The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

healthcare

Chappaqua Kids’ Band Virtually Records Cover of Home Sweet Home

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Seven Bridges students’ effort intended to encourage people to #stayhomesweethome

Chappaqua middle school students accept the challenge! They answered their district’s call to pursue a Passion Project during the shelter in place spring break and launched a music video to encourage people to get inspired by music and to #stayhomesweethome

For months the four members of Alien Paradox had been preparing for their school’s March talent show. As outgoing 8th graders it was going to be their final act and they had prepared a three-song setlist. Sadly, the Seven Bridges Middle School show was cancelled due to the shutdown of New York schools from the rapid spread of Covid-19.

Beecher Flooks Funeral Home
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The band members of Alien Paradox decided that physical distancing could not stop their love of performing together. They answered their school districts call to pursue a Passion Project during the shelter in place spring break and virtually recorded a cover of Motley Crue’s “Home Sweet Home.”

Post-production video and sound engineering by Ollie Baccay using software (Adobe) provided by their district.

The band hopes to encourage people to get inspired by music during these challenging times and to stay safe during the ongoing pandemic, to #stayhomesweethome

The musicians of Alien Paradox are Ciela Elliott (lead singer), Ollie Baccay (guitar), Jayden Holmes (drums), and Finn Franks (piano & bass guitar).

 

A Heartwarming Nursing Commitment in Response to COVID-19 at Northern Westchester Hospital

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Speaking on behalf of the leadership team at Northern Westchester Hospital, Cathy Manley-Cullen, MS, RN, NEA-BC, chief nursing officer at NWH, offered a heartwarming account of the commitment and camaraderie she is witnessing amongst the hospital’s nursing staff-over 500 full and part time nurses serve some dozen or more departments and units-as they navigate a public health emergency due to COVID-19.

“They couldn’t be more willing to jump in and do whatever they can,” said Manley-Cullen.

“They are incredibly inspiring and positive the way they are supporting each other too, rotating on different units that they maybe didn’t work on previously–just to give everyone a little respite,” she said. “They are doing all of this while everyone is trying to just lead their lives… like everyone else, the children are home; we have to do homeschooling and a host of other things.”

Derek Anderson, executive director, Northern Westchester Hospital relayed that as of April 1, 2020, the hospital is actively treating approximately 55 patients who have tested positive for COVID-19, with approximately 20 more being ruled out. Many more have been treated in our Emergency Department, but did not require hospitalization, and are recovering from the virus at home.

Manley-Cullen described the atmosphere as being one of a spirit of cooperation with nurses generously helping their fellow nurses where they are needed most. “The nurses are working on different units that they don’t typically work on all the time. “Maybe a nurse on the 7th floor telemetry unit ( a critical care area) or from the OR (operating room) or ambulatory surgery unit (which are all seeing fewer patients right now)  are helping out more on floors where nurses are seeing more patients with COVID-19.

This is also not the first and will likely not be the last time nurses find themselves on the frontlines of a public health emergency. “There’s been quite a few public health crises over the years, and nursing and health care in general is no stranger to crises, whether it’s hurricanes or infectious diseases; we plan for this, always, so we can be prepared as possible.”

Three new phone lines are being made available too. The first, a line for employees “who maybe don’t feel well themselves,” said Manley-Cullen. A second line is for the community at large-for anyone seeking information about COVID-19.  Finally, the hospital is “in the process of setting up a ‘Wellness’ line for employees who wish to talk through issues.”

 “The nurses are also busy connecting with family members because right now visitors are not allowed in the hospital. We are also making sure we call and speak to family, and giving not only updates about their loved ones, but also just being available for them and their well-being and anything they may be struggling with.”

“We are not seeing staff overwhelmed,” emphasized Manley-Cullen. “What we are seeing is an incredibly positive attitude. A lot of that has to do with the great resources we have available here at NWH which is part of Northwell, a much bigger healthcare system. At this juncture, she said, supplies are plentiful, and nurses and all healthcare staff have the personal protective equipment they need. “It’s a big burden if you’re worrying about your equipment or if you’re safe. That’s just not the case here.”

NWH Food Service employees expressing gratitude too.

Every recovery is a reason for optimism. One patient offered this testimonial: “I was just discharged last night from Northern Westchester Hospital after four nights. I am an unlikely survivor of COVID-19 being 73 1/2 with asthma and just having recently had a stroke. I was overwhelmed by the competence and caring of your staff who did all they could to attend to me and make me comfortable. I felt like I was in the presence of greatness. Thanks, E.P.”

In the meantime, the hospital remains very much open to serving patients no matter what their medical concern, too.  “We want people to understand that if they need to come to the hospital, or if they’re sick, they should,” said Manley-Cullen. “We don’t want people to be fearful of coming to the hospital or staying home if they have a legitimate medical concern or alarming sign, such as chest pain, that they need to have addressed.  We are still caring for people whatever their needs may be.”

Manley-Cullen also acknowledged the “incredible support from the community to support the nursing staff.” People are donating food. Restaurants are delivering food. People are sending messages and encouraging video clips. Nurses are staying in touch with each other on social media. School children have been drawing pictures for our team. We have a wall filled with pictures the school kids have drawn to say thank you. Everyone just wants to help in any way they can.”

The community’s warm outpouring has helped the staff feel really supported. “People are wearing masks so it’s hard to get facial expressions, but they are smiling. You can tell by their eyes!”

Chance to Help Raise Dollars to Support Local Health Care Workers and Local Restaurants

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With our healthcare providers & first responders on the front lines tirelessly fighting the Coronavirus pandemic, and with the peak of the infection still two to three weeks away, so many residents are asking how they can help. Likewise, our residents want to help our restaurants which are struggling with the restrictions. Here’s a way to support our healthcare providers and support our local restaurants…..we are raising money to pay for meals from local restaurants which will be delivered to Northern Westchester Hospital, Westchester Medical Center, Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital & Phelps Hospital. Participating restaurants include:

Le Jardin
Kittle House
Ibiza Kitchen
Quaker Hill Tavern
Lange’s
Old Stone Trattoria
Pizza Station
Taco Street
Rocky’s
A&S Fine Foods of Millwood

Former New Castle Town Supervisor Rob Greenstein stated, “so many of our residents are looking for ways to help those heroes on the frontline of this battle. They also want to help our incredible local restaurants who are really hurting right now. This initiative accomplishes both. The response has been overwhelming. Our residents are so generous!”

Georgia Frasch, Administrator of Facebook group Chappaqua Moms, states “In the absence of having a stock of surgical masks and gowns in most of our closets, we wanted to come up with a way the community could support our health care providers on the front lines. Knowing that these people are working double shifts with limited supplies, not seeing their families and daily exposure to the virus, we are hoping to provide them with some nourishment and comfort to show our gratitude and respect for all that they are doing to keep us healthy”

Deborah Garfield, stated “The grassroots group is in touch with and will be providing meals to several units at Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, including the emergency room, various patient floors and the intensive care unit. We will include more local hospitals as we confirm contacts who can arrange for ordering and contactless pick-ups. People should reach out to us if they are affiliated with an institution that wants to be included.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/New-Castle-Donates-Meals-to-Healthcare-Workers?fbclid=IwAR2zV3HzEjMytHstieeGuGPHsLw_kLzFzDVgkjtq2jbRCXZC2SUyKjriK8M

Planned Parenthood: A Special Place for Excellent Care

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Editor’s Note: Susan’s column was written a month prior to the recent shootings at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs and at Clinica Hispania, a woman’s health clinic in Houston, that have left four persons dead.

By Susan Chatzky

Susan Chatzky (right) and her daughter Maile Hamilton at a recent Planned Parenthood fundraiser.
Susan Chatzky (right) and her daughter Maile Hamilton at a recent Planned Parenthood fundraiser.

You may be blissfully unaware of the raging controversy surrounding Planned Parenthood right now. You may not even really know what Planned Parenthood does, or where the nearest one is. Planned Parenthood may be completely off your radar, and that’s totally understandable.

Here in Chappaqua and many of the surrounding towns and villages, most people can afford excellent health insurance, there’s no need to go to a health center that accepts Medicaid or that has a sliding scale fee structure. If you have teenage kids you have most likely talked to them about sex, STDs, birth control, and personal responsibility. You may even have taken your daughter to your own OB/GYN.

We live in an amazing community where most of the people who live here do so because it’s such a great place to raise kids. Raising my own children here was an incredible privilege. The schools are great, the other parents are all dedicated, many parents volunteer. It’s a wonderful place to raise a family. So even though I really couldn’t afford it, that is exactly what I chose to do.

I raised two kids in the Chappaqua School District as a single mom with a low paying job. I was a personal trainer, which had really flexible hours, but the pay is pretty terrible (the trainer you pay $100 dollars an hour for probably sees $35 of that, and that’s before taxes), I had zero benefits, no health insurance, no vacation, no sick pay. I probably should have moved, but I wanted my children to have all of the advantages of going to such excellent schools.

It’s not easy to be poor in a wealthy neighborhood. My kids didn’t have the same clothes, vacations, or camp experiences. Our house was a tiny little rental. We ate a lot of pasta. It was a struggle, and it was humiliating. It is humiliating and degrading and soul crushing to be poor. To know you don’t belong somewhere. I’m sure it was hard for my kids.

While my kids had health insurance, I did not. There was no ACA, and I didn’t qualify for Medicaid. I did however need healthcare. I’m a mom; it’s my responsibility to stay healthy. I went to Planned Parenthood. Unlike private practices, they took me without health insurance, they charged on a sliding scale, and no one even blinked when a poor, single, mother of two had the nerve to want birth control. No one judged me, or made me feel like I was less than a person. No one made me feel bad for having a sex life.

Recently, someone from Chappaqua wrote on Facebook that women could just go someplace else for care. It actually brought me to tears. There is something special about Planned Parenthood that can’t just be replaced. It is a place you can go and receive excellent care without anyone judging you. It is a place where teenagers can go to ask questions about their bodies and get real answers.

It is a place where someone will hold your hand if they are giving you bad news after a PAP smear. It is a place that will take you, and help you, and care for you no matter your ability to pay them. And yes, it is a place that will help you if you find yourself pregnant unexpectedly. I’m married now, and I have health insurance. I finally “belong” in my own community. But there are other women who, like I did, struggle. They sit next to you at parent teacher conferences, are on line behind you at Walgreens, they volunteer for PTA events, and they live here because they want their kids to have a good foundation and to have better opportunities than they had themselves.

Planned Parenthood is here for them, so I will always be here for Planned Parenthood.

Susan Chatzky is a mom, step mom, wife, blogger, and sometime yoga teacher. She rescues dogs and sits on the board of directors for Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic. For more info, please visit www.pphp.org.