Project Will Create New Level 1 Trauma Center, Two New Critical Care Units with 22 ICU Beds
Funding Awarded Through the Statewide Health Care Facility Transformation Program IV
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the groundbreaking of the $150 million Jamaica Hospital Emergency Department expansion and modernization project. The project will build a new state-of-the-art emergency department, creating the only Level 1 trauma center in the area and adding two new critical care units with 22 new ICU beds. The funding was awarded through the Statewide Health Care Facility Transformation Program IV. Governor Hochul made the announcement at a groundbreaking ceremony this morning alongside Jamaica Hospital leadership, elected officials and local community leaders.
“For too long, underserved communities like the ones Jamaica Hospital tends to were neglected, and the State failed to deliver the resources and support they need,” Governor Hochul said. “As Governor, my administration is committed to righting the wrongs of the past, prioritizing health equity and working to strengthen health care systems across the state. Thanks to a $150 million State investment, the new state-of-the-art facility will help dramatically improve emergency care in this community and provide Jamaica residents the top-rate care they deserve.”
The original Jamaica Hospital Emergency Department was designed to handle 60,000 patients annually, however currently serves closer to 120,000 patients per year, not factoring in the increased visits it experienced at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. After almost a decade of planning, the expansion and modernization project was able to move forward after Jamaica Hospital was awarded $150 million through Statewide IV. The project will construct a new 48,534 square foot facility on an adjacent property now being used as a parking lot for physicians.
Among the 13 Level 1 Trauma Centers in New York City, this project will enable Jamaica Hospital to build an expanded and modernized emergency department to adequately meet the community's needs.
New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said, “I want to thank Governor Hochul for her support of the Jamaica Hospital Emergency Department expansion project and her strong commitment to underserved communities. This project is a prime example of putting resources behind our mission at the State Health Department, which includes eliminating health disparities, improving emergency care and expanding overall access to quality health care.”
Representative Gregory Meeks said, “This is a huge win for health care providers and especially for Jamaica residents. Life-saving equipment and technology will be accessible for doctors, nurses and other first responders to deliver vital health care services to some of our most vulnerable populations. This cutting-edge emergency department is a welcomed addition to our community, and I commend the Hochul Administration for securing the funding to make it a reality.”
State Senator Joseph P. Addabbo, Jr. said, “Today was a historic day for Jamaica Hospital as they broke ground on a state-of-the-art new emergency room. Now this institution can provide even better-quality healthcare and services for the community. I have always appreciated the great work conducted by Jamaica Hospital and its staff, and I was proud to be able to attend the ceremony and celebrate with them. I have witnessed hospitals close and health facilities regress, but not Jamaica Hospiital. It has always found a way to progress and expand in an effort to assist those in need. I want to thank Governor Kathy Hochul for allocating the funds to make this advancement possible and to my fellow local representatives in government for their collective support.”
Assemblymember David Weprin said, "As the Chair of the Assembly Committee on Insurance, I've advocated for increased funding for safety net hospitals like Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. This $150 million investment will go a long way towards serving the Queens community. The COVID19 pandemic demonstrated just how essential our healthcare heroes are, and they should be working in a state-of-the-art facility. The expansion and renovation of the Emergency and Trauma departments will improve healthcare equity in my district. I'm grateful to Governor Hochul for her leadership and direction in bringing necessary advancements to improve the lives and healthcare outcomes of so many Queens residents."
As Governor, my administration is committed to righting the wrongs of the past, prioritizing health equity and working to strengthen health care systems across the state."
Councilmember Lynn Schulman said, “COVID-19 was the biggest healthcare crisis of our lifetimes, and Queens was the epicenter of the virus because of a lack of hospital capacity. As a long-time advocate of increased hospital capacity, today’s $150 million grant from the State to build a new Emergency Department at Jamaica Hospital is long overdue and much appreciated, said Lynn Schulman, Council Member and Chair of the NYC Council Health Committee. Thank you to Governor Hochul for your leadership in ensuring every day New Yorkers have access to emergency medical care when they need it.”
Councilmember Joann Ariola said, “Jamaica Hospital is a premier trauma center, and the only trauma center in the Southeast Queens area near JFK airport. Their emergency department has been steadily growing over-utilized – a problem made even worse by a number of hospital closures in the area in recent years. The expansions and upgrades that this project will provide are desperately needed and will go a long way towards improving the quality of care that Queens residents receive. As someone who has worked very closely with Jamaica Hospital in the past, I have seen first-hand how hard the staff there works, and with these new amenities at their disposal I am confident that we will be seeing even greater things from these dedicated professionals – great things which will lead to a brighter future for everyone in the borough and beyond.”
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards said, “This historic $150 million investment is nothing short of monumental for Southeast Queens and The World’s Borough as a whole. Not only will this funding build a new, state-of-the-art emergency department at Jamaica Hospital that will better serve families that rely on the medical center for critical care, it will save lives, help reverse decades of disparities and tell Southeast Queens residents that they matter,” said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. “We couldn’t be more grateful to Governor Hochul for her commitment to Jamaica Hospital, its healthcare heroes who serve with selflessness and the families of Southeast Queens. We’re one massive step closer to true equity in our healthcare system.”
Jamaica Hospital President and CEO Bruce J. Flanz said, “We thank Governor Hochul for supporting and investing in New York Hospitals. Her commitment to building a strong and equitable healthcare system will undoubtedly help our organization and others to provide the highest quality care to the communities we serve.”
The Statewide Health Care Facility Transformation Program is aimed at supporting efforts to reduce health care costs and improve the health outcomes of New Yorkers by expanding access to inpatient, primary, preventative, and other ambulatory care services as part of regionally integrated health care delivery systems. These awards are also focused on projects which will help ensure the financial sustainability of safety net health care providers, and the preservation or expansion of essential health care services. Statewide IV was established in the FY2023 Budget and authorized up to $200 million for emergency department modernizations of regional significance.
Strong Memorial Hospital, the safety-net hospital for the Finger Lakes' most vulnerable residents, was awarded $50 million from Statewide IV. The 55,000-square-foot facility receives more than 100,000 emergency department visitors annually. The expansion project will roughly triple the size of the emergency department, thereby improve health equity in the Finger Lakes region. The expansion will help to ease overcrowding situations and reduce wait times for admission to hospital.
To receive funding, hospitals needed to demonstrate how the proposed project will strengthen and protect continued access to health care services in communities.
Only Level 1 Trauma Centers serving a high percentage of Medicaid patients were eligible to apply. Level 1 Trauma Centers provide the highest level of trauma care to critically ill or injured patients.
The Department of Health will award another $950 million through additional phases of Statewide IV. The FY 2024 Budget also includes $1 billion in additional funding to establish Statewide V.