Northwell Well being introduced Oct. 27 the opening of a well being clinic for Belmont Park employees in collaboration with the New York Racing Affiliation, which operates the racetrack, and the Backstretch Worker Service Workforce of New York, the nonprofit group dedicated to the well being and social welfare wants of a number of thousand barn space employees.
The $200,000, 1,000-square-foot well being clinic will present a continuum of care and supply wellness applications for the hundreds of backstretch employees at Belmont Park. The free program is a part of Northwell’s dedication to offering equitable care to all New Yorkers. A excessive share of backstretch staff are immigrants who reside on the observe.
“Clinics like this one are vital as a result of they permit fast entry to care, earlier than well being points change into well being care emergencies,” stated Michael Dowling, president and CEO of Northwell Well being. “This group devoted to the game of thoroughbred racing deserves a dedication to wellness—and Northwell Well being is joyful to supply it. That is our ardour.”
Northwell offered coronavirus illness 2019 (COVID-19) testing for Belmont employees starting in 2020 and offered COVID-19 vaccines in 2021. Now, Northwell will supply clinic hours three days every week with the chance for specialty companies as wanted. The clinic options two examination rooms and lab companies for level of care testing. Tochi Iroku-Malize, M.D., senior vice chairman and chair of household medication, will function medical director.
“This vital partnership will improve entry to top quality well being take care of the backstretch group at Belmont Park,” stated David O’Rourke, president and CEO of NYRA. “Northwell Well being has already made a big influence by their COVID-19 testing and vaccination efforts right here at Belmont, and we thank them for his or her devoted service to the women and men working daily to assist thoroughbred racing in New York State.”
Whereas language obstacles and cultural biases are sometimes the reason why some immigrants do not search care, Northwell has gotten out of the beginning gate rapidly. It supplied flu vaccinations this week for almost 100 backstretch employees.
“Northwell got here to the rescue of the backstretch employees throughout the pandemic and now BEST is thrilled to collaborate once more with Northwell to supply the arduous working backstretch employees of Belmont and Aqueduct Racetrack with on-going, first-class, main and preventative care,” stated Paul Ruchames, government director of BEST. “BEST can also be deeply grateful for the steadfast and beneficiant assist from the New York Racing Affiliation and the New York Thoroughbred Horseman`s Affiliation, with out which not one of the nice achievements of the previous 20 months and past, could be attainable.”
A type of backstretch employees can attest to the necessity. Francisco Barrera grew up driving horses in his native Peru. At 47, he is nonetheless exercising horses earlier than daybreak every day, placing thoroughbreds by their paces as one in every of hundreds of backstretch staff at Belmont Park. Barrera has suffered quite a lot of bodily accidents working with these highly effective animals over the many years. It may be harmful however rewarding work, which is why he is desperate to see medical care return to the backstretch at Belmont, bringing medical companies to a hard-working group.
“It is a huge step for us,” stated Barrera, a married father of three. “We’re largely immigrants. It’s arduous for us to get medical consideration outdoors the observe.”
By way of Northwell’s ongoing efforts, greater than 90 p.c of backstretch employees are vaccinated, properly above the New York State common. The well being system anticipates dealing with greater than 2,000 visits to the clinic in 2022.
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