14 THE QUEENS COURIER • MAY 21, 2020 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT WWW.QNS.COM
сoronavirus
Northwell Health discharges 10,000th COVID-19 patient
BY CLAUDE SOLNIK
Long Island Press
Amid the ongoing coronavirus crisis
as offi cials and individuals grapple with
consequences and concerns and push for
progress, Northwell Health announced a
hopeful number, recently discharging its
10,000th coronavirus patient.
Th e New Hyde Park-based hospital system
discharged the patient with a celebration,
amid masked healthcare workers
holding signs with rainbows and messages.
One sign said “We Luv U” and another
said “Here comes the sun” near a picture
of the sun and a rainbow sharing
one space, as healthcare workers showed
appreciation to patients for their struggle
— even as many others show support for
healthcare workers.
“Based on the data we’ve seen,
Northwell has treated more COVID-19
patients than any other health system in
the nation,” Northwell President CEO
Michael Dowling said in a written statement.
“Crossing the threshold of 10,000
discharges represents a positive moment
in this ongoing fi ght.”
Th e celebration was reassuring at
Northern Westchester Hospital in Mt.
Kisco, one of 23 run by Northwell, mixing
relief, a sense of rebirth, and a reminder
that, amid tragedy and loss, there are triumphs
as well.
And it was an opportunity to celebrate
success and reinvigorate healthcare
staff as well as celebrate an individual
patient’s journey out of the hospital.
Northwell has cared for nearly 13,000
patients on Long Island, in New York City,
and Westchester, nearly 20 percent of all
Courtesy of Northwell Health
COVID-19 patients hospitalized in New
York state, according to the system.
And it has treated more than 41,000
COVID-19 patients including those seen
in emergency departments, 52 Northwell
Health-GoHealth Urgent Care centers
and physician offi ces.
Th e healthcare system conducted about
52,000 telehealth visits as the Food and
Drug Administration loosened regulations,
allowing telemedicine to become a
key tool amid the COVID-19 crisis.
Northwell hospitals added nearly 2,000
additional beds in less than two weeks
aft er Gov. Andrew Cuomo called for hospitals
to expand, increasing its hospital
capacity by about 50 percent.
Th e system also oversaw clinical operations
at the 1,000-bed fi eld hospital
staff ed by Army clinicians at the Javits
Convention Center in Manhattan and the
1,000-bed USNS Comfort Navy hospital
ship that docked at Pier 90 in Manhattan.
While this ritual marked a hopeful
milestone, the battle and the struggles
continue for many patients and healthcare
providers.
Northwell Health at the time of the
release of the 10,000th patient a few days
ago was providing care for 1,203 hospitalized
COVID-19 patients, a still large
number, but down 65 percent from the
peak of 3,425 on April 7.
Northwell Health is the state’s largest
health care provider and private employer,
with 23 hospitals, nearly 800 outpatient
facilities and more than 14,200 affi liated
physicians.
Th e system cares for more than 2 million
people annually and employs 72,000,
including more than 17,000 nurses and
4,500 physicians.
Mayor applauds medical staff at Queens Hospital Center in Jamaica
BY QNS STAFF
Mayor Bill de Blasio and First Lady
Chirlane McCray visited NYC Health +
Hospitals/Queens in Jamaica on Friday,
May 15, to applaud and thank medical
staff .
“If you’re looking for heroes,
look no further than the team at @
NYCHealthSystem-Queens in Jamaica,”
the mayor wrote on Twitter.
“Th ank you to every single one of
our frontline health care workers
for all you do. Th ank you for saving
lives. #ClapBecauseWeCare.”
McCray tweeted a similar
message.
“To all of our
#HealthcareHeroes: You are central
to our lives,” the fi rst lady
said. “Th ank you for
working night and
day to take care of
New Yorkers. We
honor you as true
heroes and will
never forget.”
Photos by Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Offi ce
/WWW.QNS.COM
