NYC Health + Hospitals Appoints New Chief Executive Officer at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst
Jul 07, 2016
Dr. Ram Raju, President and CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals, today announced the appointment of Israel Rocha, Jr. as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NYC Health + Hospitals/ Elmhurst in Queens. Mr. Rocha’s expertise in hospital operations, legislative affairs, and federal and state funding programs will aid the NYC Health + Hospitals Vision 2020 transformation goals toward financial stability and growth.
“Mr. Rocha’s experience working with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment Projects (DSRIP) as well as his knowledge of the workings of the federal government make him an important addition to our team as we confront policy shifts in Washington and work toward building more support for our essential public health care system,” said Dr. Raju.
Mr. Rocha was the Chief Executive Officer of Doctors Hospital at Renaissance (DHR) in Edinburg, Texas, a 513-bed facility which is comparable to Elmhurst’s size with 545 beds. While at DHR he led key initiatives that helped the hospital transition from a general acute care hospital into a comprehensive medical and teaching center. Prior to becoming CEO, Rocha served as the Government, Public and Corporate Affairs Officer at DHR. He also worked for 10 years at the U.S. House of Representatives.
Rocha is a South Texas native who graduated from Columbia University.
“I am so excited to be back in New York City where I first prepared for my career and to join NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst during a time of positive transformation in the public health care system,” said Rocha. “While we are facing challenges, the opportunities to better serve this very diverse neighborhood and provide the best possible patient experience is energizing. I hope to lend my expertise in building support for the important mission we serve and making community connections to grow our reach and spread wellness.”
During Rocha’s tenure at Doctors Hospital at Renaissance he led his team to successfully secure over $160 million in funding from CMS and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission through the DSRIP program. Funded programs included: the development of four residency programs, transitional care clinics geared at reducing 30-day readmissions, care clinics for indigent and uninsured individuals, diabetic prevention education programs, the development of a Maternal Fetal Medicine program and creation of a robust partial hospitalization program to meet behavioral health needs.
“Mr. Rocha is an impressive advocate and leader in the health care field who will bring new ideas to our transformation from a hospital-centric system to an ambulatory, outpatient-centric system,” said Richard Gannotta, Senior Vice President of Hospitals.
Contact: Press Office, 212-788-3339
About NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst
NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, part of the NYC Health + Hospitals health care system, is the major tertiary care provider in the borough of Queens. The hospital is comprised of 545 beds and is a Level 1 Trauma Center, an Emergency Heart Care Station and a 911-Receiving Hospital. It is a premiere health care organization for key areas such as Surgery, Cardiology, Women’s Health, Pediatrics, Rehabilitation Medicine, and Renal and Mental Health Services. Last year, the hospital received close to 700,000 ambulatory care visits and over 130,000 Emergency Room visits.
About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest public health care system in the nation with a network of 11 hospitals including six regional trauma centers, community-based health centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, and a correctional health services unit. The system includes a home care agency and a health plan, MetroPlusHealth. The health system provides essential services to 1.2 million New Yorkers every year in more than 70 locations across the five boroughs. Its diverse workforce of more than 42,000 employees are uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. Visit nychealthandhospitals.organd stay connected: https://www.facebook.com/NYCHealthSystem or Twitter@NYCHealthSystem.