Elmhurst, Queens – New York City Council Member Shekar Krishnan, joined by Council Members Lee, Schulman, and Narcisse, announced a groundbreaking $17.5 million investment in Elmhurst Hospital, marking a significant milestone in enhancing healthcare services in our community. These funds will be allocated to various critical projects aimed at improving the hospital’s facilities and services.

The $17.5 million allocation includes funding for several vital initiatives, each designed to elevate the level of care and service provided by Elmhurst Hospital:

  • Pediatric Adult Emergency Room Upgrade ($180,000) 
  • Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Relocation ($5,787,000)
  • New Surgical Subspecialty Suite ($2,000,000)
  • MRI Suite Expansion ($4,500,000) 
  • Mother Baby Lab Creation ($3,000,000) 
  • Elmhurst Cardiac Catheterization (CATH) Lab Upgrades ($2,000,000)

Elmhurst Hospital, part of the NYC Health + Hospitals public system, is the second oldest municipal hospital in New York City. Recently, Elmhurst was ranked by US News & World Report as a High Performing Hospital in 6 areas: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Heart Failure, Kidney Failure, Orthopedics, Pneumonia, and Heart Attack. The hospital has 545 beds in operation, sees more than 1 million visits each year, and delivered more than 4,000 babies in 2022.

“Elmhurst Hospital is the beating heart of Western Queens. It cares for us when we need it the most, and saw us through the worst of the pandemic. As we recover and rebuild more equitably, this $17.5 million in NYC Council funding is part of how we provide all New Yorkers the quality healthcare we deserve. Thank you to all my colleagues in the NYC Council for fighting alongside me for our public hospital system,” said Council Member Shekar Krishnan, District 25, representing Jackson Heights and Elmhurst.

“Our public health infrastructure is deeply connected to the overall welfare of our communities. As we continue to prioritize the health of our neighbors across the borough, I am proud to join Council Member Shekar Krishnan to announce landmark funding towards Elmhurst Hospital,” said Council Member Linda Lee, co-chair of the Queens Delegation, and Chair of the Committee on Mental Health, Disabilities, and Diseases. “The realities of the pandemic stressed our healthcare system to levels that our city had never seen, and we must ensure that we are prepared to offer quality and accessible care to the communities that are most severely impacted. Thank you to Council Member Krishnan and my Queens Delegation Colleagues for your leadership and continued partnership that will benefit Queens residents.”

“Healthcare is a human right that requires access to affordable medical care and state-of-the-art equipment,” said Council Member Lynn Schulman, Chair of the Health Committee.  “That is why I am so excited to join local Council Member Shekar Krishnan and my Queens Colleagues to announce $17.5 million in funding for a new surgical suite at Elmhurst Hospital Center, that will enable patients to receive advanced care. Thank you to NYC Council Speaker Adrienne Adams for making this funding possible and for her  commitment to our city’s public hospital system.”

“As both a nurse and the Chair of the Hospitals Committee, I understand the critical importance of accessible and high-quality healthcare in our communities. Today’s announcement of over $17.5 million in funding for Elmhurst Hospital is a landmark moment for our city and a testament to our unwavering commitment to healthcare equity. I’d like to extend my heartfelt thanks to my colleague, Councilman Shekar Krishnan, for his tireless advocacy on behalf of hospitals in his district and his dedication to improving healthcare access for all New Yorkers. Together, we are taking a significant step toward ensuring that all New Yorkers have the care they deserve,” said Council Member Mercedes Narcisse, Chair of the Committee on Hospitals. 

“As the Queens Delegation Co-Chair, I am immensely proud to have played a role in championing this groundbreaking $17.5 million investment in Elmhurst Hospital. This significant allocation symbolizes our collective dedication to improving healthcare services in our community. These funds will fuel essential projects, elevating the standards of care and service at Elmhurst Hospital. Together, with unwavering commitment, we are taking significant strides toward a healthier, more resilient future for our residents. This funding isn’t just about supporting a medical institution; it’s an investment in the well-being and vitality of our neighbors. We are actively shaping a future where every community member can access top-notch healthcare, fostering a better, healthier, and more vibrant Queens for all,” said Council Member Nantasha Williams, Co-Chair of the Queens Delegation.  

“We want to say a huge thank you to Council Members Krishnan, Moya, Schulman and Lee, Council Member Narcisse, and the entire Queens City Council Delegation for their amazing capital investment of over $17.5 Million in our hospital,” said Dr. Helen Arteaga-Landaverde, CEO, NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst. “The funding the Council has allocated to renovate our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, our Mother-Baby Unit, and Cardiac Catherization Lab, as well as enhance our MRI and Surgical Sub-Specialties Suites and provide an additional portable x-ray machine in our busy Emergency Department, will greatly enhance our ability to care for our patients and expand services in our growing community. Mil gracias!”