NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst has opened a new Business Services Center at 90-02 Queens Blvd., relocating several non-clinical departments off its main campus in a move to increase clinical capacity and improve patient care.
The 40,000-square-foot facility, located on the first floor of the former St. John’s Hospital building, now houses the hospital’s Finance, Patient Accounts, Grants and Human Resources departments. The building was converted into mixed-use space after the hospital’s closure in 2009 and now houses several medical offices and community services. The nearly $5 million project includes conference rooms, a dining area and a mix of cubicles and private offices.
“This opening up of our new satellite office brings together finance, business administration, and other integral support services into one cohesive and efficient workspace,” said Debra Sataloff, NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst’s Director of Capital Design and Construction. “The design thoughtfully balances functionality and comfort, incorporating modern workstations, shared meeting areas, ergonomic furniture, and natural light.”
The offsite move allows NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst to reclaim space on its main campus at 79-01 Broadway for new clinical areas and planned renovations, enabling the hospital to expand services and avoid disruption to ongoing patient care.
“Our new Business Center is the beautiful end result of a project that required not only close collaboration, but also outstanding vision, leadership, and input from many different departments and healthcare team members,” said Dr. Helen Arteaga-Landaverde, CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst. “By right-sizing areas for clinical care and shifting non-clinical services to an off-site facility, we will be able to expand our existing services and ultimately create a better experience for patients at Elmhurst.”
“As we set our sights on the future at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, this strategic initiative provides the hospital valuable flexibility to achieve both short- and long-term goals,” said Chief Operating Officer Mike Milinic. “The space made available with the transition of staff offsite helps ensure these projects can be completed with no interruptions in service for our community.”
The new workspace has also streamlined day-to-day coordination among departments that frequently collaborate, such as Finance and Human Resources.
“The Business Center allows us to welcome new employees with an emphasis on hospitality while they are initially onboarded,” said Chief Human Resources Officer Donato Cipriano. “Finance and Human Resources work together often and strategically, which will allow our departments to synchronize resources and reduce wait times.”
Chief Financial Officer Roger Zhu added that the move supports the hospital’s broader goal of improving operational efficiency.
“This new facility enhances the hospital’s ability to offer more comprehensive and improved services and introduces innovative approaches to streamlining back-office operations and support departments,” Zhu said.
NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst is one of the city’s busiest public hospitals, serving one of the most diverse populations in the country. The hospital was at the epicenter of New York’s COVID-19 crisis in 2020 and has since prioritized infrastructure improvements to better serve the community.
