Brooklyn, NY, February 29, 2024 — Maimonides Medical Center has officially opened its newly updated Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU). As the immediate destination of every post-operative patient, the expanded PACU is an essential part of each patient’s surgical experience and supports the continued modernization of the surgery unit.
With this modernization project, Maimonides has expanded PACU capacity, adding 19 new patient positions—up from 16 bays previously—16 cubical bays, 2 new isolation rooms, and a negative pressure room.
Emergence from anesthesia, a process which is often a smooth transition, can occasionally have serious complications; in the PACU, patients are monitored closely for vital signs, pain management, and fluid intake to ensure appropriate recovery. The PACU’s new radial layout maximizes visibility between patients and providers, with new patient monitoring equipment, beds, stretchers and recliners further enhancing observation and ability of staff to provide care and a comfortable experience for patients after they undergo surgery.
The facility’s location offers direct proximity to both the Medical Center’s surgical suite and public elevators, ideal for post-operative transport and for patients receiving visitors during their recovery period.
“This project’s success is owed to the dedicated collaboration of many departments and leaders within our organization,” said Ken Gibbs, CEO and President of Maimonides Health. “We are thrilled that our surgical teams now have these updated facilities to match the incredible, first-class care they provide every day.”
“Post-operative care is a vital part of the success of our surgical operations,” said Patrick Borgen, MD, Chair of Surgery at Maimonides Medical Center. “The new PACU reflects our commitment to the best possible outcomes for all of our patients, and this new step allows our department to enhance these outcomes, along with the patient experience we provide in tandem with our program’s nationally acclaimed clinical excellence.”
The effort and result of this newly expanded and improved PACU reflects Maimonides’ commitment to exceptional patient care, a commitment underscored by our state and national rankings for general and specialized surgical care in recent years. In 2023, Maimonides was ranked #1 in New York for both Surgical Care and Orthopedic Surgery, and was named one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Surgery and one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Surgical Care.
Throughout 2023, Maimonides has completed a series of modernization projects on the main campus, including the new Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit (CTICU), the new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), and new kitchens. The new Pediatric Emergency Room, currently under construction, is due to open later this year.
About Maimonides Health
Maimonides Health is Brooklyn’s largest healthcare system, serving over 340,000 patients each year through the system’s 3 hospitals, 1,700+ physicians and more than 80 community-based practices and outpatient centers. The system is anchored by Maimonides Medical Center, one of the nation’s largest independent teaching hospitals and home to centers of excellence in numerous specialties and Maimonides Midwood Community Hospital (formerly New York Community Hospital), a 130-bed adult medical-surgical hospital; and Maimonides Children’s Hospital, Brooklyn’s only children’s hospital and only pediatric trauma center.
Maimonides’ clinical programs rank among the best in the country for patient outcomes, including its Heart and Vascular Institute, Neurosciences Institute, Bone and Joint Center, and Cancer Center. Maimonides is an affiliate of Northwell Health and a major clinical training site for SUNY Downstate College of Medicine. For additional information, please visit maimo.org.