LINCOLN news November 2025
IN THIS ISSUE • FLU SEASON READINESS • NUTRITION SYMPOSIUM • WORLD KINDNESS DAY • LINCOLN BABY SHOWER • COMMUNITY TURKEY GIVEAWAY
NOVEMBER 2025 | 1 |
LINCOLN NEWS
A Message from Cristina Contreras, LMSW, MPA, FABC, DHL Chief Executive Officer
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LINCOLN NEWS
As we move into the Thanksgiving season and approach the year’s end, it is always a time of reflection. I find myself reflecting on what makes NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln such a special place to work: it’s our people. Having recently completed my first full year as CEO of this historic hospital, I am incredibly grateful for the dedication, passion, and unique perspectives each of you brings every day. Our journey together over the last year has only enhanced my appreciation for each and every one of you. I am thankful for the opportunity to lead this amazing team! Whether you provide direct patient care or support those who do, your work is meaningful and adds value to the lives of our patients and their families. I am also thankful for the continuous support of the communities we serve. We would not be one of the premier trauma centers in the nation hospital without the ongoing support and investment in our mission from the patients we serve as well as our many community partners. The South Bronx Community is truly special and we are grateful to have elected officials, community leaders, and volunteers from our Community Advisory Board and Patient and Family Advisory Council who truly care and are supportive of the work we do. My wish for you all during this Thanksgiving season is that you take some time to rest, recharge, and be present with those you cherish. I want to extend a special thank you to those employees who will be working on Thanksgiving, as caring for our patients instead of being at home with their families is a special gift of time and energy to those we serve. May you all have a peaceful, blessed Thanksgiving, knowing that the work you do is valued, and makes a vital difference in the community we serve. Thank you all for the many ways you contribute to NYC Health + Hospitals/ Lincoln and help further our mission.
We would not be one of the premier trauma centers in the nation hospital without the ongoing support in our
mission from the patients we serve as well as our community partners.
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LINCOLN NEWS
DEPARTMENT & EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH
SPOTLIGHTS
Dental Department
Steven Hollander Staff Nurse, 6B Med-Surg
We are absolutely thrilled to congratulate Steven Hollander, for being named our Employee of the Month! Steven’s dedication and compassion truly shine, earning him nominations from both his colleagues and the patients he serves. Patients describe him as “an excellent nurse,” “very patient, kind and thoughtful, and a great listener.” Thank you, Steven, for embodying the values of Lincoln and providing such wonderful care and love to our patients!
Congratulations to our department of the month - the Dental Department!
This recognition celebrates the team’s exceptional care and dedication, highlighted by outstanding feedback from both colleagues and patients. Our patients shared wonderful praise, calling their service “10 out of 10,” and describing the team as “very professional and very kind.”
Thank you to the entire Dental staff for your commitment!
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LINCOLN NEWS
SPOTLIGHTS
RETIREE
Karen Anderson BSN, RN 8B
Please join us in offering huge congratulations to Karen Anderson, RN, for receiving the Excellence in Clinical Nursing Award. Karen embodies the best of nursing through her expertise, compassion, and unwavering dedication to patient care. Her exceptional clinical skills, patient advocacy, and commitment to mentoring her peers make a profound impact every day at Lincoln Hospital. This well-deserved recognition is a testament to her professional dedication. We are incredibly proud to have Karen as part of the team and thank her for setting such a high standard.
Thank you for 25 years of dedicated service to Lincoln Hospital. Your contributions as Assistant Coordinating Manager for Medical Records have been invaluable to our team and the community we serve. We appreciate your hard work and commitment. Luis Estrada , MEDICAL RECORDS Assistant Coordinating Manager
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LINCOLN NEWS
A s respiratory virus season approaches, protecting yourself and your community becomes a top priority. Influenza can lead to complications, hospitalization, and severe illness. The most effective defense against the flu is an annual vaccination, which is currently recommended for everyone six months of age and older. Lincoln Hospital is committed to making this preventive care accessible to our staff, patients, and neighbors by offering walk-in flu vaccinations for both adults and pediatric patients. You can receive your vaccine at the Open Access
Practice located in the First Floor Annex. To accommodate various schedules, the clinic operates Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Additionally, we offer extended hours on Wednesdays from 8:30 AM until 7:00 PM. No appointment is necessary during these times, making it easier than ever to prioritize your health. While vaccination is your best defense, adopting daily healthy habits is also crucial for stopping the spread of germs. It is vital to wash or sanitize your hands frequently and avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. We also encourage
respiratory etiquette by covering coughs and sneezes, staying home if you feel ill, and wearing a high-quality mask in crowded or confined spaces. You can also safely receive your flu shot at the same time as other routine immunizations, including the COVID-19 and RSV vaccines. For more information on the benefits of vaccination and additional health guidance, please visit the NYC Health + Hospitals Flu Vaccination page at https://www. nychealthandhospitals.org/ services/flu-vaccination.
NOVEMBER 2025 | 6 |
LINCOLN NEWS
Quality Awards
W e are proud to recognize 17 departments for their excellence in: HCAHPS: Consistently scoring high or above the NYS average. Infection Control: Diligence in decreasing infection rates and improving patient safety. Nursing Indicators: Maintaining consistency and preventing fallouts in areas like falls and pressure ulcers. Additionally, we celebrated seven individuals from Quality Management for their crucial work on monitoring chart compliance. Thank you to our entire staff for your unwavering commitment to providing the best possible care to our patients.
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LINCOLN NEWS
Moving Lincoln Forward
Thank You to our Transport Department! This month, we turn the spotlight on the incredible team that keeps Lincoln Hospital in motion: our Patient Transport Department. We are thrilled to celebrate our transporters following their recent well-deserved recognition for service excellence. While their work often takes place in the corridors between appointments, their impact on patient safety and overall hospital efficiency is center stage. The Transport team is responsible for the safe and timely movement of patients throughout our facility, facilitating access to critical imaging scans, surgical procedures, and the happy journey of being discharged home. They are the friendly faces who offer comfort during transit and the strong hands ensuring smooth logistics. This recent acknowledgment highlights their unwavering commitment to punctuality, safety, and compassionate care. We extend our deepest gratitude to every member of the Transport Department. Thank you for being the heartbeat of our daily operations, for the miles you walk, and for lifting the spirits of our patients every single day.
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LINCOLN NEWS
Nourishing Recovery
Lincoln Hospital Hosts Nutrition Symposium
Medicine Program and the system- wide initiative offering plant- based meals as the primary option for dinner. These initiatives not only align with national best practices but also empower our patients with the “food as medicine” tools they need to heal and thrive long after they leave our care.
L incoln Hospital recently served as the proud host of a Nutrition Symposium, a gathering that united dietitians, clinical nutritionists, and medical teams from across the NYC Health + Hospitals system. The event highlighted the critical, often under-recognized role that precise medical nutrition therapy plays in patient outcomes and recovery times. Discussions at the symposium centered on alarming national data which underscores the urgency of this work. According to recent healthcare nutrition surveys, approximately one in three patients
enters the hospital with some form of malnutrition, a condition that often goes undiagnosed. Addressing this is vital; studies published in the Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition suggest that optimizing nutrition care can reduce hospital readmission rates by up to 27% and significantly shorten average lengths of stay. To combat these risks, Lincoln’s nutrition team detailed their rigorous protocol, which includes comprehensive nutrition screening within 24 hours of admission. The symposium also celebrated the success of the hospital’s Lifestyle
NOVEMBER 2025 | 9 |
LINCOLN NEWS
SHAPING CARE
Lincoln Hospital came together to celebrate World Kindness Day. In a ceremony dedicated to the people who make our hospital a sanctuary of healing, departments and individual staff members were presented with certificates of recognition. These awards were for the display of going above and beyond in embodying our core ICARE qualities. Our event was a reflection of the ICARE standards— the ethical backbone of the NYC Health + Hospitals system. Standing for Integrity, Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence, these values are our mission statement; they are the daily practice of our dedicated workforce.
Integrity and Accountability ensure that we build trust with every patient interaction, owning our actions and maintaining the highest ethical standards. Compassion and Respect remind us that every patient is a person first, deserving of dignity regardless of their background or ability to pay. Excellence drives us to constantly improve, ensuring that the care we provide today is even better than yesterday. During the ceremony, leadership emphasized that upholding these qualities is essential not only for patient satisfaction but for creating a supportive, equitable environment where healing can truly thrive.
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LINCOLN NEWS
A key theme of the World Kindness Day event was the reminder that to care for others, we must first care for ourselves. Healthcare is a demanding profession, and compassion fatigue is real. In the spirit of kindness, Lincoln Hospital leadership highlighted several critical resources designed to support the mental well-being of our staff: Helping Healers Heal (H3): This signature program offers peer-to- peer support, allowing staff to process challenging experiences with trained colleagues who understand the unique pressures of the job. It provides a safe space for emotional debriefing and psychological first aid. The Wellness Room: We reminded staff to take advantage of Lincoln’s dedicated Wellness Room—a tranquil, “tech-free” zone designed specifically for employees to unplug, meditate, or simply breathe during a hectic shift. As we move forward from this celebration, let us carry the spirit of World Kindness Day into every shift. By supporting one another and utilizing these wellness resources, we ensure that the “Lincoln Love” we are famous for continues to shine brightly for our community.
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LINCOLN NEWS
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LINCOLN NEWS
Celebrating Veterans Day Honoring Our Heroes
In our Veterans Day observation, hospital leadership and colleagues came together to recognize the unique dedication of the individuals who have pivoted from defending our nation to healing our community here in the Bronx. “Your service continues every day in the halls of this hospital,” was the sentiment echoed throughout the event, as staff
members exchanged stories of service and camaraderie. We are profoundly grateful for the discipline, compassion, and resilience our veteran staff bring to patient care. To support our veterans—both staff and patients—NYC Health + Hospitals actively partners with the NYC Department of Veterans’ Services (DVS). We encourage all veterans to utilize VetConnectNYC
(nyc.gov/vetconnectnyc), a centralized platform linking you to employment, housing, and benefits. Additionally, our system participates in the VA Community Care Network to ensure seamless access to medical services. For those ineligible for health insurance, NYC Care guarantees affordable access to quality healthcare.
NOVEMBER 2025 | 13 |
LINCOLN NEWS
Lighting the Way to Safety National Injury Prevention Day
L incoln Hospital joined the nationwide “green light” movement for National Injury Prevention Day, raising awareness about preventable trauma. In the hospital lobby, the Guns Down, Life Up (GDLU) team hosted a vital tabling event, distributing safety resources and engaging with the community to stop violence before it starts. While traditional injury prevention often focuses on accidents, GDLU treats violence as a public health crisis. By providing mentorship, conflict mediation, and hospital-based intervention for at-risk youth, GDLU actively interrupts the cycle of trauma. Together, Lincoln Hospital and GDLU are proving that the most powerful cure for injury is prevention.
NOVEMBER 2025 | 14 |
LINCOLN NEWS
Supporting New Beginnings
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LINCOLN NEWS
OUR GIFT TO EXPECTING PARENTS clinical staff. As a designated Baby-Friendly Hospital,
We’ve recently hosted a Community Baby Shower to support expecting parents in the Bronx. The event provided a welcoming environment where local families could connect with hospital staff, participate in educational games, and receive supplies to help them prepare for their infants. Ensuring families are equipped for their new arrivals was a primary focus of the day. Every attendee went home with essential baby items to aid in their preparation, and several parents received larger gifts, such as cribs and car seats. Beyond the supplies, the event offered an opportunity for direct engagement with
the facility offers extensive lactation support and 24/7 midwifery services to ensure safe, personalized care. We also facilitate access to the WIC Program for nutritional needs and the Nurse-Family Partnership, which pairs first- time mothers with nurses for home visits and guidance. For ongoing care, families can rely on Lincoln’s Pediatric Center of Excellence. The hospital is equipped with a Level III Perinatal Center to manage high- risk deliveries and neonatal care. Additionally, our pediatric services cover a wide spectrum of needs, from routine wellness visits
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LINCOLN NEWS
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LINCOLN NEWS
BECKERS
Lincoln Hospital CEO Cristina Contreras and CFO Zhishen Yang were among the distinguished leaders invited to be panelists at the Becker’s Healthcare 13th Annual CEO + CFO Roundtable, held at the Hilton Chicago from November 3–6, 2025. This premier event gathered top C-suite executives to debate and shape the future of the healthcare industry, covering critical themes such as digital transformation, health equity, and the integration of AI in patient care. By participating in these dynamic sessions, the Lincoln Hospital leadership team joined a national dialogue on driving meaningful change and enhancing value-driven healthcare alongside peers from major health systems across the country.
NOVEMBER 2025 | 18 |
LINCOLN NEWS
Prevention as the Best Medicine
National Pressure Injury Prevention Day
What is the most effective treatment for a pressure injury? It is not a complex surgery or an advanced dressing—it is ensuring the wound never appears in the first place. Recognizing that proactive vigilance is our Wound Care Department recently observed National Pressure Injury Prevention Day with a dedicated educational workshop. The event brought together clinical staff and caregivers to focus on the critical nuances of skin safety. Specialists led sessions on identifying signs and symptoms, teaching staff how to spot the earliest indicators of tissue compromise. A major focus
was placed on identifying at-risk patients by analyzing specific risk factors, such as immobility, sensory deficits, and poor nutrition. By understanding who is most vulnerable, staff can intervene before damage occurs. Moving from theory to application,
and patient repositioning schedules. The workshop also featured a hands-on look at the specialized equipment and tools used at Lincoln, including pressure-redistributing mattresses and prophylactic dressings designed to protect fragile skin from friction and shear. By reinforcing these protocols, the Wound Care Department aims to sharpen the clinical eye of every staff member.
the team showcased specific prevention and treatment measures. Attendees observed demonstrations of proper offloading techniques
NOVEMBER 2025 | 19 |
LINCOLN NEWS
Wellness Team Hosts Staff Painting Session
The Art of Healing the Healers In the high-pressure environment of a Level 1 Trauma Center, finding moments of calm is not a luxury—it is a physiological necessity. The Lincoln Hospital Wellness Team addressed
this vital need by transformed the wellness space on 8D into an art studio for a staff painting session. Colleagues across various departments stepped away from their offices to pick up brushes to foster mental clarity through creative expression. Investing in these restorative pauses is critical for safe hospital operations. Studies published in the American Journal of Critical Care suggest that healthcare professionals experiencing high burnout are twice as likely to report patient safety incidents. Furthermore, hospitals with active staff wellness programs see higher engagement and improved patient satisfaction scores. By prioritizing the mental health of our workforce through creative outlets, Lincoln ensures that our staff remains resilient, focused, and ready to provide the best care possible.
NOVEMBER 2025 | 20 |
LINCOLN NEWS
Honoring Transgender Day
TRANSGENDER DAY OF REMEMBRANCE
Lincoln Hospital joined communities globally in observing Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR), a day dedicated to honoring the memory of transgender individuals whose lives were lost to violence. To mark the occasion, Lincoln Hospital hosted an information table featuring the Pride Health Center, connecting patients and visitors with resources for affirming healthcare in the Bronx. The Pride Health Center at Lincoln offers comprehensive services designed to treat every patient
with dignity. The center provides primary and preventive care, hormone therapy, HIV/STI testing, and referrals for gender-affirming surgeries. The team is focused on reducing barriers to care and ensuring that transgender and gender non-conforming neighbors receive the specialized support they need in a respectful setting. Participating in TDOR allows us to recognize the resilience of the community. It serves as a reminder that our role goes beyond medical treatment—we are here to offer a safe, inclusive environment where quality care is accessible to everyone.
NOVEMBER 2025 | 21 |
LINCOLN NEWS
Serving Our Neighbors
Lincoln Hospital Hosts Annual Turkey Giveaway
T his week, Lincoln Hospital proudly distributed over 2,000 turkeys, ensuring that our neighbors and dedicated staff have a festive meal this Thanksgiving. In the Bronx, the need is statistically significant; recent data reveals our borough faces New York City’s highest rate of food insecurity, with nearly one in three residents struggling to access affordable, nutritious
food. These disparities highlight exactly why Lincoln is so proud to serve this community beyond just medical care. We provided over 2,000 turkeys to local families and gifted an additional 200 to our own hard-working frontline staff. This massive undertaking was a true collaboration of spirit and service. We extend our deepest
gratitude to the staff volunteers who managed the distribution lines with energy and grace. We also thank the over one dozen sponsors whose generous donations turned this vision into reality. At Lincoln, we believe that health includes fighting hunger, and we remain committed to supporting the well-being of every Bronx family this holiday season.quiatio vitiatusquiatio vitiatus
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EDITOR: Natasha Burke DESIGN: Devon Smillie PHOTOGRAPHY: Jahaun Atkins, Devon Smillie
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