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Montefiore News Releases

August 1, 2007

New York City, NY (August 1, 2007) – Montefiore Medical Center is dramatically increasing the physical size of its Weiler Division Emergency Department and adding doctors, nurses and other specialists to further increase the quality of its emergency medical services as more and more patients seek emergency care at Montefiore’s adult and pediatric emergency locations. 

“Montefiore has the busiest Emergency Department in New York City, and for very good reason,” said Spencer Foreman, MD, president, Montefiore Medical Center.  “When people are in medical crisis, they come to Montefiore because they know they will receive excellent medical care, and be treated expeditiously and with respect.”

“Adding 36 additional specialty staff and state-of-the-art technology as critical elements of the Weiler expansion reinforces Montefiore’s longtime commitment to the communities we serve and the patients we care for,” said Dr. Foreman.

In addition to adding increased space for adult patients, the expansion also includes four treatment areas especially designed for children and two Ob/Gyn suites. While the Moses Division and Children’s Hospital EDs have larger staffs and total 20,000 square feet, the increase of almost 7,000 square feet at Weiler means the Weiler ED itself is now big enough to cover half a football field. 

Montefiore’s Weiler Division alone has seen dramatic growth over the past ten years, from 25,000 patient visits to more than 60,000 patients last year.  In 2001, Montefiore’s total Emergency Department registration  -- the Moses, Weiler and Children’s Hospital Divisions combined  -- totaled 157,000 patients, and it has now skyrocketed to more than 220,000 patients this year.

“While the levels of ED visits in cities around the United States have remained fairly flat over the last ten years, patient visits to Montefiore’s EDs have increased a remarkable 200 percent,” said Peter Semczuk, vice president, clinical and emergency services, Montefiore. “We are constantly working to justify the confidence our patients show in us in choosing Montefiore and we continually look for ways to improve our patients’ experiences.”

“This is an extension of our continuing focus on quality and on providing the best emergency medical care for the sickest patients,” said Joseph Braverman, MD, director, Weiler Division ED.  “We recognized early on the medical benefits of staffing our EDs with doctors, attending staff and others who are specifically certified in caring for patients in danger and at highest risk.”

“We also have established programs to treat non-critical patients who come to the ED, such as a 24/7 Fast Track system, so these patients can be treated even more efficiently and seen much sooner,” said Dr. Braverman.

“The fact that more and more patients want to be treated in Montefiore’s emergency departments tells us we’re definitely doing things right,” said Semczuk.

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