NYC Health + Hospitals today announced that Erfan Karim, MPH, was recognized by Modern Healthcare as one of the Innovators for 2024.
Erfan Karim is Assistant Vice President of Mobile Integrated Health and Executive Director of ExpressCare. Modern Healthcare’s ‘2024 Innovators Awards’ recognizes leaders and organizations leading innovation in health care. Karim is recognized for his role in creating NYC Health + Hospitals’ Virtual ExpressCare service, a model that allows New Yorkers in need of urgent care for non-life-threatening health issues to connect with an NYC Health + Hospitals provider for an evaluation within minutes. More than 90,000 New Yorkers have accessed its services annually since its launch in 2020, and it has attracted 100,000 new patients to the health system. The profiles of the honorees are featured in the April 8, 2024 issue of MH magazine and online at ModernHealthcare.com/Innovator-Awards.
“Erfan has distinguished himself in his role by re-inventing the health care access and delivery system for NYC Health + Hospitals, leading to tangible improvements for countless New Yorkers,” said Eric Wei, MD, Senior Vice President and Chief Quality Officer, NYC Health + Hospitals. “I am thrilled that Modern Healthcare recognizes his efforts to harness innovation and eliminate barriers to health care access and delivery in his role.”
“… tackling the ‘what ifs’ …”
“The role of innovation has always been paramount in healthcare, and our 2024 honorees as top Innovators are driving real change in the industry,” said Mary Ellen Podmolik, editor in chief of Modern Healthcare. “The wide variety of projects underway by these executives and organizations demonstrates a dedication to tackling the ‘what ifs’ that can improve the delivery of healthcare and improve communities and the patient experience.”
“To deliver the best health care for New Yorkers, we must continue to find innovative solutions to the most pressing issues standing in the way of improved patient care,” said Erfan Karim, MPH, Assistant Vice President of Mobile Integrated Health and Executive Director of ExpressCare, NYC Health + Hospitals. “I am proud to be recognized by Modern Healthcare for my role in advancing us in this direction, as we also work toward achieving the long-term clinical and financial goals of the Health System. I thank my team for their support, and look forward to continued success in my role.”
Under Karim’s leadership, Virtual ExpressCare has grown to offer approximately 90,000 virtual visits annually with expansions to encompass Medical, Behavioral Health, Substance Use and Reproductive Health Urgent Care, thereby broadening the scope of accessible and immediate health care services. The service played a key role in the City’s and State’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, Virtual ExpressCare partnered with the New York State Department of Health to offer COVID-19 therapeutics through the State’s new COVID-19 hotline, 888-TREAT-NY. The service provided same or next day life-saving COVID-19 therapeutic treatment.
“… reducing barriers and enhancing the patient experience …”
Karim joined NYC Health + Hospitals in 2014. As first-generation immigrants without any other options, Karim and his family would seek care at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst. This lifelong experience as a patient at Elmhurst drives his interest in medicine and in serving the public health system. With Virtual ExpressCare, Karim opened a new pathway to care at the health system, reducing barriers and enhancing the patient experience through technology and service integration. This initiative not only leverages technology to improve healthcare delivery but also prioritizes patient convenience and accessibility. His work improves immediate access to care and also sets a forward-looking blueprint for how public healthcare systems can adapt and thrive in the 21st century.
Karim has over 10 years of experience in healthcare management, planning, and strategy development. Erfan serves as co-chair for health systems Shared Services and My-Chart steering committees and he helps lead the Digital Health and Remote Patient monitoring portfolio. Karim is a 2022-23 America’s Essential Hospitals Fellow and a graduate of NYU College of Global Public Health and CUNY Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education.
NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal healthcare system in the nation. We are a network of 11 hospitals, trauma centers, neighborhood health centers, nursing homes, and post-acute care centers. We are a home care agency and a health plan, MetroPlus. Our health system provides essential services to more than one million New Yorkers every year in more than 70 locations across the city’s five boroughs. Our diverse workforce of more than 43,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org
Modern Healthcare
Modern Healthcare is the most trusted business news and information brand in the healthcare industry. Modern Healthcare empowers healthcare leaders and influencers to make timely and informed business decisions. To learn more or subscribe, go to www.modernhealthcare.com/subscribe
Photo credit: HWM Illus. by NYC Health + Hospitals.
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