Narcisse asks about strategies to reduce overcrowding; virtual express care

What specific strategies is H&H pursuing to reduce overcrowding, improve patients'flow, and shorten?

With times.

Yeah, so one of the strategies we have done and we've partnered with FDNY on is virtual express care as an example.

And so we will see patients virtually over phone or video.

And so some 911 calls are being transferred to our virtual express care calls.

and allowing us to treat on the spot right there and sometimes divert an ambulance from even being dispatched to that facility, to that person as well.

So you have your mobile unit.

My understanding is just...

Let's see.

If a patient, because one of the things that we lack of doing, telling the patient, open visit, in the clinics as well as in the hospital, do not call 911.

This is the step you need to take.

And I think that's one of the bills I'm looking to see how shaping we started already, to see what can we do to help those folks in terms of education, not pressure.

Because sometimes it's a simple education you give people, they can do better.

If we can be reinforcing it, if we just say it and then you move on, people forget.

Maybe we can see if we can get, you know, advertisement somewhere, a spot, something going on and using social media, educating people.

Because we need to educate people and reinforce it so at least we can decrease the flow of people and then we don't want to lose lives in New York City.

So I'm going to pass it on by my chair and then probably opening up for some colleagues'questions and I'll come back.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Can I just say, Chair, thank you so much for that.

I mean, the emergency department is the safety net of this country, right, and of the city.

Yeah.

And patients know they can always come to us, be seen.

We will never turn you away.

And that's why I love my job and I love doing the work that I do is because we will always take care of patients who show up.

But the challenge is exactly what you discussed.

And so I think there might be opportunity for us to discuss.

Later, look forward to seeing that bill.

Where can we decrease or redirect patients to find the most appropriate care they need?

I really believe in preventative care, and that's what I've been preaching, and it seems like it's a slow motion right now, and we need to sit down and collaborate, whatever we can do here with my colleagues to structure it to help and make it happen.

I look forward to the opportunity.

Thank you.

Thank you.