Senate Resolution No. 521 BY: Senator PARKER COMMEMORATING the 175th Anniversary of The Brooklyn Hospital Center WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize those institutions which have faithfully served the health needs of the community and its citizens with diligence and compassionate commitment; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commemorate the 175th Anniversary of The Brooklyn Hospital Center; the kick-off celebration of this milestone was held on Thursday, January 31, 2019, and honored Walt Whitman, Fort Greene Park Conservancy, and Keynote Speaker Laurie Cumbo; and WHEREAS, Founded in 1845, The Brooklyn Hospital Center is a 464 licensed bed, full-service community teaching hospital located in Downtown Brooklyn; it is affiliated with the Mount Sinai Health System, serving a diverse population from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds; and WHEREAS, The hospital's name was initially Brooklyn City Hospital; public fund collection meetings were arranged to financially sustain the hospital; patient admission started in 1847; soon it started developing and growing, and by the start of the 20th Century, it consisted of several buildings that provided services to the burgeoning population; in 1883, the name was changed to The Brooklyn Hospital; and WHEREAS, In 1925, William H. Field and Edwin P. Maynard, Jr., who were both residents in the hospital, introduced a unit history system for keeping permanent, easy-to-retrieve patient records; and WHEREAS, Extensive modernization of the hospital took place after World War II and several mergers occurred, adding to the ever-increasing size of the facility; and WHEREAS, In 1990, the name was changed to its current name, The Brooklyn Hospital Center; eight years later, the hospital became a corporate member of the New York-Presbyterian Healthcare System, and in 2014, it left the New York-Presbyterian Healthcare System and affiliated with the Mount Sinai Health System; and WHEREAS, The hospital continued to expand primary and outpatient services as well as acute care services; in 2013, The Brooklyn Hospital Center became an active participant in NYSDOH's Prevention Agenda; health priorities of the initiative include the Prevention of Chronic Diseases such as Heart Disease, Cancer, Respiratory Disease, Diabetes, and the Reduction of Childhood Obesity; and WHEREAS, The Brooklyn Hospital Center has been the recipient of many awards and recognitions, some of which include: the Gold Plus Achievement Award for Stroke Care, three times; being named a 2012 Top Performer on Key Quality Measures by the Joint Commission on hospital safety for heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia and surgical care; and being recognized for both providing quality care to patients with diabetes and providing excellent diabetic care with good outcomes; and WHEREAS, Venerable and trustworthy institutions, tending to the needs of the community and its citizenry, represent the threads from which the fabric of society is woven; and WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is proud to recognize the benevolent good works of health care institutions, sharing the pride of its history and accomplishments, and anticipating its future of continued growth in quality and personalized care; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to extend congratulations and just tribute to The Brooklyn Hospital Center, commemorating its 175th Anniversary of service and care on behalf of the Brooklyn community; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to The Brooklyn Hospital Center.