The NYU Langone Hospital system on Wednesday celebrated 10 years since its merger with the former Lutheran Medical Center in Sunset Park, highlighting improvements in quality, safety and access to specialty care.
Hospital leadership said they focused on improving outcomes while ensuring Brooklyn residents can access high-quality care close to home. Under this approach, NYU Langone Hospital—Brooklyn now ranks among the lowest in mortality rates in Brooklyn and nationally, despite serving one of the country’s largest Medicaid populations, offificials said.
More than 80% of discharged patients are insured through Medicaid or Medicare, underscoring the hospital’s role as a critical safety-net provider for diverse communities.
“Our focus over the last decade has been unwavering: improve quality, strengthen safety, and ensure Brooklyn residents can access world-class care close to home,” said Bret J. Rudy, MD, executive vice president and chief of hospital operations at NYU Langone Hospital—Brooklyn. “Every investment and improvement we’ve made has been guided by what will best serve our patients and our community.”
Since the merger, the hospital has shortened average lengths of stay, reduced readmissions and strengthened performance in quality and patient safety. A study published in JAMA Network Open in 2022 found a 33% reduction in mortality among patients hospitalized at NYU Langone Hospital—Brooklyn since the merger.
The hospital also became the first in the borough to earn Magnet designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, recognizing excellence in nursing practice and patient outcomes.
As part of its commitment to the Brooklyn community, NYU Langone Hospital—Brooklyn has expanded access to advanced specialty care, including comprehensive oncology services through Perlmutter Cancer Center—Sunset Park, advanced cardiac and surgical programs, a Level 1 Trauma Center and a Comprehensive Stroke Center.
Since 2017, surgical volume has increased by more than 20%, with on-time starts exceeding 90%, reflecting a focus on efficiency and patient experience. These efforts aim to reduce the need for residents to leave the borough for specialized care, according to officials.
