$27.5M to expand maternal and pediatric health care at Queens hospital

Governor Kathy Hochul on Wednesday announced New York State will invest $27.5 million to expand maternal and pediatric health care facilities at Elmhurst Hospital in Queens.

She said the State’s investment will increase access to high-quality prenatal and mental health care by expanding the hospital’s Women’s Pavilion to more than double its current size. 

The governor said this investment will also enable the hospital to build a new, state-of-the-art Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), which will allow more local families to access care for critically ill and injured children without traveling miles away to other hospitals. 

“Our investment will deliver better health care for moms and kids throughout the Queens community,” Hochul said. “As New York’s first mom governor, addressing the maternal mortality crisis is personal for me. 

“Whether it’s investing in maternal health resources, securing first-in-the-nation paid prenatal leave or increasing access to doulas, I’ll never stop working to ensure safe, healthy pregnancies for moms across our State,” she added. 

Hochul said this new investment continues her actions to address the maternal mortality crisis, which continues to disproportionally impact women of color in New York and across the nation. 

She said Elmhurst Hospital primarily serves neighborhoods including Elmhurst, Jackson Heights and Corona, which are among the highest birthrate communities in Queens.

At Wednesday’s announcement, the governor also highlighted that New York’s first-in-the-nation prenatal paid leave policy will take effect on January 1, with employers required to provide pregnant employees with 20 hours of additional paid leave for prenatal care appointments.

She said a new $20 million state investment will enable Elmhurst Hospital to expand its Women’s Pavilion from 16,000 square feet to 35,000 square feet – more than doubling its size and adding three new floors to the facility. 

“This significant expansion will increase the hospital’s capacity to deliver high-quality prenatal care, including general obstetrics and high-risk pregnancy services, nutrition services, family planning resources and prenatal education including breastfeeding classes,” the governor said. “This investment will also allow the hospital to provide more services during evening hours as requested by a recent survey of patients from the local community.” 

Additionally, she said the expanded Women’s Pavilion will offer a range of new resources, including care for pelvic floor disorders, gynecological cancers and breast health, as well as mental health counseling for postpartum depression and anxiety, among other new services. 

Hochul said new equipment added to the Pavilion will include state-of-the-art sonogram machines, ultrasound machines and mammography equipment.

She said a new $7.5 million state investment will enable Elmhurst Hospital to build a new, approximately 1,500-square foot PICU. 

Hochul said the hospital currently does not have a PICU, “which means that many critically ill and injured children from local communities need to be transferred miles away to other hospitals that are better equipped to care for them. 

“This has placed an undue burden on many Queens parents and families who must constantly travel to visit a critically ill child,” she said. “Building the new PICU will finally address this problem by ensuring that local families with critically ill children can easily access high-quality care close to home.”

The governor said the facility will include new equipment such as advanced monitors with modules for A-lines, CVP monitoring, EVD monitoring, capnography, Dedicated ECG and other state-of-the-art equipment.

New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, “This is a significant investment in the health of people who give birth, children and the Queens community. People who give birth deserve access to services that will allow them to have a safe and empowering birthing experience. 

“It is also an important investment for critically injured or sick children, who, along with their families and loved ones, deserve care that is compassionate, high quality and local,” he added. 

NYC Health and Hospitals CEO and President Mitchell Katz, MD said, “NYC Health and Hospitals/Elmhurst is such a trusted, community focal point for high-quality care, and this expansion will only further expand services for women and children. I want to thank Governor Hochul for her commitment to public hospitals. She understands how essential they are to communities such as Elmhurst.” 

NYC Health and Hospitals/Elmhurst CEO Dr. Helen Arteaga-Landaverde said, “Governor Hochul’s historic allocation of $27.5 Million for our Women’s Pavilion and Pediatric ICU illustrates her strong commitment to helping New York’s women and children, and Ideeply appreciate her support. 

“This funding will help us reduce infant and maternal mortality, provide care to women at every life stage, and ensure that we deliver critical care to our smallest patients when they need it most,” she added. “We thank Governor Hochul for investing in Elmhurst Hospital and giving us the resources to secure a healthy, thriving future for our community.” 

Assemblymember Catalina Cruz said, “Elmhurst Hospital never asks how or why; it effectively and efficiently serves thousands of my neighbors no matter their financial or ethnic background. During the worst of times, it has stood as a beacon of hope for those who often have little to no access to care. 

“The Governor’s multimillion dollar investment into our Pediatric Care Unit and the Women’s Pavilion is more than just an infusion of funds; it’s an affirmation of New York’s commitment to a community that is rich in cultural diversity but often economically marginalized,” she added. “As a proud patient of the Women’s Pavilion at Elmhurst Hospital, I know firsthand the vital role this institution plays in our everyday health care, but particularly for the thousands of uninsured women throughout Jackson Heights, Elmhurst and Corona. 

“This investment ensures that more women and children in our community will receive the quality healthcare they deserve,” Cruz continued. “I thank the Governor for her support and look forward to seeing the real-life impact of today’s announcement.” 

Assemblymember Steven Raga said, “Governor Hochul’s historic $27.5 Million investment for Elmhurst Hospital will save lives in Queens. The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit will be vital for ensuring that critically ill children in our community receive the appropriate medical attention and support they need during their most vulnerable moments, while the Women’s Health Pavilion will address the specific health care needs of women in an inclusive and supportive environment. 

“This support from our Governor will make significant strides in health care services for our community, which was the epicenter of the epicenter of COVID-19 in the United States,” he added. 

Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr., whose father hails from Jamaica, said, “Elmhurst Hospital is the heartbeat of Northwest Queens and one of New York City’s most critical hubs of high-quality health care. The success of this community is directly linked to the success of the hospital in delivering for the families who seek its care. 

“With this unprecedented investment in facility’s ability to deliver elite health care outcomes for newborns and their parents — some of the most vulnerable patients treated there — as well as children of all ages, countless lives will be saved or otherwise improved,” he added. “I’m deeply proud to partner with Governor Hochul on such an investment and I thank all of Elmhurst Hospital’s health care heroes for their sacrifice.” 

Earlier on Wednesday, Hochul participated in a roundtable discussion where she announced $1 million to expand access to mental health care across the borough by partnering with community-based providers. 

She said five providers, including Charles Wang Community Health Center, Transitional Services for New York, Child Center of New York, Korean Community Services and Venture House, will be awarded $200,000 to expand their mental health programming in Queens. 

“The mental health crisis is the defining challenge of our time and when I took office, I vowed to transform our mental health system,” the governor said. “Struggling New Yorkers deserve a system that is suited for and responsive to their needs, and this $1 million investment will expand access to care across Queens so that every New Yorker has the tools and resources they need to succeed.”