Gov. Hochul introduced a $140 million funding within the 160-year-old SBH Well being System on Jan. 30, 2025.
Photograph Emily Swanson
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On Thursday, Gov. Kathy Hochul introduced a “transformational” $140 million funding in SBH Well being System (previously referred to as St. Barnabas Hospital), which is able to improve emergency division capability, improve gear and increase neighborhood well being partnerships on the 160-year-old establishment.
SBH, positioned at 4422 third Ave. within the Bronx, sees 75,000 to 80,000 emergency division visits per 12 months however was solely designed for about 55,000, mentioned Hochul.
Hochul mentioned the dedication and fervour of SBH workers is “contagious” regardless of difficult situations and praised CEO and President David Perlstein and native elected officers for repeatedly advocating for this type of funding.
Hochul mentioned the funding will make much-needed enhancements, particularly for residents needing behavioral well being care. For the reason that pandemic, “There’s so much more need now,” she mentioned. “People are desperate.”
The temper among the many crowd of docs in white coats, elected officers and repair union members was celebratory. “We’ve been waiting for this day for a very long time,” Perlstein mentioned.
Docs cheered and applauded the funding, which is able to increase psychological well being companies and improve its emergency division.Photograph Emily Swanson
He mentioned SBH has lengthy understood that its significance locally goes past simply medical care. “We have a bigger role to play than just putting Band-Aids on folks,” he mentioned. The grant will allow the hospital to proceed its work on the social determinants of well being — components equivalent to steady housing, vitamin and health that assist preserve folks out of the emergency room.
With the brand new funding, SBH will accomplice with Cityblock Well being, which calls itself “a healthcare provider that exists to fill gaps,” and Union Group Well being Heart, which affords walk-in clinics, pressing care and extra at a number of places, to extend entry to behavioral well being companies and enhance total native well being outcomes.
State Sen. Luis Sepúlveda mentioned his dedication to SBH is private. His son had a critical medical downside a pair years in the past, and SBH saved his life, he mentioned.
“I got a little emotional” listening to concerning the grant, mentioned Sepúlveda, who mentioned the funding — together with Hochul’s different Bronx investments, such because the 83-unit senior reasonably priced housing constructing now beneath building — will influence folks younger and outdated alike all through the borough. “You’ve changed the lives of many generations,” he instructed the governor.
Meeting Member George Alvarez mentioned he too needed to go to the SBH emergency division not way back and skilled “good service, great staff but horrible conditions.”
Demand far exceeds capability on the SBH emergency division, which is able to increase beneath the brand new grant.Photograph Emily Swanson
Since then, Alvarez mentioned he vowed to safe investments within the hospital, and now, “The long wait is over.”
The funding comes from Hochul’s Healthcare Security Web Transformation Program, established final 12 months for public hospitals serving low-income communities to accomplice with different organizations and leverage the strengths of each establishments. Beneath this system, the governor additionally lately introduced a $180 million funding for Jamaica Hospital and Memorial Sloan Kettering to assemble a most cancers heart serving the borough of Queens.
As for SBH — and the Bronx as an entire — “I really cherish this place,” mentioned Hochul. “The people of the Bronx deserve nothing but the best.”
