Maimonides Hospital To Join City Network, Plant-Based Meals For In-Patients, Columbia University Students Discuss Public Health Leadership, 2025 Accomplishments: NYC H+H

Editor’s note: As we have previously covered, Staten Island is the only borough without an actual City Hospital.  The only branch of NYC H+H is a nursing home, Sea View.  

“Joining NYC Health + Hospitals will allow Maimonides to build on our history of providing outstanding specialty care to the communities we have proudly served for decades,” said Maimonides Health President and CEO Ken Gibbs. “We are grateful to have a partner who shares our commitment to working with communities to meet their needs, and we are grateful to Mayor Adams, Governor Hochul, and Dr. Katz for giving us this unique opportunity to expand access to our care across Brooklyn.” 

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NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams andNew York City Health + Hospitals (H+H) CEO Dr. Mitchell H. Katz today announced that culturally diverse plant-based meals are now the primary dinner options for inpatients at H+H/Lincoln, Metropolitan, and Woodhull Hospitals. The dinner program expands on the health care system’s successful plant-based lunch default program — launched in March of this year — which now boasts a 95 percent satisfaction rate.

“When it comes to preventing diet-related chronic disease, there is a growing recognition that it’s not our DNA — it’s our dinner,” said Mayor Adams . “Since January, we have introduced Plant-Powered Fridays into schools, introduced fresh produce into the nation’s only municipal emergency food system, and expanded Plant-Based Lifestyle Medicine Clinics to public hospitals across all five boroughs. Now, we are proud to announce the successful rollout and expansion of default plant-based lunch and dinner options at all H+H sites. This transformative program is already changing lives, empowering patients to take control of their own health and further cementing New York City as a leader in preventive medicine.”

“In the event we or a loved one has to be in the hospital, we should know that the food served will be comforting, tasty, and health promoting,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “Expanding plant-based offerings helps us do just that. Thank you to our food service partners and patient navigators for making this initiative both delicious and successful.”

“As a primary care physician, I speak with all of my patients about the importance of a healthy diet and how it can help fend off or treat chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease,” said NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Mitchell Katz, MD. “Our new meal program is rooted in evidence for health benefits and environmental sustainability, and expands on the success of our Meatless Mondays Program

The below happened in 2022:

Mayor Adams, NYC H+H CEO Katz Announce Successful Rollout and Expansion of Plant-Based Meals as Default Option for Patients in NYC Public Hospitals

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams andNew York City Health + Hospitals (H+H) CEO Dr. Mitchell H. Katz today announced that culturally diverse plant-based meals are now the primary dinner options for inpatients at H+H/Lincoln, Metropolitan, and Woodhull Hospitals. The dinner program expands on the health care system’s successful plant-based lunch default program — launched in March of this year — which now boasts a 95 percent satisfaction rate.

“When it comes to preventing diet-related chronic disease, there is a growing recognition that it’s not our DNA — it’s our dinner,” said Mayor Adams. “Since January, we have introduced Plant-Powered Fridays into schools, introduced fresh produce into the nation’s only municipal emergency food system, and expanded Plant-Based Lifestyle Medicine Clinics to public hospitals across all five boroughs. Now, we are proud to announce the successful rollout and expansion of default plant-based lunch and dinner options at all H+H sites. This transformative program is already changing lives, empowering patients to take control of their own health and further cementing New York City as a leader in preventive medicine.”

“In the event we or a loved one has to be in the hospital, we should know that the food served will be comforting, tasty, and health promoting,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom. “Expanding plant-based offerings helps us do just that. Thank you to our food service partners and patient navigators for making this initiative both delicious and successful.”

“As a primary care physician, I speak with all of my patients about the importance of a healthy diet and how it can help fend off or treat chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease,” said NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Mitchell Katz, MD. “Our new meal program is rooted in evidence for health benefits and environmental sustainability, and expands on the success of our Meatless Mondays Program

Each year, H+H serves about 3 million meals for lunch and dinner. About half of all inpatients are eligible for plant-based dishes, and 60 percent have chosen them since the plant-based default program was launched — contributing to approximately 864,000 plant-based meals per year being served. It also builds on the Meatless Mondays initiative — launched in 2019 — in collaboration with then-Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams.

Patients considered high-risk, those who are prescribed a special diet, or given a referral can meet with one of more than 100 registered H+H dieticians to learn more about the benefits of a plant-based diet. There are 14 new plant-based options with a selection offered each day. The meals are inspired by the flavors of Latin, Asian, and other cuisines that represent the health system’s diverse patient population. Thai noodle bowls, Spanish vegetable paella with yellow rice, and a Southern black-eyed pea casserole are just some of the new, “chef’s choice” options being offered to patients at these three sites. Food Service Associates work with patients on meal choice and selection from the beginning of their stay until they are discharged, and encourage them to choose healthy meals as part of their healing and recovery plan of care.

“Food is medicine, especially in our moments of sickness. Nutritious, healthy food should be available wherever New Yorkers are, but especially in institutions that are meant to restore health,” said  New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan. “It starts with us, and we must lead by example, so this is an important step forward. Congratulations to Health + Hospitals for making nutritious and delicious plant-based foods the default option for patients who are there to heal and to return to health.”

“These new recipes have been taste-tested and approved by many of our patients and staff, and we’re excited for everyone to try them,” said Dr. Michelle McMacken, executive director, Office of Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine, NYC Health + Hospitals . “The new meals are delicious, nutritious, and rooted in communities across New York City, from sancocho to pad thai to falafel.”

“As a registered dietitian I am grateful that plant-based foods are being recognized as essential for the health of New Yorkers and our patients,” said  Mercedes Redwood, MS, RD, assistant vice president for management services, NYC Health + Hospitals. “We have worked closely with our chefs and clinical dietitians to produce a menu that is culturally appropriate, tasty, and sure to enhance our patients dining experience.”

“Across the city, we are striving to make the healthy choice the easier choice,” said Kate MacKenzie, executive director, Mayor’s Office of Food Policy . “As we continue to broaden the administration’s goal of ensuring access to delicious and nutritious meals for all New Yorkers, the implementation and expansion of this program highlight how city facilities can lead on encouraging healthy lifestyle changes.”

Non-plant-based options continue to be available and are offered in accordance with a patient’s prescribed diet . ​

Plant-based nutrition is a style of cooking and eating that emphasizes, but is not necessarily limited to, fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds, plant oils, and herbs and spices, and reflects evidence-based principles of health and sustainability. Scientific research has shown that plant-based eating patterns are linked to significantly lower risk of cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, obesity, and certain cancers. They can also be effective for weight management, as well as treatment of certain chronic diseases, including Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia.

H+H plans to offer plant-based dinner options at all hospitals this fall, and, by year’s end, plans to offer plant-based supplements and tube feeds. The system plans to introduce the plant-based menu options to post-acute care facilities by January.

“The health and well-being of all New Yorkers was strengthened today by the mayor’s announcement of plant-based meals in NYC hospitals, said New York City Councilmember Lynn Schulman , chair, Committee on Health . “As someone who has dedicated my personal and professional life to healthcare advocacy, it is wonderful to see the rollout and expansion of a program to make New Yorkers healthier, especially those who find themselves as patients in our city’s public hospital system.”

“New Yorkers receiving care at our H + H hospitals deserve not only top-notch medical care but access to nutritious food that tastes great, too,” said New York City Councilmember Justin Brannan . “Being in a hospital is hard enough, and the mealtime shouldn’t make it harder. As a vegetarian myself, I’m thrilled that H + H system will be providing culturally sensitive and plant-based meals to their patients around the city. Let’s hope this starts a new trend across the nation.”

“The food on our plate has an impact on our health, and research shows that plant-based diets improve wellbeing,” said  New York City Councilmember Gale A. Brewer . “I applaud Mayor Adams for his continued efforts to get New Yorkers to think more critically about their meals, and for expanding food options in schools and hospitals.”

“I thank Mayor Eric Adams and his administration for working together with NYC Health + Hospitals President & CEO Dr. Katz for the successful implementation of plant-based meal options for NYC hospitals,” said New York City Councilmember Oswald Feliz . “Health and wellness are essential components for the success of our constituents and their families. Providing plant-based meal options will aid in the fight against chronic diseases that has impacted residents in my community as well as help in preventing the onset of new diseases. I believe that a great way to tackle chronic conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease is by combining healthy food options and following the treatment plan of the healthcare provider. Care that incorporates plant-based food options that is not only nutritious, but also delicious will ensure that New Yorkers live longer and healthier lives.”

“All New Yorkers deserve access to healthy, nutritious foods,” said New York City Councilmember Sandy Nurse . “The initiative by Mayor Adams and NYC H+H to expand plant-based meals at our public hospitals is a great way to encourage inpatients to adopt healthy eating habits and improve sustainability in our city’s food systems. We should expand plant-based meal options across public agencies and integrate plant-based meals as a direct diabetes prevention and management strategy everywhere we can.”

“It is no secret that Bronx county has struggled to break a vicious cycle that has earned the borough the title of being New York’s unhealthiest county,” said New York City Councilmember Rafael Salamanca, Jr. “Poor diets caused by limited access to healthy foods has led many Bronxites to suffer from severe health issues such as obesity, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease. As the Adams’ administration works to create and expand healthier food habits and options in the city, I am thrilled NYC Health + Hospitals’ wildly successful plant-based menu at Lincoln Hospital, one of three city hospitals chosen to participate in the plant-based food pilot program, has paved the way for a city-wide rollout. Beyond the obvious health indicators, today’s announcement shows that Bronxites are resoundingly choosing a healthier lifestyle.”

“This is an important step towards food justice and allowing people options. Everyone deserves to have choice in what they put in their body and the decisions they make about their health,” said New York City Councilmember Althea Stevens.

“Diversity in our hospital dietary menus is extremely important, especially for patients with varying needs,” said New York City Councilmember Marjorie Velazquez. “Implementing a plant-based option addresses these health concerns and offers families a chance not to worry about finding suitable meal options for their loved ones. For others, this is a lifestyle they choose as they work towards having a healthier diet that meets their health goals. I am excited to see communities across the city have access to options that meet their dietary needs and reflect the many cultures of New York City.”

“We continue to learn all the ways nutrition plays a critical role in our overall health and how small adjustments can lead to positive long-term outcomes. Mayor Adams and our public health system have been great advocates on this topic, NYC Health + Hospitals in particular weaves nutrition education through their primary and preventative care programs,” said  Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso . “It’s great to know that patients at our public hospitals will have further access to plant-based meals that will encourage them to integrate such recipes in their meals at home.”

Senator Brad Hoylman said  “Plant-based eating is good for the environment, good for animals, and, best of all, good for you. That’s why I sponsored the law that ensures a plant-based meal option in all hospitals for all patients. I’m glad Mayor Adams and Dr. Katz are taking it to the next level by making plant-based eating the default, with new, delicious options to choose from.”

“Providing access to healthy, plant-based meals in NYC Public Hospitals is a wonderful initiative to help support patients’ well-being and offering culturally diverse options allows more communities in our diverse mosaic of a City to benefit,” said Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn . “With increased access to healthy foods, we stand a greater chance of maintaining healthy habits, and I applaud NYC Health and Hospital and thank Mayor Eric Adams’ initiatives to provide more New Yorkers with healthy choices.”

Assemblymember Al Taylor said “Health is wealth and when it comes to healthy living and environmental sustainability, plant-based foods are the future.  I’m thrilled New York City is leading the way once again by expanding plant-based meal options in our public hospitals. Through this program not only will patients have access to tasty, nutritious, culturally diverse plant-based meal options, they will have more tools to take control of their wellbeing while also making a positive impact on our environment.  Thank you to everyone who made this program possible!”

“Not only can plant-based meals offer health and environmental benefits, they also taste great. Making plant-based meal options available for patients in our public hospitals is a welcome step. I hope we will build on this success to encourage more New Yorkers to incorporate plant-based meals into their lifestyles,” said Assemblymember Harvey Epstein. 

Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar said “As someone who has enjoyed the plant-based lifestyle since college, I know its power to make us healthier. A life free of Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and heart disease is achievable. Studies show that a diet high in fruits and vegetables can reduce risk of cardiovascular disease by 30%, cut breast cancer risk by 11%, and is as good as medication at lowering blood pressure. Today, the Mayor is making plant-based meals the default option for patients in our city’s hospitals, which will give them the boost they need for a rapid recovery and encourage a healthy lifestyle when they are discharged. A healthy city is a thriving city, and I look forward to partnering with Mayor Adams on this life-changing program.”

“The American Heart Association recommends that people consume healthy sources of protein derived mostly from plants (legumes and nuts), eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, and choose foods made mostly with whole grains rather than refined grains,” said Rafael Ortiz, M.D., president, American Heart Association Board of Directors in New York City and chief, Neuro-Endovascular Surgery, Lenox Hill Hospital . “These guidelines, while not exclusive to a plant-based diet, clearly illustrate the importance of plant foods to promoting good health.”

“A healthy diet plays an important role in maintaining good health. NYC Health + Hospitals’ transition to plant-based meals demonstrates that the country’s largest public health system is also an innovative leader when it comes to promoting public health and improving patient outcomes,” said New York State Nurses Association First Vice President Judith Cutchin, DNP, RN.

“Good health starts with good nutrition,” said Michael Davoli, senior government relations director, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN).  “Research has shown that poor diet and not being active are key factors that can increase a person’s cancer risk. We are pleased that Mayor Adams and NYC Health + Hospitals are continuing to promote healthy eating and to remove the barriers that are preventing many New Yorkers from living a healthy lifestyle.”

“Increasing the number of healthy plant-based options that patients and staff have to choose from is a clear win-win. Providing culturally diverse options can help patients experience ‘food as medicine’ firsthand and inspire healthy eating habits to take back home to their families,” said Dr. Catherine Collings, president, The American College of Lifestyle Medicine.

“The American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) applauds NYC Health + Hospitals for offering healthful, plant-based meal options to patients in the hospital,” said Sheena Patel, director of nutrition programs, American Institute for Cancer Research. “Diets that put nutrient-rich plant foods first like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, nuts and seeds are one of AICR’s core recommendations to reduce cancer risk and for healthy survivorship. Plant foods provide a variety of vitamins, minerals, fiber and phytochemicals that are known to be cancer protective. We support NYC Health + Hospitals’ efforts to make plant-based foods the star of the plate.”

“NYC Registered Dietitian Nutritionists, and RDNs all across the country, are ecstatic to see plant-based meal options at NYC Health + Hospitals. The hospital setting is the perfect place to offer a healthful, plant-centric eating plan and inspire patients to enjoy foods that nourish and promote health. The diverse flavor offerings will especially encourage inpatients on special diets to meet their needs,” said  Theresa Gentile, MS, RDN, CDN, New York City media spokesperson, New York State Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

NYC H+H Plant Based Dish: Southern Black-eye Pea Casserole with Plant Based Corn Bread topped with Plant Based Shredded Cheese. Image Credit – NYC H+H

NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS/METROPOLITAN HOSTS COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY STUDENTS FOR DISCUSSION ON PUBLIC HEALTH LEADERSHIP

Event connected Metropolitan Hospital’s senior leadership with 40 soon-to-be graduates of the Mailman School of Public Health

Discussion highlighted community-based care, hospital leadership, and public service within the nation’s largest public health care system

Metropolitan Hospital CEO Julian S. John, COO Elsa Cosme, and Hospital Auxiliary President Betsy Mendez-White served as panelists for the Public Health Fireside Chat

New York, NY – December 24, 2025) – NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan announced today that it hosted 40 Master of Public Health students from Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health to connect soon-to-be graduates for a Public Health Fireside Chat with the hospital’s senior leadership. The conversation, facilitated by Metropolitan Hospital’s Chief Executive Officer, Julian S. John, MPA, Chief Operating Officer Elsa Cosme, MBA, and Metropolitan Hospital Auxiliary President Betsy Mendez White, MPH, covered the importance of community-based care, hospital leadership, innovation, and public service within the nation’s largest public health system.

The event provided students with firsthand insight into the role of a safety-net hospital within a larger public health care ecosystem. Metropolitan leadership discussed the daily operational and strategic decisions that shape care delivery, particularly in an under-served community like East Harlem where residents have higher rates of preventable health conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, HIV, certain cancers, as well as lower rates of healthcare access and insurance coverage.

“Exposing students to community-focused care models allows them the opportunity to better understand the realities of localized care and the responsibility we share in improving health outcomes locally and nationally,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan Chief Executive Officer, Julian S. John, MPA. “Public service is a privilege and mentorship is critical. We are happy to offer students the chance to learn from those who have navigated healthcare leadership and offer insights that can help shape their careers.”

“This event allowed Metropolitan to show students firsthand what hospital operations and the journey to leadership truly looks like at the local level, and the lasting impact it can have on patients, communities, and their own careers,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan Chief Operating Officer, Elsa Cosme, MBA.

“Supporting the next generation of public health leaders is central to Metropolitan’s mission, and we are proud to welcome students who are committed to understanding community needs and serving with purpose,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan Hospital Auxiliary President, Betsy Mendez White, MPH.

The discussion also explored what qualities it takes to lead in the health care field: resilience, vision, and heart. Leaders shared their personal journeys, offering students valuable insights into navigating the challenges of today’s healthcare climate. The conversation allowed students the unique opportunity to engage directly with senior hospital leadership, asking questions to inform their careers, including how to best apply their passion for public service in an evolving industry.

As one of New York City’s oldest public hospitals and with a 150-year legacy of empowering the next generation of healthcare leaders, Metropolitan Hospital supports a range of educational programs — including medical residencies, nursing and allied health professional trainings, pre-collegiate and direct to workforce programs, as well as a robust volunteer network — to help develop future healthcare professionals and strengthen local pathways to careers in public service.

Columbia students engaged in a thoughtful discussion on public health leadership, innovation, and the realities of today’s care delivery environment

2025 ACCOMPLISHMENTS AT NYC HEALTH + HOSPITALS:

CONTINUED RECOGNITION FOR HIGH-QUALITY CARE, SECURING HOUSING FOR PATIENTS, AND ELEVATING THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM WORKFORCE

(New York, NY – December 16, 2025) – NYC Health + Hospitals today shared an overview of some its accomplishments for 2025. The health care system continues to win awards for high-quality care, build new spaces and programs, and develop its workforce as part of its commitment to its patients. Over the year the health care system was cited by national and local publications for having outstanding facilities and leaders.

“We took office with a simple promise: to ‘Get Stuff Done,’ and, four years later, our administration can say we delivered that every day for working-class New Yorkers,” said Mayor Adams. “We drove shootings and to record lows and pushed jobs and small businesses to record highs. We rewrote the playbook on homelessness and mental health to finally get New Yorkers living on our streets the help they need, and, after decades of half-measures, passed historic housing legislation to turn New York into a ‘City of Yes.’ We overhauled the way our students learn to read and do math, cut the cost of child care, and forgave medical debt. We eliminated taxes for low-income families, launched free universal after-school programming, and invested in the health care of New Yorkers by establishing new programs like ‘Bridge to Home’ to support patients with severe mental illness, expanding lifestyle medicine programs, making plant-based meals the default choice for lunch and dinner at 11 hospitals, and hiring over 3,400 nurses since 2024 alone. We got scaffolding off our buildings, trash bags off our streets, and opened up new public spaces for New Yorkers to enjoy. The haters may have doubted us, but the results are clear. On issue after issue, we brought common-sense leadership to create a safer, more affordable city, and our work has changed our city for the better; it will stand the test of time because we made New York City the best place to live and raise a family.”

“Every year I am so proud of our providers and staff for the work they do to make NYC Health + Hospitals a better place to receive care and to build a career,” said NYC Health + Hospitals President and CEO Mitchell Katz, MD. “I want to congratulate everyone in our system for another exceptional year.”bh

A list of some of the health care system’s major accomplishments for 2025 is below:

Recognized for Delivering High-Quality Care

• All 11 hospitals were named 2025-2026 Best Hospitals by U.S. News & World Report.

• Newsweek named Gouverneur the #1 nursing home in New York City. The three remaining nursing homes made the top ten, and the last one was #11, out of more than 600 nursing homes in New York State.

• U.S. News & World Report ranked all five nursing homes as “high-performing” in the 2026 Best Nursing Homes list for both the Long-Term Care and Short-Term Rehabilitation.

• The health care system’s Accountable Care Organization earned $7.2 million for reducing avoidable costs and meeting high standards of quality care. NYC Health + Hospitals is the only health system in New York State to achieve savings for twelve years in a row.

• The American Heart Association recognized several sites for high blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol control in primary care, and all 11 hospitals were recognized for quality care for heart disease and stroke in inpatient care, including 5 hospitals that received the new Commitment to Quality award.

• Healthfirst named NYC Health + Hospitals its top provider in 2024 by overall quality rankings.

• US News & World Report ranked Elmhurst, Kings County, Lincoln, South Brooklyn Health, and Woodhull hospitals as High Performing for Uncomplicated Pregnancies for 2025-2026.

• In two years, the health system cut denials for inpatient health insurance claims in half, saving $50 million and earning it the 2024 Richard L. Doyle Award for Innovation and Leadership in Healthcare.

• NYC Health + Hospitals landed on the Epic Honor Roll for the third consecutive year for implementing best practices in its electronic health record, earning it a $748,000 grant.

• Queens Hospital received an ‘A’ Safety Grade from the Leapfrog Group twice in a row. The recognition uses up to 30 performance measures to determine hospitals that maintain a high standard of care and minimize medical errors.

Queens Hospital received an ‘A’ Safety Grade from the Leapfrog Group twice in a row.

• Metropolitan Hospital achieved a central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) rate of zero — one of 338 hospitals nationwide to reach this distinction.

• Jacobi and North Central Bronx hospitals were recognized with a Gage Award honorable mention for quality improvement for reducing decedent holding time after the COVID-19 pandemic from thirteen days to five days.

• Elmhurst, Kings County, Queens, and Woodhull hospitals were named Centers of Excellence in Lung Cancer Screening.

• All five post-acute care facilities were recognized as LGBTQ+ Long-Term Care Equality Leaders, a recognition received by only 11% of nursing homes across the nation.

• Bellevue Hospital was designated an Age-Friendly Health System for the high-quality care they provide to older adult patients.

• Bellevue Hospital was recognized as a Pediatric Innovator, the highest level of recognition given by the Always Ready for Children Pediatric Recognition Program.

Award-Winning Nurse Professionals

• Nurse professional development initiatives have resulted in a nurse turnover rate of just 7.3% in 2025, far below the national average of 16.4%. As recently as 2019, the public hospital system’s staff nurse turnover rate was 46%.

• Metropolitan Hospital was the first health care organization worldwide to receive the Pathway to Excellence with Distinction designation, and Carter was the nation’s first long-term care facility to receive the new award.

• Elmhurst Hospital was recognized as a Center of Excellence in Surgical Safety by the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses.

• Queens Hospital’s Medical-Surgical Unit received the PRISM Award from the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses.

• Metropolitan Hospital’s Adult ICU received a Gold-level Beacon Award for Excellence in Nursing from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses.

• Sixteen nurse leaders were recognized for achieving their doctorate in nursing, an achievement reached by only 2.7% of all Registered Nurses in the United States.

• Bellevue Hospital was named a Center of Excellence in Surgical Safety: Smoke Evacuation by the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) for creating a safe and healthy environment by eliminating surgical smoke, a hazardous byproduct of powered surgical instruments and lasers that poses significant health risks.

Finding Homes for NYC Health + Hospitals’ Patients

• The new $41.5 million 93-unit Woodhull II Residence opened, offering supportive housing for patients experiencing homelessness and affordable housing for low-income New Yorkers.

• The medical respite program, which offers patients experiencing homelessness a place to stay and home-based medical services for up to 90 days after a major health event, added 24 beds to serve 100 more patients each year.

• The Morrisania River Commons housing development, on the campus of NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Morrisania, was approved by the Board of Directors to create 328 units of affordable and supportive housing and an expanded Gotham Health clinic.

Food is Medicine

• Over 2 million plant-based meals have been served to patients since the program began in March 2022. Plant-based eating is linked to significantly lower risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and certain cancers.

• The Lifestyle Medicine Program has provided over 10,000 group visits and served more than 1,300 patients in the past year.

• For Diabetes Awareness Month, two patients shared how the Lifestyle Medicine Program helped them dramatically improve their A1C in a few months.

As the Leading Provider of Behavioral Health, Continued Investment, Innovation

• NYC Health + Hospitals opened Bridge to Home, a new, innovative support model for patients with severe mental illness who are ready to be discharged from the hospital but do not have a place to go. The program offers patients a stable, home-like environment with onsite clinical services and behavioral health care.

• The new $32.2 million Critical Time Intervention teams will serve adults who have had multiple psychiatric hospital or emergency visits within the last year and provide follow-up care for up to nine months.

• The Domestic Violence Shelter Mental Health Initiative, which places NYC Health + Hospitals social workers in the city’s domestic violence shelters, expanded to 41 sites.

• Caring Transitions, a $2.4 million suicide prevention program for youth ages 5-17, is now available at Jacobi, Lincoln, and North Central Bronx hospitals after launching at Elmhurst and Queens hospitals last year. The program offers comprehensive support for up to 90 days after discharge.

• The new $5.1 million Track to Treatment program supports patients in addiction treatment with small rewards for positive behavior, including engagement in addiction care, and long-acting medications for opioid and alcohol use disorder, which last for a week to a month.

• The new Hotspotting program launched at Lincoln Hospital to reduce overdose deaths, nonfatal overdoses, and use of the emergency department. A dedicated team follows up with patients for up to a year after discharge from the hospital and offers them a cell phone and a service contract to help them stay connected to care.

• The health system opened 16 school-based mental health clinics, where NYC Health + Hospitals social workers bring mental health services to more than 6,000 students in New York City Public Schools across the Bronx and Central Brooklyn.

• NYC Health + Hospitals issued a one-year report on its behavioral health initiatives and received $33 million from the State to support behavioral health, adding to the $41 million received last year.

• B-HEARD, the city’s health-led response to 911 mental health calls, will be fully operated by NYC Health + Hospitals by next spring.

• NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, East New York opened a newly renovated behavioral health suite with modernized treatment spaces and a new outdoor wellness courtyard.

• Woodhull Hospital completed a major renovation project within its Psychiatric Unit to improve safety, functionality, and patient care.

Developing and Investing in the Health Care System’s Behavioral Health Workforce

• The Social Work Clinical Licensure Training Program launched to help Licensed Master Social Workers attain their clinical licensure in exchange for a two-year commitment to the health care system.

• The new Behavioral Health Nursing Career Ladder provides staff with educational support and financial assistance to enroll in nursing school in exchange for a three-year commitment to NYC Health + Hospitals.

• Over 100 peers have now graduated from the Peer Academy, which helps them achieve state certification and use their lived experience with mental health or substance use issues to support patients.

Dr. Concepcion Diaz-Arrastia, physician assistants, residents, and surgical techs at Kings County Hospital’s surgical department who performed the first VNOTES hysterectomy in New York State.

Opening New, Innovative Clinical Services and Spaces

• Kings County Hospital completed the first VNOTES hysterectomy in New York State, a minimally invasive technique that offers an array of benefits, including reduced postoperative pain, lower infection risk, quicker recovery, decreased reliance on pain medications, and no visible scarring.

• Elmhurst Hospital successfully treated brain cancer using a non-invasive, highly precise radiation, a first for the health care system. The state-of-the-art treatment – stereotactic radiosurgery – allows patients to go home the same day, a vast improvement from the previous type of treatment that required 5 to 10 days in the hospital.

• Construction began on the a new 22,000-square-foot Gotham Health community health center that will provide comprehensive health care services to residents of Far Rockaway, Queens.

• Woodhull Hospital broke ground on a $20 million labor and birthing suite renovation, part of a $45 million contribution from Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso to support pregnant and postpartum care in Brooklyn.

• NYC Care now covers durable medical equipment, including CPAP machines, diabetes related supplies, mobility devices, and urinary supplies, at low and no-cost to eligible patients.

• Lincoln Hospital launched a bariatric surgery program to address obesity and obesity-related conditions such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and sleep apnea.

• South Brooklyn Health is now a certified Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Center for meeting rigorous standards for stroke care.

• Kings County Hospital received $8 million in city capital funding: $5 million to add two trauma bays to the hospital’s emergency department and $3 million to upgrade its primary care practice.

• Gotham Health now offers radiology at several sites, expanding access to advanced diagnostic imaging, including MRI, CT scans, ultrasounds, X-rays, mammography, and DEXA bone density scans.

• Elmhurst Hospital completed a $450,000 renovation to one of its busiest radiology rooms, which is expected to serve more than 15,000 patients per year.

• Queens Hospital celebrated a new TrueBeam Linear Accelerator, a $5 million investment to enhance cancer care, and a $3.3 million renovation to its Interventional Radiology Suite to expand access to complex, minimally invasive procedures.

• Elmhurst Hospital launched a Women’s Heart Health Institute to address heart disease, the leading cause of death in women.

• The NYC Baby Boxes, which provides families of newborns at four hospitals with boxes that contain postpartum and newborn supplies, will serve 7,000 families a year.

• The Street Health Outreach + Wellness (SHOW) mobile program added point-of-care lab testing, point-of-care ultrasound, and blood draw services to better serve New Yorkers disconnected from care and those experiencing homelessness.

• Elmhurst Hospital enhanced its pediatric specialty care with experts in pediatric hematology and pediatric infectious disease.

• Woodhull Hospital opened a new Minor Surgery Suite, a modern and efficient addition designed to enhance patient access, reduce wait times, and optimize surgical operations across multiple specialties.

• South Brooklyn Health celebrated the new location of the Ida G. Israel Community Health Center, with primary care, family medicine, pediatric, and colorectal services now available at 1607 Surf Avenue.

• Elmhurst Hospital opened a $5 million offsite Business Services Center, housing the hospital’s Finance, Patient Accounts, Grants, and Human Resources departments and freeing up space for patient care at the hospital.

• Coler received a state-of-the-art equipment upgrade from Wheelchair Charities Inc. to expand access to rehabilitative care.

• Gotham Health launched dermatology services for a broad range of skin conditions, including eczema, acne, psoriasis, and skin cancer.

• Elmhurst received $1 million in advanced surgical microscopes, significantly enhancing surgical care across multiple specialties.

• Bellevue Hospital opened its newly renovated grossing room, expanding its capacity to detect tumors, diagnose infections, identify inflammatory conditions, and uncover genetic disorders.

• Woodhull Hospital opened two hospitality rooms to provide a comforting and welcoming space and honoring the cultural and religious preferences of the local community.

• Elmhurst Hospital renovated its Neurology Clinic to include larger exam rooms and a more comfortable environment for both patients and caregivers.

• MetroPlusHealth opened community offices in Brighton Beach and Staten Island, further expanding access to care.

• The free Red Bus on Roosevelt Island now stops at Coler during morning and afternoon rush hours.

• Bellevue Hospital celebrated the 300^th graduate from its Cardiac Rehabilitation and Wellness Program.

Enhancing and Expanding Preventive Care for Patients

• For the first time, 70% of patients in primary care have their type 2 diabetes under control, measured as an A1C below 8.0%.

• The health care system screened nearly 60,000 patients for colorectal cancer in 2024 with an at-home FIT Test, a 12% increase over 2023.

• NYC Health + Hospitals performed nearly 17,000 lung cancer screenings over the last three years. The early detection of lung cancer, which is often asymptomatic in early stages, has proven to dramatically increase survival.

The NYC Care team begins outreach in Staten Island.

Meeting Challenges and Answering the Call to Provide Care

• Over two years, the Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center (HERRC) program served more than 155,000 people; provided temporary shelter to more than 140,000 people, including over 40,000 children; and helped over 90% of eligible adults apply for work authorization.

• NYC Care launched a public awareness campaign on billboards, subways, buses, LinkNYC kiosks, digital, and a truck conducting outreach around the city reminding New Yorkers of their right to health care.

• Over 25,000 low-acuity calls to 911 were redirected to NYC Health + Hospitals’ Virtual ExpressCare since March 2020, preventing over 12,000 unnecessary FDNY ambulance transports to nearby hospitals.

• Queens Hospital successfully discharged Myracle, an infant born at 22 weeks and weighing just 1 pound, 6 ounces. After five months in the NICU, Myracle was able to go home weighing a healthy 8 pounds, 3 ounces.

• After sustaining several gunshot wounds years earlier, Rohmearo McFarlane regained his sight and use of his right hand thanks to the medical team at Jacobi and North Central Bronx hospitals.

• Bellevue Hospital participated in an international preparedness exercise to test the nation’s capability to safely and securely transport patients with highly pathogenic infectious disease from Canada to U.S. regional treatment centers.

• South Brooklyn Health conducted a simulation exercise to practice safely isolating a simulated patient with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and implementing infection control measures for a highly contagious airborne illness.

• The health care system’s Hospital-Based Violence Interruption Programs treated over 3,500 patients for violent trauma, about two thirds of whom also received violence interruption, prevention, and community services.

Connecting NYC Health + Hospitals’ Patients to Social Services

• Over 1,000 medically vulnerable patients received smartphones as they left Rikers Island to help them stay engaged in care, connect with job and housing resources, and stay connected to loved ones upon returning to their communities.

• NYC Financial Empowerment Centers, which provide free one-on-one financial counseling, are now available at 8 sites across NYC Health + Hospitals.

• Several sites hosted free, in-person, and virtual tax preparation services for New Yorkers as part of the city’s NYC Free Tax Prep initiative.

Supporting NYC Health + Hospitals’ Workforce

• NYC Health + Hospitals was named a 2025 Wellbeing First Champion for removing invasive mental health questions from physician applications for medical licensure, credentialing, and insurance.

• The new Harmonizing for Health program for health care providers launched to help combat staff burnout and compassion fatigue.

• Gotham Health opened new wellness rooms for staff at Belvis and Morrisania.

• The Arts in Medicine department and Sing for Hope hosted live concerts for staff, patients, and visitors through the Music for the Soul program.

Using Creativity to Support and Heal NYC Health + Hospitals’ Patients

• The NYC Health + Hospitals podcast The Remedy released seven new episodes, covering community health workers, NYC Care, hospital violence interruption programs, the Arrival Center for all newly arriving asylum seekers, the Street Health Outreach and Wellness (SHOW) program, artificial intelligence, and addiction care.

• NYC Health + Hospitals and RxART debuted a new large-scale installation by Brooklyn-based artist Mickalene Thomas, Freesia on My Mind: The Beauty of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, in the lobby of the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Hospital.

• Abstract expressionist painter Ilya Bolotowsky’s 6-foot-by-21-foot painting Untitled (1973) has a new home in the lobby of Lincoln Hospitals after years in storage thanks to a $70,000 donation by Bloomberg Philanthropies.

• Bellevue Hospital unveiled a new community mural inspired by cyanotypes, one of the earliest photographic processes from the 19th century.

The rooftop solar panel installation at McKinney is the health care system’s largest solar installation to date.

Strengthening NYC Health + Hospitals’ Infrastructure

• NYC Health + Hospitals cut annual anesthesia-related carbon emissions by over 50% – the equivalent of taking approximately 1,100 gas-powered cars off the road.

• A major rooftop solar panel installation at McKinney, the health care system’s largest solar installation to date, will offset approximately 11.5% of the facility’s annual electric use.

• A $5 million stormwater drainage upgrade at Jacobi Hospital will be able to capture more than 5 million gallons of water per year, helping to reduce flooding.

• In one year, the health care system reduced annual operational carbon emissions by nearly 6,000 metric tons and achieved nearly $2.5 million in annual energy cost savings.

• A $37 million energy retrofit at Lincoln Hospital is expected to save nearly $1.5 million annually and reduce emissions by 5,300 metric tons of CO₂ each year — the equivalent of taking approximately 1,150 gas-powered cars off the road.

• NYC Health + Hospitals completed a $30.5 million upgrade to over 2,000 high tech hospital beds with features to reduce bed sores and falls and support nursing staff.

• Upgraded linen management machines will save $3.06 million annually; the first phase of the project reduced linen use by 55% in the health system’s emergency departments.

The rooftop solar panel installation at McKinney is the health care system’s largest solar installation to date.

Celebrating the Health Care System’s Long History of Care

• Several sites recognized round number birthdays: East New York celebrated its 50^th anniversary, Gouverneur celebrated its 140^th anniversary, and Metropolitan Hospital and South Brooklyn Health celebrated their 150^th anniversaries.

• The health system recognized the 5-year anniversary of the Covid pandemic, honoring lives lost and NYC Health + Hospitals’ health care heroes.

• Queens Hospital unveiled the newly renamed Claire Shulman Pavilion in honor of Queens’ first female Borough President, who began her career as a nurse at Queens Hospital in the 1940s and whose advocacy led to critical upgrades to the hospital.

About NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan

NYC Health + Hospitals/Metropolitan is a 338-bed facility serving East Harlem and surrounding communities. Known historically as the primary health care provider in El Barrio, Metropolitan delivers high-quality, compassionate care to over 400,000 clinic visits and more than 60,000 emergency room visits annually. The hospital is a designated Sexual Assault Forensic Examination (SAFE) Center of Excellence and a recognized “Leader in LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality” by the Human Rights Campaign. Since 2021, the hospital has been ranked #1 in New York State for health equity and inclusivity across all categories by the Lown Institute. Metropolitan has earned numerous honors, including the AORN, Beacon, Lantern, and Pathway to Excellence with Distinction awards, and national recognition in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals list. With a legacy spanning 150 years, Metropolitan maintains the nation’s oldest municipal hospital-medical school affiliation through its longstanding partnership with New York Medical College.

https://www.nychealthandhospitals.org/locations/metropolitan

Banner Image: Queens Hospital received an ‘A’ Safety Grade from the Leapfrog Group twice in a row. Image Credit – NYC H+H