Medication Abortion Access For All NYers, Preventing Health Care Provider Burnout, Positive Baby Outcome, Newest Accolades, Mental Health Credentialing Questions: NYC H+H

Medication Abortion Access For All NYers, Health Care Provider Burnout, Positive Baby Outcome, Newest Accolades: NYC H+H

Editor’s note: Below, you can find recent updates from the NYC Health + Hospitals , including their recent  recognition as a leader in healthcare worker wellbeing, a baby who was born at 22 weeks and weighing only a little over a pound who is now named Myracle (as she was a true miracle), and their new program to help avoid healthcare worker burnout.  You can see previous stories from NYC H+H here.  Hopefully, there will soon be an extension of this hospital network on Staten Island (the only borough without a public hospital), although we do have Sea View Nursing Home, which is run by the same system and recently received multiple individual and institutional accolades.  

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS PROVIDES UPDATE ON TELEHEALTH ABORTION CARE, WHICH OFFERS MEDICATION BY MAIL TO ELIGIBLE PATIENTS IN NEW YORK CITY

With NYC Health + Hospitals’ Virtual ExpressCare telehealth service, patients in NYC can speak to a provider on demand via video or phone from the comfort of their own home

Patients considering abortion are assessed by a clinician and receive education about their options; if eligible, patients can receive medication by mail or schedule an in-person appointment

Medication arrives at an NYC address in a few days

(New York, NY) – NYC Health + Hospitals today announced the second anniversary of telehealth abortion care through its Virtual ExpressCare service. In the past year, the service has provided over 3,100 virtual visits, mailed over 1,000 medication abortion kits, and referred an additional 1,300 patients for in-person care. The average wait time for a virtual visit is less than 5 minutes. Over 85% of the patients identify as people of color. The service has a 90% patient satisfaction rate and a Net Promoter Score of 73. The service allows patients in NYC seeking abortion care to speak to a New York State-licensed health care professional on demand by video or phone for an assessment, counseling and access to medication if eligible. The telehealth service is available 7 days a week, 9am – 9pm, and will provide patients with access to safe and legal abortion care. The NYC Health + Hospitals Virtual ExpressCare service is available in over 200 languages and can be accessed at expresscare.nyc or by calling 631-EXP-Care (631-397-2273). A flyer about the program is available in 13 languages: English, Spanish, Albanian, Arabic, Bengali, French, Haitian Creole, Hindi, Korean, Polish, Russian, Simple Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and Urdu.

“Through Virtual ExpressCare, NYC Health + Hospitals makes abortion care accessible to all New Yorkers, connecting patients to a healthcare provider within minutes,” said Afsheen Mazhar, MPA, MS, Executive Director of NYC Health + Hospitals’ Virtual ExpressCare. “Our telehealth abortion service has made a huge impact to thousands of patients in the past year, and we are proud to support our patients with immediate reproductive care.”

“Telehealth continues to expand access for New Yorkers, circumventing many common barriers to care such as taking time off work and finding/paying for child care,” said Marisa Nadas, MD, MPH, System Director of Complex Family Planning at NYC Health + Hospitals. “Our telehealth abortion service allows people to access abortion care from the location and at the time that works best for them. This is reproductive choice in action.”

The telehealth abortion service by NYC Health + Hospitals is based in and for New York City. Medication is mailed to New York City addresses only and is available to clinically eligible patients who are up to 10 weeks into their pregnancy.

NYC Health + Hospitals offers a wide range of facility-based obstetric and gynecologic services, including primary care, family planning, abortion care, prenatal through delivery care, midwifery and referrals for doula services, postpartum care, breastfeeding and lactation services, breast exams, nutrition, behavioral health referrals, preventative care, first and second trimester abortion care, and vaccinations. Gynecology services include menopause and fibroid treatments, as well as specialty practices for gynecologic cancers, pelvic pain and endometriosis. Patients wishing to make an in-person appointment can call 1-844-NYC-4NYC.

In addition to abortion care, Virtual ExpressCare can offer patients immediate and confidential care for an array of physical and behavioral health concerns, including COVID-19, minor injuries, fever and flu, upper respiratory infections, anxiety, depression, and substance use issues. Virtual ExpressCare is available 24/7, 365 days a year to all New Yorkers at expresscare.nyc or calling 631-EXP-Care (631-397-2273).

Launched in 2020, Virtual ExpressCare has grown to offer approximately 90,000 virtual visits annually. The service played a key role in the City’s and State’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, Virtual ExpressCare partnered with the New York State Department of Health to offer COVID-19 therapeutics through the State’s new COVID-19 hotline, 888-TREAT-NY. The service provides same or next day life-saving COVID-19 therapeutic treatment.

NYC Health + Hospitals serves patients regardless of their ability to pay. The new telehealth abortion care will be covered like any other service. Patients with insurance may need to pay a copay. If patients cannot afford to pay or are uninsured, Virtual ExpressCare will provide care and connect patients to trained financial counselors who can help them enroll in health insurance coverage or financial assistance through NYC Care, Medicaid, and Medicare, with per visit fees as low as $0, depending on patients’ income and family size.

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Family’s Hope and the expertise of NYC Health + HospitalS/Queens Lead to Miracle Baby’s Triumphant Discharge

Myracle was born at 22 weeks, weighing just 1 pound, 0.6 ounces

After five months in the NICU, Myracle was able to go home earlier this month, weighing a healthy 8 pounds, 3 ounces

A video about Myracle is available here

From left to right: Myracle’s grandmother Marcia, Dr. Laura Vieitez (holding Myracle), Myracle’s mom Balinda, and Dr. Alice Garner. Image Credit – NYC H+H

Queens, NY – October 27, 2025) – NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens today announced the ceremonial graduation and miraculous discharge of Myracle, a resilient infant born at 22 weeks and weighing just 1 pound, 0.6 ounces. Inspired by another baby’s successful treatment at Queens Hospital after being born pre-term, Myracle’s family chose Queens Hospital for her care, leading to a remarkable journey from fragility to flourishing health. After five months in the NICU, Myracle was able to go home from the hospital earlier this month weighing a healthy 8 pounds, 3 ounces. A video about Myracle is available here and the inspiring story of the 2021 birth can be read here.

During her graduation ceremony, Myracle received a commemorative certificate featuring her footprint. The family expressed their gratitude with a framed thank-you and special gifts for Dr. Alice Garner, Chief of Newborn Services, and Dr. Paul Gleason, who worked closely with the family to deliver Myracle, cementing the hospital’s bond with Myracle and her family. Myracle’s remarkable progress was achieved thanks to the seamless collaboration between the Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Obstetrics, Neonatology, and dedicated NICU teams who ensured her healthy development.

Dr. Alice Garner, who oversaw her care throughout her stay, played a crucial role in Myracle’s journey. Dr. Alice Garner stated, “Myracle’s story emphasizes the incredible power of family trust and comprehensive care at Queens Hospital. Every baby’s chance at health begins with a commitment to exceptional, compassionate service.”

“We’re grateful to Dr. Garner, Dr. Gleason, the whole NICU team, and especially to Myracle’s grandmother. She read about another baby’s journey here, which led us to choose Queens Hospital. Everyone played a part in caring for our Myracle,” said Balinda, Myracle’s mother.

Queens Hospital stands as the first “Baby-Friendly” facility in the borough, a testament to the hospital’s holistic approach with services including:

• Expert High-Risk Pregnancy Management
• Immediate Post-Birth Skin-to-Skin Contact to Encourage Bonding
• 24-Hour Rooming-In to Foster Maternal-Infant Attachment
• Breastfeeding Support, facilitated by the Queens Breastfeeding Alliance and NYC Breastfeeding Leadership Council

“Providing a nurturing environment where technological expertise meets empathetic support defines our care ethos,” reflected Dr. Paul Gleason.

Neil Moore, Chief Executive Officer of NYC Health + Hospitals/Queens, remarked, “The successful journey of Myracle is a shining example of the extraordinary care our hospital provides. We are proud to deliver this level of expertise and compassion, ensuring every infant’s healthy beginning.”

Coinciding with Perinatal Nurses Week (October 10-16), Myracle’s discharge spotlights the invaluable commitment of our perinatal nurses in achieving optimal health outcomes.

Chief Nursing Officer Dr. Abbi-Gail Baboolal emphasized, “Our NICU team’s dedication and compassionate care are pivotal in transforming lives, securing healthy futures for our tiniest patients.”

Sherley Gebara, Associate Executive Director of Nursing for Maternal Child Services, added, “The empathy and teamwork within our NICU enable extraordinary outcomes like Myracle’s.”

The hospital and Myracle’s family will continue to stay in touch, with the hospital ready to provide ongoing support as needed.

Queens Hospital manages approximately 1,200 births annually, setting the standard for comprehensive maternal and neonatal care. Expecting parents are welcome to tour the hospital’s birthing suites, meet its expert staff, and discover the extensive support and services available.

Dr. Paul Gleason and baby Myracle.. Image Credit – NYC H+H

Myracle’s Graduation Ceremony was well attended by those who provided her with the love and care she needed to survive and thrive. Image Credit – NYC H+H

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS RECOGNIZED AS A 2025 WELLBEING FIRST CHAMPION, SUPPORTING HEALTHCARE WORKER WELLBEING

The health system earned the award by removing invasive mental health questions on physician credentialing applications

According to a 2023 survey by the Physicians Foundation, 4 in 10 physicians were either afraid or knew another physician fearful of seeking mental health care given questions asked in applications for medical licensure, credentialing, or insurance

(New York, NY – October 27, 2025) – NYC Health + Hospitals today announced it has been recognized by ALL IN: WellBeing First for Healthcare as a 2025 Wellbeing First Champion. This is the second year in a row that NYC Health + Hospitals has been awarded this special recognition for its leadership in removing invasive mental health questions from physician applications for medical licensure, credentialing, and insurance. According to a 2023 survey by the Physicians Foundation, 4 in 10 physicians were either afraid or knew another physician fearful of seeking mental health care given questions asked in applications for medical licensure, credentialing, or insurance. As a Wellbeing First Champion, all NYC Health + Hospitals credentialing applications have been verified as continuing to be free of any intrusive and stigmatizing language around mental health care and treatment. Verification is confirmed annually by ALL IN: Wellbeing First for Healthcare, a coalition of leading health care organizations that work to eliminate barriers for health workers to access mental health care.

“Our most important asset at NYC Health + Hospitals is our staff,” said Omar Fattal, MD, MPH, Chief of Behavioral Health Services, NYC Health + Hospitals. “We are proud to be recognized for the second year in the row for removing invasive questions from physician applications. Our support to physicians is central to the work that we are doing at NYC Health + Hospitals. By ensuring our questions are non-stigmatizing we are able to ensure that our physicians are getting the care they need so they can provide the best possible care to all New Yorkers.”

“At NYC Heath + Hospitals we are always seeking the best safeguards for our vulnerable patient population, ensuring the best care possible by the brightest and most capable physicians,” said Leon Boudourakis, MD, MHS, System Chief of Strategy & Special Projects at NYC Health + Hospitals. “We are proud to be recognized this year for using noninvasive language in our physician applications. It is a central belief at NYC Health + Hospitals that using clear, broad and non-judgmental language is the best way to assure we can identify how to support physicians in their roles.”

“The Wellbeing First Champion recognition, which reflects a significant step forward in our commitment to cultivating a culture of well-being for all healthcare professionals, is not only a policy change, it is a powerful signal to our workforce that seeking help is a strength and not a liability,” said Jeremy Segall, MA, RDT, LCAT, FPCC, System Chief Wellness Officer and Assistant Vice President, Human Experience. “By reducing barriers and minimizing stigma, we are fostering an environment where open dialogue about mental health is encouraged, and support is accessible without fear. The ripple effects of this change are already evident as we are seeing increased willingness to seek care, stronger peer support, and a measurable shift in how we address mental health and suicide prevention across our system. This designation reaffirms our belief that the well-being of our workforce is essential to the health of the communities we serve. It inspires us to continue leading with compassion, transparency, and a deep respect for the humanity of every healthcare worker.”

As an example, prior to 2023, a reference form for a clinician applying to work at NYC Health + Hospitals used to include the following question about the applicant’s health status:

Have you observed or been informed of any chemical dependency, physical or mental health problems which might affect the applicant’s ability to perform in a competent manner?

In 2023, NYC Health + Hospitals replaced this question with the following:

Have you observed any health problems which might affect the applicant’s ability to perform in a competent manner?

If “Yes” is selected, the information is communicated confidentially to Occupational Health Services to ensure the medical staff applicant is provided the appropriate support needed to be successful in his or her role.

This work is part of the health system’s commitment to the mental health and wellness of its frontline staff. In 2024, NYC Health + Hospitals announced a partnership with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to implement the Interactive Screening Program, an online self-screening tool for staff to connect to peer and clinical support before a potential crisis emerges. In addition, NYC Health + Hospitals’ Helping Healers Heal program offers emotional first aid to health care providers who are suffering from workplace stress or anxiety and may be at high risk of depression caused by the demanding circumstances of the job and unexpected patient outcomes.

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS AND JUILLIARD EXTENSION LAUNCH HARMONIZING FOR HEALTH PROGRAM TO ADDRESS HEALTH CARE PROVIDER BURNOUT

The pilot program will offer NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue staff time for music, dialogue, and personal reflection during the work day

Builds on other workforce wellness programs, including the art observation program HHArt of Medicine

Hospital staff closed their eyes as a musician from Juilliard Extension played koshi chimes at a recent Harmonizing for Health session. Image Credit – NYC H+H

(New York, NY – October 23, 2025) – NYC Health + Hospitals’ Arts in Medicine department and Juilliard Extension today announced a new collaboration to launch Harmonizing for Health, an observational music program for health care providers to help combat staff burnout and compassion fatigue. Led by faculty and musicians from Juilliard Extension, workshops will offer time for music, dialogue, and personal reflection during the workday. The pilot program will support about fifty hospital employees at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue over several months. Researchers from the Yale School of Public Health will assess whether the intervention effectively addresses staff burnout and could contribute to retention. Harmonizing for Health is funded by the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund.

A large body of scientific research has shown that music can have a profound effect on our health. Music reduces symptoms of depression, supports pain management, provides a safe environment to contribute to healing from trauma, and builds resilience while decreasing anxiety and blood pressure. Music improves our sleep quality, mental alertness, memory, and overall health and well-being.

“Music has the power to shift a mood, open the heart, and help us process what words often can’t,” said Laurie M. Tisch, founder and president of the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund. “Harmonizing for Health gives staff space to pause, decompress, and reconnect with what grounds them and brings them joy. We are proud to support this collaboration between NYC Health + Hospitals and Juilliard Extension to make music a source of strength for those on the front lines of care.”

“It is an honor for Arts in Medicine to collaborate with Juilliard Extension on this innovative initiative, which brings in the deep evidence base for music into the daily lives of our healthcare professionals,” said NYC Health + Hospitals Assistant Vice President of Arts in Medicine Larissa Trinder. “In a field where compassion and emotional resilience are paramount, the Harmonizing for Health program offers our staff a unique opportunity for reflection, creative expression, and renewal. The involvement of researchers from the Yale School of Public Health ensures a rigorous evaluation of the program’s impact, reinforcing our commitment to evidence-based approaches that nurture the mental and emotional well-being of those who provide care. Together, we are fostering a more sustainable, compassionate healthcare environment—one that supports both patients and the dedicated professionals who serve them.”

“We are excited to launch Harmonizing for Health here at Bellevue Hospital in collaboration with Juilliard Extension,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue Chief Executive Officer Eric Wei, MD, MBA. “We are deeply committed to strengthening the psychological safety and wellness of our staff. Studies have shown the healing power of the arts, and especially music’s ability to reduce stress and improve overall well-being. This new partnership, spearheaded by the Arts in Medicine department, with the visionary support of the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund, Juilliard, and the Yale School of Public Health builds on our hospital’s almost 300-year history of innovation and care for all New Yorkers.”

“The arts have a unique power to foster resilience, empathy, and human connection. Through Harmonizing for Health, it is an honor to leverage the creative practices of our faculty and artists in support of those who care for the health of our communities,” said Juilliard President Damian Woetzel. “I am profoundly grateful to our partners at NYC Health + Hospitals, Yale School of Public Health, and the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund for making this initiative possible and for their visionary commitment to the intersection of the arts and well-being.”

“At Juilliard Extension, we believe in the transformative power of the performing arts not only to inspire audiences but also to sustain those who give so much of themselves in the service of others,” said John-Morgan Bush, Dean of Juilliard Extension. “Harmonizing for Health brings the restorative force of music into the workday of New York’s health care providers, creating space for reflection, connection, and renewal. The involvement of the Yale School of Public Health underscores the importance of evaluating how artistic interventions can contribute to resilience and long-term workforce well-being. It is a privilege to collaborate with NYC Health + Hospitals and the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund to support the well-being of those who care for our city every day.”

“It is a tremendous honor to be working with such a dynamic and accomplished team to implement and evaluate the role of arts-based programming to improve the wellbeing of care providers and staff at NYC Health + Hospitals,” said Judith Lichtman, PhD, MPH, FAHA, Susan Dwight Bliss Professor at the Yale School of Public Health. “We look forward to contributing to the evaluation of the program to provide data and insights about the added value of employing innovative and creative programming to address important issues related to resiliency and life balance for hospital workers.”

In 2022, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that nearly half of health workers said they felt burned out and recently stated that there is a bourgeoning mental health crisis for healthcare workers. The Physicians Foundation found that over 76% of physicians, residents, and medical students agree that physician mental health stigma still exists. Arts in Medicine programming decreases stress, anxiety, feelings of being depressed while addressing compassion fatigue, burnout, and increase positive mood and cognitive alertness.

Arts in Medicine’s other suite of programming includes: The HHArt of Medicine program, an art observation strategy to address burnout and deepen empathy; Artists in Residence; Music for the Soul concerts; a growing Community Mural program; and exhibitions and installations of works from their historic art collection.

NYC Health + Hospitals has invested in workforce wellness through several initiatives, including:

• The Helping Healers Heal (H3) program, which include licensed mental health practitioners and other behavioral health experts to help employees identify and monitor distress, assist in resilience-building, and aid the use of recovery and coping support services.
• 20 Wellness Rooms across the health system where staff can decompress during the workday and access wellness programming.
• The Employee Assistance Program, where staff can seek outside professional mental health services.

Banner Image: From left to right: Myracle’s grandmother Marcia, Dr. Laura Vieitez (holding Myracle), Myracle’s mom Balinda, and Dr. Alice Garner. Image Credit – NYC H+H