N.Y. New York City health and hospitals corporation act 1016/69 § 2: Declaration of policy and statement of purposes

§ 2. Declaration of policy and statement of purposes. It is hereby

found, declared and determined that the provision and delivery of

comprehensive care and treatment of the ill and infirm, both physical

and mental, are of vital and paramount concern and essential to the

protection and promotion of the health, safety and welfare of the

inhabitants of the state of New York and the city of New York.

There are serious shortages in the number of personnel adequately

trained and qualified to provide the quality care and treatment needed.

A myriad of complex and often deleterious constraints and restrictions

place a harmful burden on the delivery of such care and treatment.

Technological advances have been such that portions of the health and

medical services now delivered by the city are not as advanced as they

should be. A system permitting legal, financial and managerial

flexibility is required for the provision and delivery of high quality,

dignified and comprehensive care and treatment for the ill and infirm,

particularly to those who can least afford such services.

It is further found, declared and determined that hospitals and other

health facilities of the city are of vital and paramount concern and

essential in providing comprehensive care and treatment for the ill and

infirm, both physical and mental, and are thus vital to the protection

and the promotion of the health, welfare and safety of the people of the

state of New York and the city of New York.

There are inadequate general and specialized health care facilities

including but not limited to nursing homes and related laboratories and

ambulatory care clinics and centers and diagnostic treatment centers.

The inadequacy and shortage of health facilities derives from such

factors among others as the rapid technological changes and advances

taking place in the medical field. These changes and advances have

created the need for substantial structural and functional changes in

existing facilities. Many of the health facilities of the city are

overcrowded. Buildings are deteriorating and many suffer harm as a

result of piecemeal and uncoordinated additions. The facilities

available for education, research and development are inadequate to meet

the demands of the medical field. Procedures inherent in the

administration of health and medical services as heretofore established

obstruct and impair efficient operation of health and medical resources.

It is found, declared and determined that in order to accomplish the

purposes herein recited, to provide the needed health and medical

services and health facilities, a public benefit corporation, to be

known as the New York City health and hospital corporation, should be

created to provide such health and medical services and health

facilities and to otherwise carry out such purposes; that the creation

and operation of the New York city health and hospitals corporation, as

hereinafter provided, is in all respects for the benefit of the people

of the state of New York and of the city of New York, and is a state,

city and public purpose; and that the exercise by such corporation of

the functions, powers and duties as hereinafter provided constitutes the

performance of an essential public and governmental function.