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Grand Opening of New Emergency Center


New York Downtown Hospital Opens
The Lehman Brothers Emergency Center

“Ground Zero” Hospital, Only ER in Lower Manhattan
Opens $25 Million Emergency Center in September


On September 7, 2006, New York Downtown Hospital opened The Lehman Brothers Emergency Center, a new state-of-the-art emergency facility serving all of Downtown New York. This project is critically important because Downtown Hospital is the only hospital in Lower Manhattan. It is the first responder to virtually every medical emergency in the area, providing life-saving medical care for 33,000 emergency patients each year and responds to approximately 5,000 ambulance dispatches annually.

The opening date falls on the week of the fifth anniversary of September 11, 2001 and, therefore, is especially meaningful for the Hospital staff and the surrounding community. Downtown Hospital earned international recognition for its extraordinary response to the tragedy of September 11, 2001, caring for more than 1,500 people injured in the attack and its aftermath. However, the massive emergency response that was required highlighted some of the severe limitations of the old emergency center, as well as the unique and extreme demands on Downtown Manhattan's only emergency room.

The Lehman Brothers Emergency Center at New York Downtown Hospital will be twice the size of the previous emergency center. The new facility includes the largest decontamination unit in the city for response to bio-chemical attacks and other emergency situations. Every patient area has been upgraded, including those for women, children, asthma and chest pain patients, and those in need of prompt, non-acute care. The new facility also includes other improvements which will enhance the Hospital's throughput and surge-capacity, and its ability to respond to both individual and community-wide emergencies.

“The Lehman Brothers Emergency Center at New York Downtown Hospital will serve as a vital lifeline for every employee, resident, and visitor in the Downtown area,” said Bruce D. Logan, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Downtown Hospital. “We are very grateful for the generosity of Lehman Brothers. We also appreciate the contributions we have received from the many other members of the business community and from private individuals.”

The project, which will cost approximately $25 million, was made possible by a $5 million gift from The Lehman Brothers Foundation. Additional funds were raised through the support of many generous donors, including The New York Stock Exchange, The Starr Foundation, The Bank of New York, AIG, and JP Morgan Chase, each of which donated $1 million or more to the project. The Hospital is working diligently to raise the last $4 million needed for this critical project.

“This will be a truly momentous occasion,” said Robert D. Hunter, Chairman of the Hospital Board of Trustees, “not only for the Hospital, but for the entire Downtown community. The new emergency center is a critical component of the rebuilding of Lower Manhattan and will help to ensure the health and safety of Downtown's millions of residents, employees, and visitors.”

Mr. Richard S. Fuld, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lehman Brothers, said, “We are proud to be able to play a part in making the Hospital's new emergency center possible and to recognize Downtown Hospital's commitment to providing excellent care to the Downtown community.”



New York State dignitaries join Downtown Hospital leadership in cutting the ribbon at the official opening ceremony for the new Lehman Brothers Emergency Center:(Left to right)

Carl Kruger, NY State Senator

Scott M. Stringer, Manhattan Borough President

Dr. Bruce Logan, President and CEO of NYDH

Sheldon Silver, Speaker of NY State Assembly

Robert Hunter, Chairman of the Board of Trustees for NYDH

Dr. Warren Licht, Sr. Vice President and CMO

(Behind Dr. Licht is Dr. Antonio Dajer, Interim Chief of the Department of Emergency Medicine)

Highlights of The Lehman Brothers Emergency Center at Downtown Hospital:
  • The largest and best equipped decontamination facility in the city
  • An enlarged Trauma Room equipped to perform a wider range of procedures
  • A new Chest Pain Emergency Unit
  • Individual asthma treatment stations
  • A new Pediatric Emergency Suite with amenities for children and their parents
  • A Women's Health Suite
  • Advanced patient monitoring and computer systems
  • An expanded PromptCare area to expedite care for non-acute patients
  • The Herman Goldman Department of Emergency Medicine

    New York Downtown Hospital is the hospital in Lower Manhattan. Downtown Hospital is a community teaching hospital offering a full range of inpatient and outpatient services, as well as community outreach and education. It is also a leader in the field of emergency preparedness and disaster management. Downtown Hospital is an academic affiliate of the Weill Medical College of Cornell University and an affiliate of the prestigious NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System.

    Downtown Hospital serves the area's diverse neighborhoods including Wall Street, Battery Park City, Chinatown, SoHo, TriBeCa, Little Italy, and the Lower East Side. It is the closest acute care facility to the Financial District, to the seat of the City government, and to some of New York's most popular tourist attractions. The Hospital provides approximately 175,000 outpatient visits and 7,000 surgical procedures annually.

    For more information, please contact The Office of Public Affairs and Development at (212) 801-1700.


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