Woodhull Opens New Patient-Centered Primary Care Center for Mental Health Patients
New Center for Integrated Health Will Be a One-Stop Shop for Adult Psychiatry Patients, Connecting Them to Primary Medical Care and Improving Their Overall Health
Nov 28, 2011
Woodhull Hospital today announced the opening of a new Center for Integrated Health. The new center is designed to expand the coordination of patient care by providing both mental and physical health needs to Woodhull’s psychiatry patients in one setting. George M. Proctor, Senior Vice President of the North and Central Brooklyn Health Networks was joined at the press conference by the office of Brooklyn Borough President, Marty Markowitz.
“Our psychiatry patients will now be able to access an array of medical and behavioral health services through this integrated patient-centered primary care model. Our goal is to enhance the overall health of our psychiatry patients who often are unable to avail themselves of primary care services for their physical medical needs,” said George M. Proctor, Senior Vice President of the North and Central Brooklyn Health Networks, Executive Director of Woodhull Medical Center.
Among the services that will be offered are screenings for chronic conditions including diabetes, hypertension, HIV testing, and cardiac and respiratory disease. According to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, adults with serious mental illness die 15 to 25 years earlier than the general population. In addition, chronic health conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease can account for as much as 60% of these deaths. These patients are also at higher risk for infectious diseases including Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS.
“Our psychiatry patients have varying and complex healthcare needs. The Center for Integrated Health is designed to help our patients with all of the issues that can affect their health and quality of life and ensure they receive the best quality care in an efficient and customer friendly environment,” said Dr. Leonel Urcuyo, Chief of Psychiatry at Woodhull Medical Center.
“I feel like the doctor has changed my life. I am getting much more attention and care and am thankful that the Woodhull staff cares about both my physical and mental health needs, said Catherine Little, a Woodhull patient. “I am thankful for everything they do.” The Center was made possible through a generous funding allocation of $250,000 from Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, which paid for renovation of the space and medical equipment to outfit the practice.
“I was proud to support the Center for Integrated Health at Woodhull Medical Center. The Center will serve the neediest patients in an area of Brooklyn where top notch, affordable medical care is at a premium,” said Marty Markowitz, Brooklyn Borough President. “Woodhull’s expanded capacity for coordinated care is something Brooklynites can be thankful for this holiday season.”
The hours of the new Center will be Monday to Friday, from 9:00AM to 5:00PM. It is expected to serve 1600 patients annually.
About Woodhull Medical Center
Woodhull Medical Center is a 394-bed acute care hospital in Brooklyn, serving the neighborhoods of Williamsburg, Bushwick, Greenpoint, Fort Greene, and Bedford-Stuyvesant. Woodhull offers culturally competent, sensitive care, and translation services in multiple languages. It serves as the anchor for the North Brooklyn Health Network, encompassing 15 community-based health centers including Cumberland Diagnostic & Treatment Center, and is a member of The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC), the largest municipal hospital and health care system in the country. Woodhull also is affiliated with the New York University School of Medicine.
About HHC
The New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) is a $6.7 billion integrated healthcare delivery system with its own 420,000 member health plan, MetroPlusHealth, and is the largest municipal healthcare organization in the country. HHC serves 1.4 million New Yorkers every year and more than 475,000 are uninsured. HHC provides medical, mental health and substance abuse services through its 11 acute care hospitals, five skilled nursing facilities, six large diagnostic and treatment centers and more than 70 community based clinics. HHC Health and Home Care also provides in-home services for New Yorkers. HHC was the 2008 recipient of the National Quality Forum and The Joint Commission’s John M. Eisenberg Award for Innovation in Patient Safety and Quality. For more information, visit www.nychhc.org/hhc or find us on facebook.com/NYCHealthSystem or twitter.com/NYCHealthSystem.