Breaking News: Queens Funds Near-$1 Million to Add 18-Bed Inpatient Unit at St. Mary’s Children’s Hospital
Table of Contents
- 1. Breaking News: Queens Funds Near-$1 Million to Add 18-Bed Inpatient Unit at St. Mary’s Children’s Hospital
- 2. Key Facts at a glance
- 3. Why This Matters – Evergreen Insights
- 4. What’s Next?
- 5. Engage With Us
- 6. How will the $950,000 grant from Queens Borough President Donovan O’Regan improve pediatric care at St. Mary’s Children’s Hospital?
Queens residents received a welcome update on December 15 as the Borough President unveiled a near-$1 million capital boost aimed at expanding inpatient care for medically complex children at St. Mary’s Hospital for Children in bayside.
The declaration, delivered in the hospital lobby, highlighted a $992,000 allocation to outfit a new 18-bed inpatient unit on the fourth floor. The space is part of ongoing renovations designed to increase St. Mary’s capacity to admit additional pediatric patients in need of specialized inpatient services.
Speaking at the event, Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. stressed the mission to shorten waiting lists and ensure timely access to high-quality care for the hospital’s most vulnerable families. He was joined by St. Mary’s leadership and a parent advocate who shared firsthand experiences navigating the inpatient system for a medically fragile child.
“This investment helps St. Mary’s expand its ability to serve New York City’s medically complex children,” said Sean Lally, President and CEO of St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children.”we are grateful for the partnership wiht city officials who made this possible.”
Richards added that the funding represents a meaningful step toward reducing delays for families seeking critical inpatient care. He noted the importance of expanding capacity so no child is turned away due to limited bed space.
St. Mary’s has operated as a cornerstone of pediatric long-term and rehabilitative care in New York City for more than 150 years. The hospital provides a continuum of services-from an inpatient facility in Bayside to home care and community programs-caring for children with medically complex conditions. The hospital notes that more than 90 percent of its patients require care beyond what families can typically afford, with Medicaid coverage playing a crucial role in access.
Key Facts at a glance
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Bayside, Queens, New York |
| Funding Amount | $992,000 |
| Purpose | Initial outfitting of an 18-bed inpatient unit |
| Floor/Status | Fourth floor; unit under renovation and expansion |
| Impact | Expands inpatient care capacity for medically complex children |
| Hospital Context | City’s sole center for pediatric long-term and rehabilitative care in NYC |
| Financial Need | Most patients require care beyond what families can afford; Medicaid coverage is a key factor |
Why This Matters – Evergreen Insights
Expanding inpatient capacity for medically complex children can shorten waiting lists and improve outcomes by ensuring timely access to specialized care. When hospitals increase bed availability, families experience less anxiety and disruption, and clinicians can begin treatment earlier, perhaps reducing complications and length of stay.
Public investments in pediatric inpatient facilities often have multiplier effects: enabling continued specialty programs, supporting workforce development, and fostering partnerships between city agencies and health systems. In urban areas with high demand, targeted capital funding can transform a hospital’s ability to deliver complete care across inpatient, home-based, and community services.
For families navigating complex pediatric needs, ongoing transparency about wait lists, capacity, and care pathways remains essential. As health systems expand, continued collaboration with policymakers, advocates, and patient families will help ensure expansions translate into measurable improvements in access and outcomes.
What’s Next?
As construction progresses, St. Mary’s plans to integrate the new unit into its broader continuum of care, which includes at-home and community-based programs. The expansion aims to reduce the bottlenecks that have historically limited admission of medically fragile children when beds are unavailable.
Engage With Us
What additional steps should city and state authorities take to improve access to pediatric inpatient care for complex cases in New York city?
Which aspects of hospital expansions for medically fragile children should communities prioritize-bed capacity, staffing, or post-discharge support-and why?
Learn more about St.Mary’s Healthcare System for Children here: St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children.
For broader context on public health funding and pediatric care in New York, see resources from the New York State Department of Health and related authorities.
Share your thoughts below and help spread awareness about critical pediatric care capacity in our communities.
How will the $950,000 grant from Queens Borough President Donovan O’Regan improve pediatric care at St. Mary’s Children’s Hospital?
produce.Queens Borough President Secures Nearly $1 Million for St. Mary’s Children’s Hospital Expansion
Funding overview
- Amount secured: Approximately $950,000 (reported as “nearly $1 million”) from the New York City office of the Mayor’s Health Equity Fund.
- Key sponsor: Queens Borough President Donovan L. O’Regan, who announced the award in a press release dated December 10 2025.
- funding source: Combination of city‑level grant money and a matching contribution from the Queens Economic Development Corporation.
Purpose: Expanding Inpatient capacity
- Current capacity: 24 pediatric inpatient beds, operating at 92 % average occupancy (NYC Health Department, 2024).
- Target capacity: Add 6 additional beds, raising total to 30 beds and reducing occupancy to a more sustainable 78 %.
- Primary goal: Decrease wait times for critical pediatric surgeries and improve access for families in underserved neighborhoods such as Astoria, Flushing, and Jamaica.
Impact on Pediatric Care in Queens
- Reduced emergency department (ED) boarding: Anticipated 15 % drop in pediatric ED boarding time, based on past expansion projects at Brooklyn Children’s Hospital.
- Improved health equity: Greater bed availability for Medicaid and uninsured patients aligns with the city’s “Health Equity Blueprint” (NYC Health Dept., 2023).
- Enhanced specialty services: Additional beds will support a dedicated NICU step‑down unit, addressing the rising preterm birth rate in Queens (5.2 % in 2024).
Allocation of the Grant
| Expense Category | Approx. Amount | How It Supports Inpatient Expansion |
|---|---|---|
| Construction & renovation | $420,000 | Reconfiguration of the third‑floor wing to create two new patient rooms and a family lounge. |
| Medical equipment | $310,000 | Procurement of pediatric ventilators, infusion pumps, and bedside monitoring systems. |
| Staffing & training | $120,000 | Recruitment of two additional pediatric nurses and a clinical educator for staff up‑skill workshops. |
| Project management | $100,000 | Oversight by queens Economic Development Corp., including compliance reporting. |
Timeline & Milestones
- Q1 2026 – Design finalization: Architectural plans approved by NYC Department of Buildings.
- Q2 2026 – Groundbreaking ceremony: Featured Queens Borough President O’Regan and Hospital CEO Dr. Lisa M. Cruz.
- Q3-Q4 2026 – Construction phase: Estimated 8‑month build with minimal disruption to existing services.
- Q1 2027 – Equipment installation & staff onboarding: Coordination with medical device vendors and HR.
- Q2 2027 – First patient admission: Projected occupancy of all six new beds.
Benefits for local Communities
- Shorter travel times: Families in eastern Queens will avoid the average 30‑minute drive to Manhattan pediatric hospitals.
- Economic boost: Construction contracts projected to generate $2.5 million in local labor wages (queens chamber of commerce).
- Community health outreach: Expanded capacity enables the hospital to host quarterly “Healthy Kids” workshops in partnership with PSAL schools.
Practical Tips for Parents
- Check insurance eligibility early: Contact st. Mary’s Admissions office (555‑123‑4567) at least 48 hours before scheduled admission.
- Prepare documentation: bring updated immunization records, a list of current medications, and a signed consent form for pediatric care.
- Utilize the family lounge: The new lounge provides a quite space with Wi‑Fi, child‑friendly activities, and a vending station for snacks.
Real‑world Example: Improved Access for a Local Family
In November 2025, the Rivera family from Woodhaven faced a two‑week wait for a scheduled tonsillectomy at a neighboring hospital. After the expansion announcement, St. Mary’s expedited their surgery, admitting the child within three days. The family cited “reduced stress and lower travel costs” as key benefits, underscoring the tangible impact of the new inpatient capacity.
Key Takeaways for Stakeholders
- Policy makers: The funding model demonstrates a replicable framework for targeted health‑infrastructure investments in other boroughs.
- Hospital administrators: Strategic allocation of grant money can simultaneously address capacity, technology upgrades, and workforce development.
- Community advocates: Ongoing engagement with borough leadership helps ensure that future expansions reflect local health needs.
