Fort Greene

Brooklyn Hospital Center to double size of Emergency Department

Gala to raise funds

May 27, 2014 By Mary Frost Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Dr. Becker Brooklyn Hospital Center
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The Brooklyn Hospital Center (BHC) announced last Thursday that it plans to use funds raised from its Foundation’s annual gala to renovate and increase the size of the hospital’s emergency department.

Renovation plans include doubling the current size of the ED, expanding pediatric services and improving patient care areas.

According to the state Department of Health, BHC’s Emergency Department handled 22,000 patients during the first four months of 2014, up 1,841 from the same period last year.

The State University of New York (SUNY Downstate) ceased services at Long Island College Hospital (LICH) in Cobble Hill over the past year, causing ER backups across Brooklyn. During the first four months of 2014, LICH’s Emergency Department usage decreased by 10,324 total visits as compared to the first four months of 2013.

“The future of the borough and our ability to keep Brooklyn healthy are contingent upon the quality of Brooklyn’s healthcare and infrastructure,” Dr. Richard Becker, The Brooklyn Hospital Center’s president and CEO, said in a statement.

DOH statistics do not indicate where patients in LICH’s catchment area – neighborhoods from Red Hook to Williamsburg — were ultimately treated. A health needs survey of northwestern Brooklyn has not yet been carried out.

This survey is part of a deal being negotiated between SUNY and developer Don Peebles, who has agreed to operate a walk-in ER at the LICH site. Treatment of minor health care issues is ongoing. Ambulance service for less serious cases is set to start up in July, but critically injured or seriously ill patients will still be required to travel to another ER, the closest being BHC, followed by New York Methodist. According to New York Methodist, their Emergency Department saw an increase of 1,330 during the first four months of 2014.

Gala to feature Monopoly-style Game

A BHC spokesperson said the June 10 gala at the Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge involves a life-sized Monopoly-style game show being hosted by television personality and Williamsburg resident Pat Kiernan. The dance-floor game will include options to “purchase” local real estate and brand monuments. Each guest will leave the gala with a boxed game set ready to play at home.

Foundation honorees at the event will include Bruce E. Mosler, chairman of Global Brokerage at Cushman & Wakefield (2014 Founders Medalist), and Dr. Patrick E. Leblanc, director of Neonatology at The Brooklyn Hospital Center (Foundation’s Walter E. Reed Medal).

“Mr. Mosler and Dr. Leblanc exemplify this synergy and we are proud to honor their accomplishments in volunteerism, philanthropy and service to the community,” Dr. Becker said.

“The support we are receiving for this event will go right back into serving Brooklyn residents with quality healthcare services,” he continued. “We look forward to Pat Kiernan helping make this a truly one-of-a-kind philanthropic event that will have a direct impact on the health of Brooklyn families who rely on our comprehensive primary and specialty care services.”       

Ofer Cohen, founder and president of TerraCRG, will serve as event chair. Honorary chairs include Robert B. Catell, chairman, Advanced Energy Center at SUNY Stony Brook, former chairman and CEO of Keyspan, and former chairman, National Grid USA; and Brett Yormark, CEO of the Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center. Founders Ball chairs include Dino Veronese of Fiduciary Trust Company International; Bernard Drayton of Last Minute Entertainment; and Maria Florini Ramirez of MFR Inc.

For information on the Founders Ball please contact Deborah Niederhoffer, at (718) 250-8599, [email protected], or visit www.tbh.org/foundersball.

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