The city’s public hospital system, NYC Health + Hospitals, announced yesterday that the de Blasio Administration is pumping in $40 million into seven of its system-wide primary and specialty care units in underserved communities including one in Jackson Heights.
“Mayor de Blasio has demonstrated his commitment to providing equal access to health care,” said Stanley Brezenoff, interim president and chief executive officer of NYC Health + Hospitals. “These seven sites will better connect tens of thousands of New Yorkers to primary and specialty care, promoting wellness and care management, as well as smoother transitions to other care when needed—goals that are important to the long-term transformation of our health system.”
While services available at the sites differ, all seven will offer primary care and behavioral health care, which community assessments consistently show is needed. Each health center partners with one of the public hospitals, which share electronic medical record systems to make continuity of care seamless.
The ribbon-cutting at the Jackson Heights, 34-33 Junction Boulevard, Queens facility was announced last month. The $3.9 million investment paid for refurbishing health center and expanding the formerly pediatrics-only practice to include women’s health, behavioral health, adult primary care, and family medicine. Along with its regular weekday hours, it will also offer evening hours on Mondays.
“Providing high-quality health care service is vital for every community,” said State Senator Jose Peralta (D-Jackson Heights, Corona, Elmhurst, East Elmhurst, and parts of Woodside and Astoria) “This is why I applaud NYC Health + Hospitals’ initiative to renovate its health center in Jackson Heights. With this renovation, the center was able to expand and improve the health services it offers, ambulatory care that now includes women’s health and adult primary care. The renovated facility, part of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Caring Neighborhoods Initiative, will allow New Yorkers to seek the health care services they need in a more comfortable way.”
“The expansion of the neighborhood health center in my district will greatly benefit my constituents,” said Assemblyman Michael DenDekker (D-Woodside, Jackson Heights, East Elmhurst). “The added services will help New Yorkers get the care they deserve.”
“The renovation of the NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health site is a welcome addition to our Jackson Heights community, and I congratulate them on their grand opening,” said Assemblymember Francisco P. Moya (D-Corono, Elmhurst). “With significantly more exam rooms and equipment, the health center will provide thousands of Jackson Heights families with high-quality services to keep them in good health and good spirits. I’m proud to have worked with this administration in delivering accessible and affordable health care through the Caring Neighborhoods initiative, and applaud NYC Health + Hospitals for their exceptional neighborhood-based services.”
“This expanded facility will provide crucial and culturally competent primary care services to the medically underserved residents of the Jackson Heights community,” said Queens Borough President Melinda Katz. “By empowering families to monitor physical and mental health more consistently, this clinic will not only improve the well-being of its patients, but will also decrease congestion at our overburdened hospitals.”
“We welcome the renovation and expansion of this health center, a key place where our community can access much needed primary health care services,” said New York City Council Member Julissa Ferreras-Copeland (D- College Point, Corona, East Elmhurst, Elmhurst, Flushing, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Jackson Heights, LaGuardia Airport). “Providing affordable health care to our underserved residents is crucial in our efforts to reduce health disparities among New Yorkers. I want to thank Mayor Bill de Blasio for his commitment moving forward his Caring Neighborhoods initiative and congratulate NYC Health + Hospitals for the completion of this project.”
The health center is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and from 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursdays. The center’s patients will also have 24-hour phone access to clinical advice. To make an appointment, patients can call 718-334-6150.
