Downstate is needed and necessary to the 2.7 million residents of Brooklyn and the 8 million residents of New York City. Brooklyn relies on Downstate hospital for care. The vast majority of Downstate’s patients—nearly 90%—are on Medicaid, are underinsured or have no health insurance. Downstate ranks No. 1 out of all 143 hospitals in New York state for the percentage of its revenue generated by Medicaid, meaning the most vulnerable and underserved populations would be impacted most by its closure.

A reimagined Downstate would include a renovated Emergency Department, and specialty inpatient services such as: a modernized Maternal/OBGYN area; revitalized cardiothoratic and oncology services; and an upgraded kidney transplant program. It should also get a new urgent care center and new ambulatory surgery and outpatient preventative care centers focused on diabetes, cardiovascular health, maternal care and stroke prevention.  

Brooklyn for Downstate, a Brooklyn community coalition dedicating to preserving Downstate hospital as a freestanding, state-operated, inpatient teaching hospital at its current Central Brooklyn location, has put forth a plan that mirrors what the community wants and needs. You can view the plan at www.brooklynfordownstate.com.  

As a state hospital, the services provided by Downstate must be viewed as a public good. This facility was never intended to make a profit. It is a hospital of first and last resort; no one is ever turned away. Also, patients with especially difficult or rare medical conditions—which can be incredibly costly to treat—are often sent to Downstate by other hospitals and health care providers that don’t provide those services because it isn’t cost-effective to do so.  

Brooklyn needs—and deserves—a reimagined, revitalized Downstate University Hospital.