New York Construction Report staff writer
Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday announced a transformative $140 million investment in SBH Health System, formerly St. Barnabas Hospital, to address long-standing capacity issues and enhance the hospital’s services for local residents.
The funding, which is part of the state’s Healthcare Safety Net Transformation Program, will enable SBH to expand its emergency department, upgrade equipment, and enhance community health partnerships. The hospital, a 160-year-old institution at 4422 3rd Ave., currently handles between 75,000 and 80,000 emergency visits annually, well above its designed capacity of 55,000.
“There’s so much more need now,” Hochul said, referring to the heightened demand for care, particularly in the wake of the pandemic. “People are desperate, and the dedication of SBH’s staff is contagious.”
SBH CEO and President David Perlstein expressed gratitude for the investment, calling it a long-awaited victory for the hospital and its staff. “We’ve been waiting for this day for a very long time,” Perlstein said. The funding will support SBH’s efforts to address social determinants of health such as stable housing and nutrition, which have a significant impact on local health outcomes.
In addition to expanding emergency services, the funding will enable SBH to partner with Cityblock Health and Union Community Health Center to improve access to behavioral health services in the community.
Local leaders, including State Sen. Luis Sepúlveda, praised the investment as a personal and community triumph. Sepúlveda shared that SBH had saved his son’s life during a medical emergency a few years ago and expressed deep appreciation for the funding. “You’ve changed the lives of many generations,” he told the governor.
Assembly Member George Alvarez, who also had a recent visit to the SBH emergency department, highlighted the challenges of the hospital’s current conditions. “Good service, great staff, but horrible conditions,” Alvarez said, emphasizing the importance of the funding in improving care for the borough.
Funding is part of a larger plan to support public hospitals serving low-income communities. Last year, the governor also pledged a $180 million investment in Jamaica Hospital and Memorial Sloan Kettering to build a cancer center in Queens.
