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Mayor de Blasio Cuts Ribbon on Staten Island's New NYC Health + Hospitals Community Health Center Expanding Access to Primary Care

July 26, 2018

New $28 million health center will serve 15,000 children and adults annually, reflecting commitment to community-based primary care in underserved communities

STATEN ISLAND—Mayor Bill de Blasio today marked the opening of a new $28 million NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health community health center on Staten Island, the organization’s first full service ambulatory center in this borough. NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Vanderbilt will expand access to primary care for children and adults, mental health counseling and referrals, and opioid treatment. The opening of the modern, 18,000-square-foot health center meets one of the core strategies of the public health system’s transformation agenda outlined in the Mayor’s 2016 report “One New York: Health Care for Our Neighborhoods.”

NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Vanderbilt is expected to serve more than 4,500 patients this year—growing to 15,000 patients and 40,000 annual visits by 2020—and help reduce the reliance on overcrowded emergency rooms and prevent avoidable hospitalizations. Located at 165 Vanderbilt Avenue, the new community health center will offer comprehensive primary care by a team of physicians, nurses, social workers, and other health care professionals, with a focus on the medical needs of neighborhood residents.

“New Yorkers shouldn't have to leave their borough to regularly see their doctor,” said Mayor de Blasio. “This new center will help Staten Island's North Shore residents receive the treatment they deserve for their most pressing health care needs.”

“As the opioid crisis ravages families and communities across our city, health care centers like Vanderbilt are urgently needed,” said First Lady Chirlane McCray, who leads the City’s mental health and substance misuse efforts. “With all of these services in one place, Vanderbilt is modeling the future of health care, and Staten Islanders will take pride in it for decades to come.”
“Having healthy New Yorkers and closing health disparities requires expanding access to primary care physicians, who can make sure people are getting the treatment they need to manage chronic conditions,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Dr. Herminia Palacio. “With the opening of Vanderbilt, we are helping bring those resources to the North Shore community, focusing in particular on treating the illnesses that are most prevalent here so we can achieve our goal of making all New Yorkers healthier.”

“Expanding ambulatory care, especially primary care, is the right way to address community health needs, and it is also a central element of our transformation into a financially stable health care system,” said Dr. Mitchell Katz, President and Chief Executive Officer of NYC Health + Hospitals. “We are pleased to offer the residents of Staten Island high-quality care in this beautiful, modern facility. This represents an important extension of our presence on Staten Island, which includes our health plan, MetroPlus, our top-ranked skilled nursing facility, NYC Health + Hospitals/Sea View, and our home care services.”

The health center is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, and from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays. NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Vanderbilt has same- and next-day primary care appointments available for children and adult and its staff speaks multiple languages, including English, Spanish, Chinese, and Russian.

Clinical services offered include:

  • Pediatrics and adolescent care
  • Immunizations
  • Women’s health, OB/GYN
  • Prenatal care and post-partum services
  • Family planning
  • Mental health screening, counseling and referrals
  • Opioid treatment
  • Asthma care
  • Diabetes care
  • Radiology (x-ray, ultrasound, and mammography)
  • Podiatry

Optometry services will be added in August, and by the end of this year, the health center will also offer walk-in services for children and adults, from 1 to 9 p.m., 7 days a week. These services will address non-emergency situations, including colds, coughs, fevers, pain, and non-emergent asthma concerns.

Funding for the construction of NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Vanderbilt was provided by New York City’s Primary Care Expansion Initiative ($20 million) and by the New York City Council ($8 million). MJCL Architects created the architectural plans, and Axis Construction served as general contractor for the modular construction project.

“One of our focuses since we got to Borough Hall has been encouraging Staten Islanders to take control of their health. This new center will provide essential healthcare services to the North Shore. I encourage Staten Islanders to take advantage of this new facility and look forward to the expanded presence of Health + Hospitals in our borough,” said Borough President Jimmy Oddo.

“As Chair of the City Council's Committee on Hospitals, I am pleased to see NYC Health + Hospitals’ first full service ambulatory center finally open on Staten Island and bring new community and primary care options to a borough that faces a number of unique health challenges. As H+H continues its health care transformation, it's important that New Yorkers can continue to access the city's public health network directly in their communities, and I look forward to working with the Health + Hospitals to accomplish that goal,” said Council Member Carlina Rivera, Chair of the Council's Committee on Hospitals.

“Staten Islanders can look forward to a center that will provide excellent care to a community that has a real need for its services in its own backyard,” said Council Minority Leader Steven Matteo. “I believe this new facility will go a long way in improving the health and wellness of all those that come through its doors.”

"The North Shore of Staten Island deserves all the additional resources it can get to alleviate the burden at RUMC; this new community health center will do just that," said Senator Diane Savino. "Expanding healthcare options for our residents is a step in the right direction to address the community's needs."

“Getting our fair share of Health + Hospitals resources has always been a battle for Staten Island. With our borough's population on the rise, this ambulatory center is needed more than ever to complement our two hospitals and provide a wide array of needed medical services including primary care, mental health and opioid treatment,” said Assembly Member Nicole Malliotakis.

“The opening of this facility comes at a crucial time. As we see our hospitals at or over capacity, the Vanderbilt Avenue facility will bring reprieve to an overcrowded system. The expansion of primary and ambulatory care, alongside clinical services, will give Staten Islanders the opportunity to receive the medical attention they need. I want to thank the Mayor, Borough President James Oddo, Minority Leader Steve Matteo, and City Councilman Joe Borelli for securing the necessary funds for this project,” said Assembly Member Ron Castorina.

Please visit nychealthandhospitals.org/vanderbilt for additional information. To make an appointment, please call 1-844-NYC-4NYC (1-844-692-4692).

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