Res. No. 1802
Resolution calling on the State University of New York ("SUNY") and the New York State Department of Health ("DOH") to work with stakeholders to keep SUNY Downstate Medical Center open as a leading public medical institution and to preserve the essential health care services the hospital provides.
By Council Members Jackson, Williams, Barron, Brewer, Chin, Comrie, Eugene, Fidler, James, Lander, Mendez and Palma
Whereas, All of the facilities under the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center ("SUNY Downstate") are a critical part of the Brooklyn healthcare system; and
Whereas, SUNY Downstate is one of the nation's leading urban medical teaching facilities since approximately 1860; and
Whereas, As the only academic medical center in Brooklyn and the fourth largest employer in Brooklyn, SUNY Downstate employs about 8,000 faculty and staff members, educates over 1,700 students and serves a population of more than 2 million New Yorkers; and
Whereas, SUNY Downstate provides over 1,000 medical residents to 23 affiliated hospitals; and
Whereas, SUNY Downstate educates more New York City and minority physicians than any hospital in the region and must stay open in order to address the City's growing shortage of primary care physicians; and
Whereas, The quality of SUNY Downstate's program was recognized with the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize in Medicine to Dr. Robert F. Furchgott in 1998; and
Whereas, More recently, on November 28, 2012, the State University of New York Board of Trustees appointed two Downstate faculty members to distinguished ranks, the highest system-wide honor conferred upon SUNY professors; and
Whereas, In addition, on that same day, six additional Downstate faculty and staff members were honored with Chancellor's Awards for Excellence; and
Whereas, According to SUNY Downstate, for every dollar invested in the institution, $12 are returned to the local economy; and
Whereas, According to a January 2013 New York State Comptroller Audit, "absent other actions or plans to increase revenue or limit expenses, the Hospital will not have sufficient cash to meet its liabilities, possibly as early as May 2013"; and
Whereas, According to the Laws of New York, the Chancellor of SUNY is required to submit a sustainability plan for SUNY Downstate facilities on or before June 1, 2013, which must be approved by the DOH Commissioner and the New York State Director of the Division of Budget ("DOB") for implementation by June 15, 2013; and
Whereas, In accordance with this law, SUNY and DOH should engage with stakeholders to develop a plan that preserves the medical school and critical health care services at SUNY Downstate to ensure the viability of this institution; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls on the State University of New York ("SUNY") and the New York State Department of Health ("DOH") to work with stakeholders to keep SUNY Downstate Medical Center open as a leading public medical institution and to preserve the essential health care services the hospital provides.
CGP
LS # 4646
LS # 4811
5/20/13