Dromm Honors Elmhurst Hospital Coronary Care Unit Leadership for Saving Lives : Special event featured recent patient and cardiac arrest survivor Byron Cotton, whose life was saved by Coronary Care Unit medical staff

UsaNewsOnline.Com Desk, Elmhurst, NY – NYC Council Finance Chair Daniel Dromm (D-Elmhurst, Jackson Heights) honored Elmhurst Hospital’s renowned Coronary Care Unit (part of the NYC Health + Hospitals system) for providing life-saving services to Queens residents.  Dromm helped establish the Coronary Care Unit by securing $4 million in funding for its creation during his first term as a NYC Council Member.

Recently, Dana Cotton, a Queens human rights activist notified Dromm that on January 10, 2018, her husband Byron Cotton collapsed in the shower in sudden cardiac arrest brought on by a clogged artery.  After receiving CPR and other life-sustaining care from Ms. Cotton and FDNY emergency medical technicians, Mr. Cotton was rushed to the Coronary Care Unit’s cardiac catheterization lab to clear his arteries.  His life was saved thanks to the expert care he received.  He was discharged from the hospital three days later.

“It is a pleasure to stand with the Cotton family to recognize the Elmhurst Hospital Coronary Care Unit for the life-sustaining medical services they provide in Queens,” said Council Member Dromm.  “Each year, hundreds of lives are saved–including Byron Cotton’s–thanks to the excellent care patients receive from the unit.  Throughout my tenure as a council member, I have fought for and allocated millions of dollars to expand coronary care and other services at Elmhurst Hospital.  I remain committed to securing additional funding so that the hospital remains on the forefront of quality care in our borough.”

At this special event, the Cotton family gave moving testimony on how the hospital’s Coronary Care Unit saved Byron Cotton’s life.

“Six months ago my daughter and I heard a loud crash and found my husband  unresponsive with no heartbeat and no breath,” said Dana Cotton, wife of Byron Cotton.  “He had experienced sudden cardiac arrest.  After being treated on the scene by EMS/EMT he was rushed to Elmhurst Hospital where he was met by a team of doctors and nurses who were prepped and ready to continue the work of saving his life.  Today he would tell you he is doing great.  In fact, just last week he biked 40 miles around NYC through Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan.  We are so grateful to the entire team at Elmhurst Hospital’s Cardiac Care Unit for their expertise and dedication to providing the care that saved his life.”

“We are extremely proud that Council Member Daniel Dromm has chosen to recognize our Coronary Care Unit and the high level of care Elmhurst  provides to patients each and every day,” said Israel Rocha, Vice President of NYC Health + Hospitals and CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst.  “As a leading healthcare institution for the treatment of heart attacks and other cardiac conditions here in Queens, we have been recognized by New York State for our excellent patient outcomes for several years in a row and are grateful to the City Council for this additional honor. We are also overjoyed that Mr. Cotton has been able to come back to Elmhurst today to reunite with the doctors, nurses, and other members of his healthcare team that aided him on his road to recovery.” 

“NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst’s Coronary Care Unit provides a life line to the sickest heart patients in Queens and delivers care to hundreds of heart attack victims in the borough, and we are honored that the City Council has chosen to recognize the hard work and dedication of our staff,” said Dr. Deborah Reynolds, Director of Elmhurst’s Coronary Care Unit (CCU).  “Last year more than 100 patients received emergency care and advanced stenting procedures in the CCU, making our service one of the largest emergency cardiology centers in New York City. We look forward to continuing to expand our program and to providing life-saving care to the people of our community.”

(PHOTO CAPTION: Council Member Daniel Dromm (center) presents proclamation to Dr. Deborah Reynolds, Elmhurst Hospital Coronary Care Unit Director (left of Dromm, holding proclamation), Dr. David Rubinstein, Elmhurst Hospital Director of Cardiology (far left),  and other members of the Coronary Care Unit staff.  They are joined by former patient & cardiac arrest survivor Byron Cotton and his wife Dana Cotton (left of Reynolds.) Press Release.