A Message from Keith Friedlander - Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Huntington Hospital

Dear Huntington Hospital Supporters,

Each day, our courageous doctors, nurses and health care providers are on the front lines - diagnosing, treating and preventing the spread of this outbreak. As a result of our expertise and experience, Huntington Hospital and Northwell Health continue to lead New York State’s pandemic response as documented Sunday night on CBS’s ‘60 Minutes (https://northwellhealth.org/2IEB-1KK95-9H4EZ6-10Z53Y-1/c.aspx).

Northwell critical care units are beginning to report that many patients are graduating from ventilators and ECMO and doing well. This should encourage us that COVID-19 requiring mechanical ventilation is a survivable condition and that we are making a difference.

Huntington Hospital was one of the first hospitals to use forward triaging to expand testing across our community. This allows for a swift evaluation of patients and rapid testing for those in need.

In just a few short days with the help of countless team members, we have more than doubled our ICU bed capacity and deployed specialized teams to provide critical care to this expanded population. As the number of patients we are treating for COVID-19 grows, Huntington Hospital is prepared to open alternate care locations as needed. At the same time, we are working around the clock to keep our units stocked with the essential items our caregivers need, while ensuring a reliable supply chain for future needs.

A growing number of people want to fundraise -- to support our caregivers, our hospitals, the communities we serve, and the remarkable research taking place at the Feinstein Institutes.

To support those efforts, we have established the Northwell Health COVID-19 Emergency Fund (https://northwellhealth.org/2IEB-1KK95-9H4EZ6-10Z53Z-1/c.aspx).

Our site allows for direct donations to our COVID-19 Emergency Fund, selecting Northwell Health, a specific hospital, or Research to benefit from their support.

We have also announced a Peer-to-Peer Fundraising Platform (https://northwellhealth.org/2IEB-1KK95-9H4EZ6-10Z540-1/c.aspx) that allows individuals to set up fundraisers for specific funding need areas under the umbrella of the Northwell Health Foundation. This is the most direct and impactful way to provide support at this time, and funds will go directly to the program, hospital, or area selected.

We are addressing today’s pressing pandemic needs - on the front lines and preparing for what’s next:

- Clinical trials for COVID-19 treatment and prevention, with significant implications for future pandemics. Go Here: https://northwellhealth.org/2IEB-1KK95-9H4EZ6-10Z541-1/c.aspx to read more.

- Behavioral health services for our courageous healthcare workers who put themselves at risk each day to protect us, and are now at risk for PTSD.

- Telemedicine programs to treat seniors and high-risk patients who are isolated due to the virus. We can stand together for every patient struggling with the psychosocial realities of what has become our temporary ‘new normal’.

We are well-equipped to take care of the people who need us, but we can’t fight this disease alone. On behalf of everyone who looks to us at this unprecedented time, we look to you. I hope you and your family are safe and well.

Please visit Northwell’s Coronavirus Digital Resource Center
(https://northwellhealth.org/2IEB-1KK95-9H4EZ6-10Z53D-1/c.aspx) often for helpful articles from our experts.

I will continue to keep you updated in the coming weeks. In the meantime stay home, stay safe and be well.

Sincerely,

Keith Friedlander

Chairman of the Board of Trustees
Huntington Hospital