By SÍLE MOLONEY
Photo courtesy of NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx
New York City Health + Hospital/ North Central Bronx (NCB) officials said the hospital recently received a triple achievement from the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Medical Association (AMA), earning Gold and Gold+ level recognition in all three of the organizations’ 2025 Achievement Award categories.
They said NCB was honored for what was described as its exceptional work in blood pressure control, cholesterol management, and type 2 diabetes care, placing it among an elite group of healthcare institutions nationwide.
NCB officials said the three awards recognize NCB’s Target: BP program, its Check Change Control Cholesterol program, and its Target: Type 2 Diabetes program. Most notably, they said the hospital achieved what was described as the demanding threshold of having seventy percent or more of its adult patients with high blood pressure successfully maintaining controlled levels.
Meanwhile, they said in the cholesterol management category, NCB earned its Gold Award by ensuring that seventy percent or more of its at-risk adult patient population received appropriate statin therapy management in 2024.
Officials said the hospital’s Gold Award for Type 2 Diabetes management required meeting specified Goldlevel thresholds for two selected clinical measures related to diabetes control and cardiovascular disease risk factors, specifically hypertension and cholesterol management in diabetic patients.
They said Dr. Jacinth S. Ruddock, medical director of adult primary care at NCB, emphasized the significance of this achievement. “Nearly half of U.S. adults live with some form of cardiovascular disease, driven by risk factors such as high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, and uncontrolled high blood pressure,” Ruddock explained.
She added, “With timely diagnosis, research-based treatment, and patient education, these conditions can be effectively managed. NYC H+H/North Central Bronx is proud to be nationally recognized by the American Heart Association for its commitment to improving care in these critical areas.”
NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx (NCB) is a member facility of the New York City Health + Hospitals system, one of eleven acute care facilities within the City of New York. A 215-bed community hospital, NCB specializes in women’s and children’s services, and also provides behavioral health acute and ambulatory care.
NCB officials said these national recognitions carry favorable implications for the Bronx community, where rates of hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease have historically exceeded national averages. They said the recognition also reflects the clinical expertise of NCB’s primary care team, led by Ruddock.
She said, “This honor reflects the tireless efforts of our Ambulatory Care team, clinicians and healthcare professionals who work passionately to keep patients informed, engaged, and empowered.” Ruddock went on to attribute the success to what she said was the result of strong multidisciplinary collaboration and leadership across the organization.
Photo courtesy of NYC Health + Hospitals/North Central Bronx
“Through our partnership with the AHA, we continue to implement science-backed guidelines that elevate patient outcomes and community health,” she said. “At NCB, success is built on unity, dedication, and shared purpose, and we remain committed to advancing high quality, evidence-based care for all.”
NCB officials say its busy outpatient department has led the way in community-based care delivered in a compassionate and culturally-appropriate manner, while its labor and delivery service safely brings more than 1,000 babies into the world each year. They said NCB is committed to providing safe, high-quality medical care for any and all in need.
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