The first “official” COVID-19 intensive care unit (ICU) at North Central Bronx Hospital (NCB) was formally opened during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, May 5. Norwood News reported in April how NCB, one of 11 public hospitals in the NYC Health & Hospitals system, doubled its capacity, and has been taking in the overflow of COVID-19 patients from other public and private hospitals from around the State over the course of the pandemic.

 

Council Member Fernando Cabrera, the hospital’s executive director, Cristina Contreras, NYC Health & Hospitals’ Sally Pinero, Thomas Gaudio of Jacobs Engineering Group, William White, LiRo Group and Rodney Gittens, Commissioner at the Department of Buildings were joined by construction workers as well as hospital staff and leadership to mark the opening of the new unit.

 

In order to manage the overflow of patients at the height of the crisis, the hospital had assembled temporary ICU units in make-shift areas of the building, while the pre-planned COVID-19 ICU expansion was still under construction. The completion of the new temporary unit represents a significant milestone for the hospital, perhaps a symbol of normalcy or, at least, an emergence from the organized chaos that typified the hospital’s operations during March and April.

 

The Bronx has recorded the highest number of COVID-19 cases per head of population in the City and ranks third, just behind Queens and Brooklyn, in terms of the number of actual positive cases of any county across the State. The latest number of positive cases as of May, 5 is 39,476, while  2,848 people have died in the borough to date.

 

Cabrera wrote in a written press release, prior to the ceremony, that Bronx residents had suffered among the worst in the City from the COVID-19 pandemic. “Our neighborhood residents are more likely to work in frontline jobs, have underlying, chronic medical conditions, lack personal protective gear and paid sick leave, and live in overcrowded conditions in which it is impossible to quarantine safely,” he wrote.

 

He went on to write that the new 20-bed, temporary COVID-19 ICU at NCB was a major step in providing care in the community, and relieving the overburdened health care workforce. “I’m proud of the work we’ve done to call attention to the neglect of black and brown communities,” he wrote. “The opening of this new ICU is a testament of this community’s resilience and determination.”

 

Pinero, who is on the NYC Health & Hospitals board, appeared emotional as she thanked those who made the construction of the new unit possible, as well as commending the health care workers who had valiantly adjusted to the situation while the new unit was being finalized.

 

“I want to publicly thank all the enormous warriors that stood up during this fight,” she said. “I watched you from afar and just, it was so hard not to be able to support you in any way, but know that all of our love and support from the H&H Board and, of course, you know from Mitch is here. I’m a proud resident of the Bronx and we always love NCB.”

 

Drawing applause from the crowd, Pinero went on to say that NCB, one of the smallest in the NYC H&H system, had been affectionately called, ‘The Little Engine That Could’ by her colleague Michelle, but that the board always knew it was, ‘A Mighty Engine That Would’.

 

“And when the opportunity arose, they [the workers] came out full force,” Pinero said. “I am so proud of all the construction work done, having spent a fair amount of time in construction, myself. I know the magnitude of the undertaking.” Pinero went on to thank her colleagues and Contreras, who she described as a fearless leader. “I’m so proud of everyone,” Pinero added. “God bless you all.”

 

Cabrera also addressed the crowd of mask-wearing officials, staff and construction workers. “I thought about it on the way over here, the fact that teamwork makes the dream work,” he said. “You are literally manifesting and demonstrating that together we can do it.”

 

Cabrera added that although he acknowledged the hospital had already been given a lot of different names, for him he felt it would be appropriate to call it, ‘The People’s Hospital’ because so many people had come together and stepped up to help when others couldn’t, referring to the overflow of patients received from other hospitals. “You demonstrated that you’re #BronxStrong,” Cabrera said. “Thank you so much and God Bless You.”