospital serves the uninsured, the underinsured and immigrants, the Mayor's support of this project shows his deep commitment to the needs of this population."
The competitive health care environment and the impact of managed care resulted in changing patterns of utilization among Kings County's patients. The plan to rebuild this facility is responsive to the changing trends in the delivery of health care and the demands of managed care companies. Renovations will include replacing open wards with single, double, and four-bedded rooms; building a state-of the art emergency room, operating rooms, laboratory and radiology facilities; and concentrating clinical and support services in fewer buildings for greater operational efficiency.
According to Dr. Rosa Gil, HHC Chairperson, "These renovations will insure the viability of Kings County Hospital in an intensely competitive market by improving patient care, increasing patient satisfaction with health care services, and expanding market share and managed care participation."
Health and Hospitals President Dr. Luis R. Marcos believes this is an opportune time for financing this initiative. "The Corporation's financial stability, together with the City's commitment to the rebuilding of Kings County, will guarantee the success of this project." The City, HHC and the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York are currently discussing financing options and project management arrangements. A certificate of need will be filed with the NY State Department of Health in August for approval expected in October, which will enable the Corporation to break ground.
Phase I of the project will consist of a new building to house 360 inpatient beds, at an estimated cost of $90 million. Phase I is slated to begin immediately and will take approximately four years to complete.
During Phase II of the project, a new structure will be built to house emergency, diagnostic and treatment facilities including, for example, operating rooms, labs and radiology services. At the same time, the present ambulatory care building will be renovated to serve as an ambulatory care center, with all primary and specialty general care clinics consolidated at this one site.
Phase III will consist of renovations in behavioral health services, ultimately housing all inpatient beds for adult mental health, child and adolescent mental health, addictive diseases and forensic services into one Behavioral Health Pavilion. The final phase will involve the demolition of unused, obsolete buildings on the Kings County campus.
The Health and Hospitals Corporation is comprised of 11 acute care facilities, five long-term care facilities, and six diagnostic and treatment centers. The Corporation provides nearly one million emergency visits each year, five million outpatient visits, and 235,000 hospital admissions.
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