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(March 3, 2016) – NewYork-Presbyterian/Hudson Valley Hospital hosted the Hudson Valley Gateway Chamber of Commerce Thursday for its monthly Business Council Breakfast, and the two organizations shared information and celebrated their commitment to the surrounding communities they have jointly served over the past 100-plus years.

"What makes this Chamber great," said John C. Federspiel, President, NewYork-Presbyterian/Hudson Valley Hospital, "is that all of you live in the communities where you do business, and this is true of us as well. When people remark on our success here at the hospital and ask ‘what’s in the special sauce’ to make the very best healthcare experience for our patients, it’s really because our employees who work and dedicate their careers here also live in these communities."

Mr. Federspiel invited the 75 Chamber members in attendance to welcome Stacey Petrower in her new role as the hospital’s Chief Operating Officer. A health care executive for more than 20 years, Ms. Petrower last served as vice president for operations at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell in Manhattan, having first joined the NYP family in 2003.

Ms. Petrower echoed comments about community commitment by sharing that not only is the hospital her newest employer, but also that she has made this her home. "It’s quite delightful to be part of the community and have store owners know me and wave, and I have frequented some great restaurants," she said.

Mr. Federspiel and Ms. Petrower shared highlights of upcoming initiatives at the hospital, including multi-million capital improvements that will result in a new, state-of- the-art Maternity Center early next year, as well more enhancements to the Hudson Valley region’s only 24-hour "No-Wait" Emergency Department, where waiting room lines are non-existent and patients are quickly evaluated and treated.

"This ‘No-Wait’ ER is nothing like I have ever experienced. It is a gem, it is a miracle," said Ms. Petrower, noting the Emergency Department receives patient satisfaction scores year over year that consistently place it higher than 95 percent of the hospitals in the country in key quality metrics. An upcoming event on Tuesday, April 12 th , will celebrate the 10 th anniversary of the No-Wait ED.

Later, as Chamber members stood to introduce themselves, their businesses and/or civic associations, several spoke of the quality of care they and their families have received at the hospital. Laurie Weisz, business owner of "Mom Offers More" magazine and www.CrotonGuides.com, also noted that her 11-year-old son was treated at the hospital’s Emergency Room over the summer when a camp visit to a petting zoo earlier in the day led to his experiencing anaphylactic shock soon after she picked him up.

"This hospital saved my son’s life. If we had to wait in an ER, I can’t imagine what would have happened," Ms. Weisz said.

The Chamber also heard how NYP/Hudson Valley Hospital’s role in the NewYork-Presbyterian Regional Hospital Network has cemented access to the best and brightest in people and resources in global healthcare today. From the 410 medical staff members in 62 specialties at the hospital, Ms. Petrower spotlighted four new outstanding physicians on staff through NYP, the NewYork-Presbyterian Medical Group/Hudson Valley and the Columbia Doctors Group: Dr. Shalen Badhan, Rheumatology; Dr. Daniel Feingold, Colorectal Surgeon; Dr. Roy Oommen, Thoracic Surgery; and Dr. Jean Edmond, General, Transplant and Pediatric Surgery.

Mr. Federspiel congratulated Deborah Milone, Executive Director, and Lawrence DeNoia, Director, of the Hudson Valley Gateway Chamber of Commerce, and all its members, on receiving a high honor last fall when it was named the 2015 New York State Chamber of Commerce of the Year, in the very same year it celebrated its centennial.