NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst Recognized as Antimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence
Designation from the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) highlights hospital’s strong commitment to improving patient outcomes
May 22, 2026
Elmhurst, NY — NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst has been designated as an Antimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), recognizing the hospital’s demonstrated commitment to advancing responsible antimicrobial use and improving patient care outcomes. The prestigious designation is awarded to healthcare institutions that demonstrate excellence in antimicrobial stewardship practices, strong institutional leadership support, and a sustained commitment to combating antimicrobial resistance. According to the organization, each year, more than 700,000 people die due to antimicrobial-resistant infections. Only about 200 hospitals worldwide have been recognized as an Antimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence.
“This designation reflects the work of an extraordinary group of dedicated clinicians working closely together to ensure that our patients receive the highest level of care,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst CEO Alina Moran. “Achieving recognition as an IDSA Antimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence required collaboration between our physicians, pharmacists, nurses, infection prevention specialists, microbiology teams, and hospital leadership. This team-based approach is especially critical to improving patient outcomes, advancing health equity, and preserving the effectiveness of lifesaving treatments for our community.”
“Responsible antimicrobial use is a critical component of clinical excellence and patient safety,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst Chief Medical Officer Dr. Laura Iavicoli. “This designation recognizes the extraordinary collaboration between our clinical, pharmacy, microbiology, infection prevention, and information technology teams in advancing diagnostic and antimicrobial stewardship across our institution.”
“Antimicrobial resistance is recognized as a major global health threat and directly affects the communities we serve,” said NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst Chief of Infectious Diseases Dr. Maurice Policar. “Antimicrobial stewardship helps to minimize the impact of resistance and protects our patients. This designation highlights our commitment to successfully implementing a responsible antimicrobial stewardship program.”
Antimicrobial stewardship programs are designed to optimize the use of antibiotics and other antimicrobial medications, helping to reduce drug resistance, improve patient outcomes, decrease unnecessary medication exposure, and lower healthcare costs. The IDSA Antimicrobial Stewardship Center of Excellence program recognizes institutions that have created stewardship programs supported by hospital leadership and integrated throughout patient care operations.
For more information on programs and services at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, please call 718-334-4000 for visit us at nychealthandhospitals.org.
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Media Contact:Atiya Butler, Director of External Affairs, NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, 917-319-5167, butlerat@nychhc.org
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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 545-bed hospital is a Level 1 Trauma Center, an Emergency Heart Care Station, a Thrombectomy-Capable Stroke Receiving Center, a Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) Center of Excellence, and a 911-Receiving Hospital. It is a premiere health care institution offering exceptional services across a wide range of specialties, including surgery, cardiology, women’s health, pediatrics, rehabilitation medicine, renal services, and mental health care. In the past year alone, the hospital received nearly one million ambulatory care visits and over 140,000 emergency room visits, reflecting its essential role in the community. NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst has been nationally ranked and recognized as a “Best Regional Hospital” by U.S. News & World Report in critical areas such as Heart Failure, Heart Attack, Stroke, Hip Fracture, Maternity, Kidney Failure, Orthopedics, Pneumonia, and COPD.
About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city’s five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system’s trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlusHealth—all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 46,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.