Kings County Hospital Center

Kings County Hospital Center has a rich legacy for its pioneering role in medicine. Today, with over 627 beds, it remains on the cutting edge of technology and provides the most modern procedures with state-of-the-art equipment. Built in 1831 as a one room infirmary for publicly supported care of the sick, Kings County Hospital Center continues to be a leading healthcare facility whose mission is to provide care to everyone regardless of their ability to pay. The hospital provides a wide range of health services, and specialties are offered in all fields of modern medicine. More than 200 clinics provide a wide array of ambulatory care services. Kings County Hospital Center operates a world-renowned Level 1 Trauma Center, one of only three in the borough, which serves 2.6 million residents of Brooklyn and Staten Island. KCHC, a member institution of the New York City Health & Hospitals Corporation (HHC), is located in the heart of Brooklyn at the juncture of Crown Heights and East Flatbush. The hospital serves the Brooklyn community as both the family doctor and a major provider of a full spectrum of health care services. Throughout its history, the hospital has played a major role in meeting the health care needs of its surrounding population. This role is challenged by the growth of problems with AIDS, drugs, mental health, TB, homelessness, and other epidemics which strain existing resources and means for effective and efficient health care delivery. The Department of Otolaryngology is extremely busy at KCHC and runs an active out-patient facility, in-patient consultation service and surgical schedule. Four residents cover KCHC and UHB as a combined service, with the assistance of one general surgery resident and a dedicated otolaryngology physician assistant. The Department of Otolaryngology has scheduled Operating Room activities five days a week. All otolaryngologic subspecialties are covered with emphasis on head and neck cancer surgery, facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, pediatric otolaryngology and maxillofacial trauma. Matthew B. Hanson, MD is the director of the service and he is assisted by 10 additional part-time and voluntary board-certified otolaryngologists.