SUNY Downstate announced the opening of a new Internal Medicine Primary Care Resident Clinic at the University Hospital of Brooklyn. The new center—called Suite R—will open for patients July 2 and will allow the hospital to double primary care services for the community from 7,000 to more than 14,000 annually.
“This new clinic will not only allow us to provide key health care services for our community members close to home, but also create an enhanced educational environment for our residents,” said Dr. Moro Salifu, professor and chair of the Department of Medicine. “This expansion will address a key need in our neighborhood and attract even more high-quality doctors-in-training.”
Residents and physicians will provide primary care services, annual wellness checks, treatment of long-term or chronic conditions, pre-operative management and medical clearance services, as well as minor ambulatory surgical procedures. Staffing for Suite R’s eight examination rooms—with the possible expansion to 10—will consist of 36 residents on a rotating basis and four physicians.
The new 6,000 sq. ft. space will not only enable the medical center to double patient capacity but also improve the patient experience.
“We continue to create more enhanced and effective experiences for our patients,” said Hospital Affairs Senior Vice President and Managing Director William P. Walsh. “Expanding our capacity to serve more community residents is critical, particularly as the health care landscape changes.”
“Expanding our resident clinic will improve patient-to-doctor access, shorten wait times and allow us to implement more effective, coordinated patient-centered care and disease management, improving the health of our community,” said Dr. Ernest Garnier, who will lead Suit R as director of Internal Medicine Outpatient Clinics. “Continuity of care is a proven way to keep our neighbors healthy, and we look forward to providing basic and subspecialty services for our growing patient base.”
The Internal Medicine Primary Care Resident Clinic is part of SUNY Downstate Medical Center’s ongoing expansion and evolution as it continues its leadership as an academic medical center for health education, research and patient care.