Erfan Karim MPH named to Modern Healthcare's 2024 Innovators List
This award recognizes healthcare leaders who make an impact through innovation.
Karim launched and grew the health system's virtual ExpressCare service.The service currently receives over 90,000 visits per year
April 8, 2024
NYC Health + Hospitals today announced that Erfan Karim, MPH, has been recognized by Modern Healthcare as one of its 2024 Innovators. Erfan Karim is Assistant Vice President of Mobile Integrated Health and Executive Director of ExpressCare. Modern Healthcare's 2024 Innovators Awards recognize leaders and organizations leading the way in healthcare innovation. Karim is recognized for his role in creating his Virtual ExpressCare service for NYC Health + Hospitals. This service is a model that allows New Yorkers who require emergency care for non-life-threatening health issues to connect him with a NYC Health + Hospitals provider for an evaluation within minutes. . Since its launch in 2020, more than 90,000 New Yorkers have used its services each year, attracting 100,000 new patients to the health system. Winner profiles will be featured in his April 8, 2024 issue of MH Magazine and online at his ModernHealthcare.com/Innovator-Awards.
“Erfan distinguished himself in his role by reinventing NYC Health + Hospitals' healthcare access and delivery system, resulting in measurable improvements for countless New Yorkers.” Eric Way, MD, Senior Vice President and Chief Quality Officer, NYC Health + Hospitals. “I am pleased that Modern Healthcare recognizes his efforts to leverage innovation and remove barriers to healthcare access and delivery in his role.”
“The role of innovation in healthcare has always been paramount, and our 2024 recipients as Top Innovators are driving real change in the industry,” he said. Mary Ellen Podmorik, Modern Healthcare Editor-in-Chief. “The variety of projects underway by these executives and organizations demonstrates their dedication to addressing the ‘what ifs’ that can improve health care delivery and enhance the community and patient experience.”
“To provide the best health care to New Yorkers, we must continue to find innovative solutions to the most pressing problems that stand in the way of improving patient care,” he said. Erfan Karim, MPH, Assistant Vice President, Mobile Integrated Care, Executive Director, New York City Healthcare + Hospitals ExpressCare. “We are also committed to achieving the health system's long-term clinical and financial goals, and I am proud to be recognized by Modern Healthcare for my role in moving us forward in this direction. I would like to thank the team for their support and look forward to continued success in my role.”
Under Mr. Karim's leadership, Virtual ExpressCare has grown to provide approximately 90,000 virtual visits annually and expanded to include medical, behavioral health, substance use, and reproductive health emergency care, thereby increasing access to We have expanded the range of available immediate medical services. The service played a critical role in the city and state's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, Virtual ExpressCare partnered with the New York State Department of Health to provide COVID-19 medications through the state's new COVID-19 hotline, 888-TREAT-NY. The service provided life-saving COVID-19 treatment on the same or next day.
Karim joined NYC Health + Hospitals in 2014. As a first-generation immigrant with no other options, Karim and his family ended up receiving treatment at his NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst. His lifelong experience as a patient at Elmhurst drove his interest in medicine and serving the public health system. With Virtual ExpressCare, Karim has pioneered new paths to care in the health system, reducing barriers and improving the patient experience through the integration of technology and services. This initiative not only leverages technology to improve healthcare delivery, but also prioritizes convenience and accessibility for patients. His research not only improves immediate access to health care, but also sets a forward-looking blueprint for how public health systems can adapt and thrive in the 21st century.
Karim has over 10 years of experience in healthcare management, planning and strategy development. Erfan is a co-chair of the health system's shared services and he co-chairs the My-Chart steering committee, helping lead his portfolio in digital health and remote patient monitoring. Karim is a 2022-23 America's Essential Hospital Fellow and a graduate of the New York University College of Global Public Health and the State University of New York Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education.
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About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the nation's largest municipal health system. We are a network of 11 hospitals, trauma centers, neighborhood health centers, nursing homes, and post-acute care centers. We are MetroPlus, the home care agency and health plan. Our health system provides essential services to more than 1 million New Yorkers each year at more than 70 locations across the city's five boroughs. Our diverse workforce of more than 43,000 employees is uniquely focused on helping New Yorkers, without exception, live the healthiest lives possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected. Facebook, twitterInstagram, and LinkedIn.
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