FDNY WTC Health Program Clinical Center Website

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Welcome to the FDNY WTC Clinical Center Website

The FDNY CCE and its World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program provide comprehensive physical and mental health services to all active and retired FDNY members who responded to the 9/11 attacks. This program is based within the Department’s Bureau of Health Services (BHS) and evolved from efforts that began decades before September 11, 2001, and continued uninterrupted on September 11, 2001, treating injured FDNY rescue workers (firefighters and emergency medical services [EMS]) and civilians at ground zero, even as the towers fell. This treatment continued in the disaster’s aftermath to provide physical and mental health treatment to our rescue and recovery workers in the days, months, and now years, after.

A letter to our members

A letter to our members from our new WTC Clinical Center Director, Dr. Jayson Park.

Patient Process

The Program provides a comprehensive monitoring and treatment exam, at no cost to you. The exam is very similar to those active members receive.

Newsletters

Find out the lastest news about the program.

Research Outcomes

Since 9/11, research has been conducted that specifically addresses the health effects of exposure to the WTC disaster site, with focus on first responders.

Cancer Screening Initiatives

Read about the cancer screening intiatives offered by the FDNY WTC Health Program.

Chief of Staff (COS) Elizabeth Cascio - A Heroic Survivor

"As an EMS female cancer survivor, I have an obligation to spread the message — busy lives are not an excuse for postponing annual medicals, including PAP smears and mammograms." Click here to read about Cascio's journey to recovery.

Patient Process

The comprehensive medical examination will take approximately 3 hours. For appointments in Brooklyn, the entire exam will be done on site. For appointments at Fort Totten and Middletown, only x-rays will be done off site (if needed). For exams at other locations (Staten Island and Commack), both chest x-rays and blood tests will be done OFF SITE. Referrals to nearby facilities for blood tests and chest x-rays will be given to you by a WTC nurse on the day of your appointment.

Your medical includes the following:

• A pulmonary function test
• Chest imaging
• Screening for high cholesterol, prostate health, and liver, kidney and blood diseases
• A physician evaluation
• A nursing consultation

If your medical examination indicates that additional testing or treatment is required, you can be referred, at no cost, for the following:

• Evaluation/treatment as needed, such as chest and/or sinus CT scans or GI evaluations
• Follow-up psychological and social work services
• Chronic WTC-related pain treatment
• Wellness programs, including a tobacco cessation treatment program

If you require medications for your WTC-related illness(es), the WTC Free Prescription plan covers eligible members’ medications with NO CO-PAY for respiratory, chronic sinus, GERD and mental health WTC related conditions. All other conditions are NOT covered by this plan. Please call 718-999-1858 for more information.

The WTC Medical Monitoring program is specially designed and exclusive to FDNY members with the full support of your unions – the UFA, UFOA, UEP, UEMSO and SOA (EMS Locals 2507 and 3621). With that in mind, you can be assured that:

• Your individual medical results are delivered only to you
• Your individual data is secure at FDNY BHS and will not be shared with anyone, including the NY/NJ WTC Consortium or the federal government, without your permission
• Group data to be shared with Fire and EMS unions (partners in our program) will be presented without names or identifiers

Your presence in these efforts helped our city and our families in their time of need. Your participation in the FDNY WTC Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program will help you to get appropriate evaluation and treatment, as well as provide a resource of information about health trends in the FDNY First Responder population. Correctly evaluating and identifying these overall health trends is important for the entire FDNY community, as these discoveries will help enable us to provide more extensive treatment to all eligible members of the FDNY.

Please remember that there is no penalty if you do not choose to take part in the WTC Program. However, your participation would be greatly appreciated and valuable to the entire FDNY community. If you do take part, we will respect the confidentiality of your individual records.

Please call us at 718-999-1858 at your earliest opportunity to confirm or reschedule your reserved appointment slot. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Prepare for a Member Exam

To ensure accurate test results, please follow these instructions:

For exams at Staten Island or Commack, if you take prescription medications each morning that must be taken with food, please take you medication as normal. If you plan to have your blood test done on the same day as your appointment, eating a very light meal (such as coffee/tea and dry toast) before your exam is recommended. If you plan to have your blood test done on another day, you may eat normally on the day of your appointment.

For exams at Brooklyn, Middletown, or Fort Totten only:

• No eating, and no drinking caffeinated beverages or juice less than four hours before your appointment time. Please consider bringing something to eat with you. After your blood work and vitals are complete, you will be able to take a moment to eat (between stations).
• If you take prescription medications each morning that must be taken with food, please bring your medication dose with you. As soon as blood work and vitals are complete, you will be able to take a moment to have a snack (please bring one with you) and you should be able to take the medication dose at that time. If you smoke, do not smoke for at least four hours before your appointment time.
• If you take prescription medications each morning that do NOT require taking them with food, you may take them on the morning of the medical. Drinking water before your monitoring appointment will not affect test results.

A WTC Free Prescription plan covers eligible members’ medications with NO CO-PAY for: respiratory, chronic sinus, GERD, and mental health WTC related conditions. No other conditions are covered by this plan. Please call 718-999-1858 for more information.

To ensure that your visit runs smoothly, please follow these guidelines:

• If you have recent medical test results that you would like to show to the WTC BHS doctors, please bring them in. It is not a requirement, but just an option that we offer members.
• There is no treadmill or Stairmaster test. You do not need to dress to exercise, but you should dress comfortably.
• If you usually carry a pocket tool or pocket knife, we ask that you leave it in the car or at home because of heightened security at medical sites.
• If you use reading glasses, please remember to bring them with you.
• If you use an inhaler, please bring it with you.

Your continued wellness and participation in the FDNY World Trade Center Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program are important to us. The program offers needed medical follow-up and health surveillance, all at no cost to you. The Program works in compliance with recent New York State legislation recognizing possible delayed health impacts of 9/11 exposures. It relies on the participation of FDNY members.

Please remember that there is no penalty if you do not choose to take part in the WTC Program. However, your participation would be greatly appreciated and valuable to the entire FDNY community. If you do take part, we will respect the confidentiality of your individual records.

Thank you again for your participation. We look forward to seeing you again soon when you come in for your WTC health monitoring exam. If you have questions about the program, or if you need to reschedule your appointment, please call 718-999-1858.

Get Directions

Headquarters 9 Metro Tech Center Brooklyn, NY (718) 999-1858	Commack 2171 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 300 Commack, NY 11725 (631) 858-2190	Fort Totten Fort Totten, Building 413B Bayside, NY 11359 (718) 281-7955 After arriving at the gate Go through security,follow the blue sign with the white arrowand bear right Follow the road until you reach a STOP sign Slight left at STOP sign onto Weaver Streetand take Weaver Street to the end 413B will be the last house on the street
Orange County 2277 Goshen Turnpike Middletown, NY 10941 (845) 695-0695 Download Directions (PDF)	Staten Island 1688 Victory Boulevard, Suite 101A Staten Island, NY 10314 (718) 448-2391

Getting to BHS Headquarters at 9 MetroTech Center by car:

From Manhattan:

Take the Manhattan Bridge to Flatbush Ave, Tillary St is first major intersection, FDNY is 1 block beyond Tillary.

BQE Brooklyn bound:

Take Exit 29 (Tillary St exit) - merge left off the exit ramp to Flatbush and turn left. HQ is 1 block on Flatbush.

BQE Queens bound:

Take Cadman Plaza exit to Cadman Plaza West. Turn left at Tillary St. Turn right at Flatbush Ave. HQ is 1 block on Flatbush.

What trains stop near BHS Headquarters?

• R to Jay Street/MetroTech
• F, A and C to Jay Street/MetroTech
• 2 and 3 to Hoyt St., take Bridge St. into MetroTech
• 4 and 5 to Borough Hall, change to 2 or 3 Bklyn-bound, 1 stop to Hoyt St.
• LIRR to Atlantic Ave. station, change for 2 or 3 Manhattan bound, 2 stops to Hoyt St.

Parking Information

Click on blue markers for more information.

View FDNY Headquarters in a larger map

Effective Thursday, October 25, 2012, there will no longer be legal parking along Johnson Street (Tech Place) from Prince to Gold Streets. There will also be NO PARKING on Gold Street or Prince Street south of the 84 Precinct towards Johnson Street.

All vehicles will be SUBJECT TO A SUMMONS AND IMMEDIATE TOWING! This restriction is due to an ongoing construction project on Gold Street. The project is expected to continue for the next three years.

The map below provides visual reference to the new areas with the NO PARKING restrictions.

Where are some places I can eat on Sunday?

• Starbucks – 6 MetroTech Center (on Jay St near Myrtle Ave), Sun 7am to 10pm
• Super Taco – 54 Willoughby Street (between Jay & Lawrence Street), Sun 11am-10pm
• Hill Country Chicken - 345 Adams Street, 11:30am to 10:00pm

Research Outcomes

FDNY WTC Health Program Updates

1. FDNY World Trade Center Health Program Health Impacts on FDNY Rescue/Recovery Workers - 20 Years: 2001 - 2021 On the 20th anniversary of the World Trade Center (WTC) terrorist attack, much of the world has changed, but the strength and courage displayed in 2001 have not been forgotten. In fact, as time passes and our members’ health continues to be impacted by their exposures during the rescue/ recovery effort, the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) WTC Clinical Center of Excellence (CCE) remains as determined as ever to provide support and top-quality healthcare to our members, both active and retired. Following the tragic loss of 343 FDNY members on 9/11, nearly 16,000 FDNY members—including firefighters, emergency medical services (EMS) providers and civilian personnel, both actives and retirees—were exposed to WTC dust, particulates, noxious gases, chemicals and fibers while working tirelessly for more than 10 months in the rescue and recovery effort. Many members were injured on 9/11 or began feeling ill during the rescue and recovery effort. Our Department began treatment the day of 9/11 for injured members and set up the first WTC monitoring program in New York City and the nation to care for all its members in October 2001, four weeks after the attack. Since then, thousands have fallen ill, and more than 200 have died of WTC-related illness. Read more…
2. FDNY World Trade Center Health Program An Update 15 years later: September 2001-September 2016 This report demonstrates that our workforce continues to suffer from WTC-related illnesses and that new illnesses, such as cancers and autoimmune rheumatologic diseases, are occurring at rates greater than expected. This information, confrmed by other investigators, enabled the federal government to add cancers as WTC-related health conditions eligible for full benefts and, in 2015, to reauthorize the Zadroga Act, providing the WTC Health Program with federal funding for the next 75 years. Read more…
3. World Trade Center Health Impacts on FDNY Rescue Workers A Six-Year Assessment: September 2001-September 2007 The purpose of this publication is to share important information the Department has gathered concerning the physical and mental health effects of 9/11 on our membership. Read more…

Respiratory Research

1. Persistent Hyperreactivity and Reactive Airway Dysfunction in Firefighters at the World Trade Center New York City Fire Department rescue workers experienced massive exposure to airborne particulates at the World Trade Center site. Aims of this longitudinal study were to (1) determine if bronchial hyperreactivity was present, persistent, and independently associated with exposure intensity, (2) identify objective measures shortly after the collapse that would predict persistent hyperreactivity and a diagnosis of reactive airways dysfunction 6 months post-collapse. Read more…
2. Obstructive Airways Disease With Air Trapping Among Firefighters Exposed to World Trade Center Dust Airways obstruction was the predominant physiologic finding underlying the reduction in lung function post-September 11, 2001, in FDNY WTC rescue workers presenting for pulmonary evaluation. Read more…
3. World Trade Center ''Sarcoid-Like'' Granulomatous Pulmonary Disease in New York City Fire Department Rescue Workers Previous reports suggest that sarcoidosis occurs with abnormally high frequency in firefighters. We sought to determine whether exposure to World Trade Center (WTC) “dust” during the collapse and rescue/recovery effort increased the incidence of sarcoidosis or “sarcoid-like” granulomatous pulmonary disease (SLGPD). Read more…
4. Pulmonary Function after Exposure to the World Trade Center Collapse in the New York City Fire Department On September 11, 2001, the World Trade Center collapse created an enormous urban disaster site with high levels of airborne pollutants. First responders, rescue and recovery workers, and residents have since reported respiratory symptoms and developed pulmonary function abnormalities. Read more…
5. Lung Function in Rescue Workers at the World Trade Center after 7 Years We investigated the longer-term consequences of exposure to World Trade Center dust by characterizing trends in pulmonary function during the 7 years after 9/11, as assessed by repeated measures of forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) among FDNY rescue workers. Read more…
6. Symptoms, Respirator Use, and Pulmonary Function Changes Among New York City Firefighters Responding to the World Trade Center Disaster Objective was to determine whether arrival time at the WTC and other exposure variables (including respirator use) were associated with symptoms and changes in pulmonary function (after exposure - before exposure). Read more…
7. Accelerated Spirometric Decline in New York City Firefighters Withα1 -Antitrypsin Deficiency On September 11, 2001, the World Trade Center (WTC) collapse caused massive air pollution, producing variable amounts of lung function reduction in the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) rescue workforce. a 1 -Antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency is a risk factor for obstructive airway disease. Read more…
8. Emerging Exposures and Respiratory Health: World Trade Center Dust The attack on the World Trade Center (WTC) on 9/11/2001 produced a massive dust cloud with acute exposure, and the rubble pile burning over 3 months exposed more than 300,000 residents, rescue workers, and clean-up workers. Firefighters in the New York City Fire Department had significant respiratory symptoms characterized by cough, dyspnea, gastroesophageal reflux, and nasal stuffiness with a significant 1-year decline in FVC and FEV(1). Bronchial hyperreactivity measured by methacholine challenge correlated with bronchial wall thickening on CT scans. Read more...

Mental Health Research

1. Trends of Elevated PTSD Risk in Firefighters Exposed to the World Trade Center Disaster: 2001–2005 We identified trends in the prevalence of elevated posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) risk as determined by the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY)-modified PTSD Checklist in World Trade Center (WTC)-exposed firefighters. We also examined trends in relation to WTC exposure, social support, change in recreational activities, and functional health. Read more…
2. Trends in Probable PTSD in Firefighters Exposed to the World Trade Center Disaster, 2001–2010 We present the longest follow-up, to date, of probable posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after the 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center (WTC) in New York City firefighters who participated in the rescue/recovery effort. Read more…
3. Evaluating Risk Factors and Possible Mediation Effects in Posttraumatic Depression and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Comorbidity On September 11, 2001 (9/11), attacks on the World Trade Center (WTC) killed 341 Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) firefighters and injured hundreds more. Previous WTC-related studies reported high rates of comorbid depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), identifying disability retirement, alcohol use, and early arrival at the WTC site as correlates. However, those studies did not evaluate risk factors that could have mediated the observed comorbidity. We identified unique risk factors for each condition in an effort to better understand comorbidity. Read more…
4. Performance characteristics of the PTSD Checklist in retired firefighters exposed to the World Trade Center disaster Since the World Trade Center (WTC) attacks on September 11, 2001, the Fire Department, City of New York Monitoring Program has provided physical and mental health screening services to rescue/recovery workers. This study evaluated performance of the self-report PTSD Checklist (PCL) as a screening tool for risk of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in firefighters who worked at Ground Zero, compared with the interviewer-administered Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS). Read more…

Occupational Research

1. The Impact of the World Trade Center Attack on FDNY Firefighter Retirement, Disabilities, and Pension Benefits Our goal was to examine the effect of the World Trade Center (WTC) attack and subsequent New York City Fire Department (FDNY) rescue/recovery activities on firefighter retirements. We also analyzed the financial impact associated with the increased number and proportion of service-connected ‘‘accidental’’ disability retirements on the FDNY pension system. Read more…

Autoimmune Research

1. Nested Case–Control Study of Selected Systemic Autoimmune Diseases in World Trade Center Rescue/Recovery Workers. Objective. To test the a priori hypothesis that acute and chronic work exposures to the World Trade Center (WTC) site on or after September 11, 2001 were associated with risk of new-onset systemic autoimmune diseases. Read more…

Studies In Progress

1. Career Firefighter Health Study Objective. This NIOSH sponsored WTC Program study surveys career firefighters from San Francisco, Philadelphia, and Chicago to study long-term health effects of occupational exposures and its impact on the risks for cancers and respiratory diseases. The benefit of the studying firefighters from other metropolitan areas is to provide a health baseline against which career firefighters from FDNY can be compared when evaluating the effects of the WTC disaster. Read more…

Helpful Links

World Trade Center Health Program Member Handbook

This WTC Health Program Member Handbook describes your benefits in the Program through Clinical Centers of Excellence (CCEs) in the New York metropolitan area. We hope the information helps you better understand and get the most out of your benefits through the Program.

WTC Health Program Member Handbook

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - WTC Health Program

Contains information about the WTC Health Program, how to apply to become part of program, and various resources for both responders and survivors of 9/11/2001.

http://www.cdc.gov/wtc/

New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene - 9/11 Health

Public information website provides the latest information about scientific research and services for people who may have health problems related to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. Also contains information about the WTC Health Registry.

http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/wtc/html/home/home.shtml

September 11th Victim Compensation Fund

Contains information about this program, which is designed to provide compensation for any individual (or a personal representative of a deceased individual) who suffered physical harm or was killed as a result of the terrorist-related aircraft crashes of September 11, 2001 or the debris removal efforts that took place in the immediate aftermath of those crashes.

http://www.vcf.gov/index.html

World Trade Center Health Program Scientific/Technical Advisory Committee

This link provides information about the committee, which is responsible for determining program eligibility criteria and inclusion of additional health conditions for the program:

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/wtc/stac/

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - World Trade Center Health Effects

Use this link to find additional research publications about health effects in various WTC-exposed populations.

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/wtc/science.html

Newsletters

Issue 1 May 2012

Issue 2 August 2012

Issue 3 November 2012

Issue 4 February 2013

Issue 5 May 2013

Issue 6 August 2013

Issue 7 December 2013

Issue 8 April 2014

Issue 9 September 2014

Issue 10 December 2014

Issue 11 Spring 2015

Issue 12 Fall 2015

Issue 13 Winter 2016

Issue 14 Spring/Summer 2016

Cancer Screening Initiatives

Colonoscopy – A New FDNY WTC Screening Benefit at NO Cost to You

Colonoscopy can prevent colorectal cancer or can lead to successful treatment through early diagnosis. The FDNY WTC Health Program is providing screening colonoscopy at no charge to you and with no effect on your duty status. Only enrolled members receiving this letter by mail are eligible for this free benefit. Authorizations for this procedure are required and will be provided at your annual exam for active members or at your WTC monitoring exam for retirees. If your monitoring exam is delinquent, you should schedule a monitoring appointment. If you had a monitoring exam within the past 11 months, you should schedule a treatment visit to obtain authorization. Read more . . .

Mammograms – A New FDNY WTC Screening Benefit at NO Cost to You

Mammography can lead to early diagnoses and thereby increase your likelihood for successful treatment. The FDNY WTC Health Program is providing screening mammography at no charge to you and with no effect on your duty status. Only enrolled members receiving this letter by mail are eligible for this free benefit. Authorizations for this procedure are required and will be provided at your annual exam for active members or at your WTC monitoring exam for retirees. If your monitoring exam is delinquent, you should schedule an appt. to be seen. If you had a monitoring exam within the past 11 months, you should schedule a treatment visit to obtain authorization. Read more . . . Chief of Staff (COS) Elizabeth Cascio - A Heroic Survivor and Her Story of Overcoming Cervical Cancer Chief of Staff (COS) Elizabeth Cascio

On 9/11, Chief of Staff (COS) Elizabeth Cascio responded to the terrorist attack at the World Trade Center. As an FDNY EMT, she witnessed firsthand the horrors of that terrible day. She assisted in the rescue efforts at Ground Zero throughout the month of September. Like so many other EMS responders, she thought only of the job that needed to be done, of those that could be rescued, and when that hope was extinguished, of the families that could find closure if their loved ones could be found.

"Everyone at Ground Zero knew it was a Haz-Mat incident," says COS Cascio. "But we had a job to do. And now our job is to fully participate in FDNY's WTC annual medical monitoring program. For every woman in our program, full participation also requires obtaining PAP smears and mammograms at regularly scheduled intervals." In December 2019, COS Cascio was diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer. Since 9/11, she has had numerous FDNY WTC annual medicals for cancer surveillance. Pelvic exams and Pap smears are part of the program but are done by the member's personal gynecologist. In December 2019, COS Cascio's Pap smear was positive for cervical cancer, and PET/CT scans showed that it was invasive, with the tumor impinging on her urinary tract. Over the next year, she underwent grueling chemo and radiation therapy and several surgeries — all the while continuing to work at FDNY.

Throughout her EMS career, she witnessed too many deaths to recount, but now she had to deal with the real possibility that her own life was coming to an end. On many days, she says, "The treatment was more traumatizing than the disease. At times, the pain was almost too difficult to bear, but I refused to live in a negative space and instead forced myself to focus on the goal: to become cancer free; to choose life over death." In February 2021, she heard the words she had been praying to hear, that her cancer was in remission.

"As an EMS female cancer survivor, I have an obligation to spread the message — busy lives are not an excuse for postponing annual medicals, including PAP smears and mammograms."

PAST STORIES Lieutenant Joe Brosi - A Heroic Survivor

In 2015, Lieutenant Joe Brosi was diagnosed with lung cancer. Throughout multiple treatments that included chemotherapy and radiation, the WTC Health Program (WTCHP) and the FDNY Family Support Team was always there for Lieutenant Joe Brosi. According to Brosi, “support is your biggest asset” and support is what was needed to help him get through this tough time.

Read More

Lieutenant Joe Minogue - A Heroic Survivor

In 2006, Lieutenant Joe Minogue was diagnosed with head and neck cancer and in 2017, he was diagnosed yet again, but with bladder cancer. Throughout multiple treatments that included chemotherapy and radiation, the WTC Health Program (WTCHP) was always there for Lieutenant Joe Minogue and his family. Lieutenant Minogue feels that being part of the FDNY is "like having a family with [him] the whole way…It was nice and that relationship continues to this day".

Read More

Fire Marshal Conrad Tinney - A Heroic Survivor

“If it wasn’t for that [WTC Health Program] monitoring, I don’t think I’d be here now.” Fire Marshal Conrad Tinney opens up about his experience battling Stage 3 lung cancer and how he stayed positive and focused on recovery. His illness was detected and diagnosed by FDNY WTC Health Program clinicians during routine monitoring and treatment visits.

Read More

Fire Captain Mike Mulqueen - A Heroic Survivor

Fire Captain Mike Mulqueen will tell you that “every day is a gift”. In August of 2011, at the age of 47, he experienced rectal bleeding. He credits his wife with insisting he gets this looked into. His colonoscopy revealed stage 3 colon cancer.

Read More

Chief David Biesty - A Heroic Survivor

“It was tough getting through those treatments,” Chief Biesty remembers. “It was hard to picture that life would get better. I don’t know how I could have gotten through it without my wife, children, my entire family and my fire department family."

Read More

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