Public ‘Thanks’ from Brooklyn’s historic downtown hospital reflects remarkable community support during COVID-19
Within days of the start of the coronavirus crisis, The Brooklyn Hospital Center became the recipient of an outpouring of love and generosity: Thousands of masks and gloves. Hundreds of meals for our hard-working staff. Shoes, socks, lotions and hand sanitizers. The dance video from a New York City 5th grader who wrote to OB/GYN Chair Dr. Erroll Byer, “You are incredible, courageous and a force of good in this world.” Cards from around the world. Daily 7 p.m. claps that brought out NYPD, FDNY, EMS and scores of individual Brooklyn neighbors.
“We have never felt more loved and supported than we have through this difficult time,” says Gary G. Terrinoni, TBHC’s president and CEO. “TBHC is always here for our neighbors — our mission says that we are dedicated to Keeping Brooklyn Healthy, after all — but, boy, were our neighbors here for us. We can never thank them enough.”
As society looks toward a “new normal” that includes coronavirus remaining in the community until a vaccine is created, TBHC is considering ways to continue to deliver safe, effective and compassionate care. The hospital is currently in the midst of creating a model where non-COVID patients can be treated separately from COVID patients, whether it be in the emergency room or a unit.
