Queens News - Local News

Tweet As we near the end of Pride Month, AdvantageCare Physicians and BronxDocs, would like to take this opportunity to explore why it’s important to come out to your health care provider. It’s your choice who you share your identity with—and your doctor’s responsibility to create a safe environment where you feel comfortable—but sharing with your doctor could give them a better understanding of the type of care you should receive.  Dr. Nicole Thomas-Sealey, Vice President of Clinical Training and Education, discusses why it’s important to start the dialogue about your identity with your doctor. Dr. Thomas-Sealey is a leading voice and educator who developed cultural competency training programs to teach clinical staff how to better identify and overcome unconscious bias and how to improve communication with the communities we serve. As a physician, do you have any stories that have stood out to you that highlighted the importance of creating a safe environment for pa...

Subscribe in a reader By Fatima Shell-Sanchez, RN, Visiting Nurse Service of New York Summer is here and it seems that New Yorkers from the Bronx to Brooklyn are eager to get outside and enjoy some fun in the sun—especially after a year of staying locked down at home. As the season heats up, it is important to review a few important health reminders to help keep everyone safe during summer heatwaves.  If you are elderly, or have elderly loved ones living at home, these tips are even more important Stay Cool – Rooms should be kept as cool as possible, using air-conditioner or fans and open windows to improve air circulation. If no air-conditioning is available, try going to places where it is, such as shopping malls, public libraries, movie theaters or cooling centers.  Check https://maps.nyc.gov/cooling-center/ to find a cooling center near you.  Cool baths or showers can also help, as can wearing lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing. If po...

Subscribe in a reader By Chandra Wilson   Getting proper healthcare can prove a challenge for many. That challenge becomes even greater for those in the transgender community, who, due to family and societal pressures, may find themselves without access to health care or living without the social supports and resources that many of us take for granted.  SelectHealth , a specialized Medicaid plan from VNSNY CHOICE, is dedicated to painting a new picture of health and empowerment for members of New York’s transgender community, or those who are homeless and/or living with or at risk for HIV/AIDS.  For Trust Robinson, a transgender Bronx resident, helping others is a calling. A way to step up and support members of the community he knows so well. As an Outreach and Enrollment Coordinator with SelectHealth, Robinson looks forward to the day when gender and identity have nothing to do with access to health information, culturally competent medical care and prev...

Subscribe in a reader By Chandra Wilson May 6th through May 12th marks National Nurses Week , a time set aside to recognize the indelible impact that nurses have on our lives and our communities. In January 2021, New York State listed close to 400,000 registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and nurse practitioners in the profession. Whether those nurses worked in a hospital, a doctor’s office, a school, sports arena or even someone’s home, it’s safe to say that the past year has been a year like no other for nurses everywhere. Home care nurses played a major role in New York City’s response to the coronavirus health crisis—and they continue to do so. Frontline hospice nurses with the Visiting Nurse Service of New York cared for patients on respirators and brought family members together through smartphones when quarantine kept them apart. Behavioral health nurses helped families in crisis as the stresses of daily living escalated with job loss, remote school and work a...

Subscribe in a reader Tweet Empire City Casino by MGM Resorts (“Empire City”) announced that the premier northeast entertainment destination will resume normal operating hours beginning Wednesday, April 7, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m., providing guests additional time to visit and enjoy their favorite slots and electronic table games.   Empire City’s health and safety protocols remain in place to ensure guests have a safe entertainment destination. Over 2,800 of the hottest games are available for play, outfitted with plexiglass dividers or socially distanced. In addition to fan favorites, Empire City has introduced new games over the last few months such as Wheel of Fortune Wild Sapphires 3D Reels, Jinse Dao Tiger & Ox, Lock It Lin Piggy Bankin, Fortune Coin and others for visitors to enjoy.   “The lifting of the curfew brings us one step closer to a sense of normalcy as we resume regular operating hours for our loyal guests. While capacity restrictio...

Subscribe in a reader Tweet By Chandra Wilson  March 23, 2021 During the April peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City last year, social worker Joseph Alvino was sick with COVID-19 himself.  “I had every symptom in the book,” he says. He was also mourning the loss of his father from the illness. But Joe, who has been with VNSNY for over 25 years, opted to continue visiting patients by telephone, in keeping with COVID-19 protocols, a heroic act that gave him purpose and provided patients with a compassionate and expert resource. “It was important for me to keep my mind busy and active, doing the best I could to help my patients with all they’re dealing with,” says Joe. A full-time social worker with VNSNY Home Care in Queens, Joe cares for patients coping with a variety of medical conditions and for their often-overburdened family caregivers. During last year’s peak, at a time when even the simple act of going to the grocery store felt riddl...

Subscribe in a reader Tweet By Fatima Shell-Sanchez, Registered Nurse with Visiting Nurse Service of New York February is National Heart Month, and as New Yorkers continue to wear masks, practice social distancing, take extra caution with hand washing and get vaccinated for COVID-19 when they are eligible, they’re also encouraged to check in with their health professionals about good heart health—especially with sedentary lifestyles on the increase due to COVID-19. Hypertensive heart disease (HHD) is the leading cause of death for all Americans, and something to stay mindful of during the pandemic. HHD increases with age, and includes heart failure, coronary artery disease, and other conditions.  Each year, approximately 100,000 home care patients in the U.S. report a prior stroke, and a recent study at the Visiting Nurse Service of New York Center for Home Care Policy & Research further shows that, at start of care, recurrent stroke risk is high for m...