Prescription For Change

News From New York State

Senator Shirley L. Huntley

For Immediate Release: October 5, 2011

Contact: Antonio Rodriguez | arodrigu@nysenate.gov | (518) 455-3531

*PRESS RELEASE*

New York State Senator Shirley L. Huntley Moves Toward A

"Prescription for Change"

Focuses on Improving Critical Healthcare Services In Southeast Queens

As a result of the loss of critical healthcare services in Southeast Queens, (D-Jamaica) Senator Shirley L. Huntley, in conjunction with Dr. Robert Evans, Founder & CEO/President of Community Wellness Centers of America, LLC are presently organizing measures to mitigate the lack of focused preventable healthcare services in Jamaica, and the entire Borough of Queens. Senator Huntley's initiative will build an integrated care network along with attracting businesses as part of the Bioscience Initiative of New York City for the creation of jobs and in particular addressing the disparities of current healthcare infrastructure.

This “Prescription for Change” will build the infrastructure working toward an Accountable Care Organization (ACO) to provide efficient, integrated quality care by sharing data and coordinating care across the provider network. Additionally, bioscience initiatives will reduce healthcare costs and produce employment opportunities for the Southeast Queens community.

"Our primary objective is to bring about coordinated cost effective changes in the healthcare delivery system, which supports all local hospitals, and addresses the health disparities and lack of resources by responding to the community’s medical needs," states Senator Huntley.

The Huntley initiative a "Prescription For Change" invites all stakeholders in the community to work with her office in achieving an integrated and efficient healthcare delivery model that will foster a full spectrum for local integrated organizational planning and implementation. By establishing a “Community Steering Committee” encompassing the communities healthcare providers and academic facilities, and incorporating healthcare initiatives from the bioscience industry, this effort will not only produce businesses and jobs from the high-level research institutions for Queens and most notably the Jamaica area. This endeavor will provide the forum for addressing the disparities in healthcare prevalent within our community.

This collaborative healthy community initiative will address access to care, state health initiatives, securing appropriate grants, and integration of the bioscience industry’s research that will elevate the health and welfare of children, seniors, and families within the community.

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Additional news available at http://huntley.nysenate.gov and facebook.com/Shirley L. Huntley

New York State Senate Email | shuntley@nysenate.gov | (518) 455-3531