One Brooklyn
May 8, 2017
RESPONDING TO TRUMPCARE THREAT ENDANGERING BROOKLYN HOSPITALS, BOROUGH PRESIDENT DEBUTS “IS IT AN EMERGENCY” INITIATIVE FOCUSED ON PATIENT EDUCATION
BROOKLYN, NY, May 8, 2017: Today, Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams debuted “Is It an Emergency?”, a multimedia public service announcement (PSA) campaign aimed at advancing patient education to help address Brooklyn’s hospital crisis, notably soaring health care costs for hospitals and consumers alike that are expected to deepen under the proposed repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) by the Trump Administration. The initiative is particularly focused on the issues surrounding emergency room (ER) overuse that, according to the Network for Excellence in Health Innovation, costs $38 billion a year nationally. “Is It an Emergency” aims to reduce overuse of ERs — a common destination for many Brooklynites lacking health insurance — in the event of minor medical issues; in those cases, the campaign recommends the use of a federally-qualified health clinic (FQHC), primary care doctor, or urgent care clinic. The PSA debuted at Brookdale Urgent Care Center in East Flatbush, a facility managed by Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center that helps serve a population disproportionately reliant on hospital ERs for their health needs. Joined by medical professionals, Borough President Adams spoke about the need for increased awareness of the diverse health services available to Brooklynites, and how can they save themselves time and money as they navigate the health care system.
“Reducing the overuse of ERs across our borough’s hospitals is a low-cost solution to a high-cost crisis,” said Borough President Adams. “We all have a responsibility to be smart consumers of health care services. As we actively pursue efforts to bolster existing facilities that have faced financial challenges, while dealing with the greater burden of rising health care costs system-wide, patient education on preventative measures is so valuable. If we can get Brooklynites to distinguish between medical emergencies and minor matters, then our borough can save time and money while alleviating many of the pressures our hospitals face. ERs provide vital services that save lives at critical moments of injury. For everything else, there are many health care options available to use, regardless of one’s ability of pay or citizenship status.”
The launch of “Is It an Emergency?” comes just days after the House of Representatives voted 217-213 to repeal the ACA. If passed by the Senate and signed by President Donald J. Trump, the repeal is expected to negatively impact hospitals across Brooklyn; according to an analysis jointly released by the American Hospital Association (AHA) and the Federation of American Hospitals (FAH), if the ACA is repealed, hospitals across the country will lose an estimated $166 billion in Medicaid payments in the next decade. Combined with the anticipated loss of health coverage for those with pre-existing conditions — an estimated 27 percent of American adults under the age of 65 — Borough President Adams expressed his concern that the legislation would also result in spillover effects on already strained ERs and potentially exacerbate the fiscal and logistical challenges facing local hospitals. Since 2003, four hospitals have shut their doors in Brooklyn due to financial difficulties including Caledonian Hospital in Prospect Park South, Long Island College Hospital (LICH) in Cobble Hill, St. Mary’s Hospital in Crown Heights, and Victory Memorial Hospital in Bay Ridge; other institutions across the borough have faced related issues.
A study in 2013 by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) stated that 83 percent of statewide ER visits the visits were treat and release, with the majority of these visits being avoidable. Borough President Adams highlighted a partial list of conditions or concerns that would be appropriate for treatment at a FQHC, primary care doctor, or urgent care center, including: allergies; cold; ear pain; eye irritation or pink eye; fever without rash; flu shot; headache; mild fracture; minor allergic reaction; minor bug or dog bite; minor burn; minor sprain; nausea; sexually transmitted disease (STD) testing; shallow cut, and vomiting. Examples of conditions or concerns that he noted as needing a visit to an ER or a call to 911 include: abdominal pain; breathing problems; broken bone; chest pain; cut with heavy bleeding; head injury; pregnancy complications; seizure; self-harm or suicidal thoughts; severe allergic reaction; severe burn, and stroke.
“Is It an Emergency,” which can be viewed on Borough President Adams’ YouTube channel, is being aired by campaign partners across Brooklyn, including Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) Rose Cinemas, Barclays Center, Brooklyn Education Innovation (Be.IN) Network, BRIC TV, Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center, Brooklyn Plaza Medical Center, Community Health Network, Interfaith Medical Center, Kāmin Health Urgent Care, Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center, MCU Park, New York Cosmos, select NYC Health + Hospitals locations, NYC Media, NYU Lutheran, PM Pediatrics, and ProHealth Urgent Care. An audio version of the PSA is also being played on WNYE 91.5 FM and Radio 103.9 New York.
“If you have a life threatening condition, go to the ER or call 911; however, if you have a minor issue, such as a cut or a cold, visit a local urgent care facility, your primary care doctor, or a local health clinic,” said Borough President Adams in the PSA. “Leave the emergency room free to those who really need it. You’ll be saving time and money in the process. Know the difference and avoid the wait.”
“Three years ago, Borough President Adams cut the ribbon to open our new urgent care center across from our hospital,” said Khari Edwards, vice president of external affairs at Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center. “We applaud Borough President Adams for his forward thinking in educating our community on the difference between urgent care versus emergency care.”
“A community health care center can provide urgently needed care on a walk-in basis, and then provide follow-up to keep its patients healthy,” said Robert Hayes, president and CEO of Community Healthcare Network. “Community Healthcare Network turns no one away.”
“Kāmin Health Urgent Care is proud of the record number of patients we have served in the short time that we have been in the Crown Heights community, and we are looking forward to continuing our core values of excellent personal care without the need to schedule an appointment or wait in busy waiting rooms,” said Yosef Hershkop, community liaison for Kāmin Health Urgent Care. “We are inviting all community stakeholders to partner with us during these uncertain times in the health care world.”
“We are proud to support Borough President Adams’ ‘Is it an Emergency?’ initiative to help residents understand when an emergency department visit is truly necessary,” said Dr. Christina Johns, senior medical advisor at PM Pediatrics. “Urgent care practices provide quality care as an efficient, convenient, and cost-effective alternative to the emergency department for the majority of acute care, with the exception of life-threatening issues. Specialized urgent care for the pediatric population is a key link in the quality care chain, and PM Pediatrics treats children and young adults exclusively for illnesses and injuries from infections and dehydration, to broken bones and wounds requiring stitches.”
As part of a wider initiative to educate Brooklynites around preventative health, Borough President Adams announced his plans to host the One Brooklyn Health Fair on Thursday, July 20th at Brooklyn Borough Hall. His office will also build a comprehensive map of all health care facilities in Brooklyn, which will be placed on his website, brooklyn-usa.org.
PHOTOS
Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams, surrounded by medical professionals outside Brookdale Urgent Care Center in East Flatbush, debuted “Is It an Emergency?”, a multimedia PSA campaign aimed at advancing patient education to help address Brooklyn’s hospital crisis, notably soaring health care costs and emergency room overuse expected to deepen under the impending repeal and replacement of the ACA by the Trump Administration.
Photo Credit: Erica Sherman/Brooklyn BP’s Office
Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams discussed the difference between minor and life-threatening medical issues outside Brookdale Urgent Care Center in East Flatbush as he launched “Is It an Emergency?”, a multimedia PSA campaign aimed at advancing patient education to help address Brooklyn’s hospital crisis, notably soaring health care costs and emergency room overuse expected to deepen under the impending repeal and replacement of the ACA by the Trump Administration.
Photo Credit: Erica Sherman/Brooklyn BP’s Office
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