President Barack Obama has called former New York City Mayor Ed Koch in the hospital to ask how he's doin'.

The 84-year-old Koch is currently in an intensive care unit at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia hospital after having quadruple bypass surgery last week.

The mayor's former press secretary, George Arzt, says the president called on Wednesday afternoon and said ``I'm just calling to tell you that you are in my thoughts and I'm sure you'll be out soon.''

Koch quipped ``as a result of this phone call I'm sure I'm getting a better room.''

Koch was the city's mayor from 1978 to 1989 and was famed for asking residents ``How'm I doin'?''

He is expected to stay in the hospital for at least another month.