Overview

• SARS-CoV-2 has impacted everyone in the United States. However , here in Schenectady people are still struggling through its detrimental impacts. New York state was hit the hardest by the virus, with 541,000 cases and 33,000 deaths. Schenectady county alone had 1,700 cases and 54 deaths due to Covid-19. It’s clear to say this has had a huge impact on the overall community.

Resources

• Schenectady County Public Health Services (SCPHS) has been doing their best to ensure all citizens have access to the proper resources to protect themselves such as masks and sanitizer. The City Mission and other local homeless shelters have been giving out masks to some of their frequent visitors in order to ensure a safer overall community.
• Schenectady County offers no-cost community testing on Mondays and Thursdays. All you have to do is call (518) 419-0370 to register.
• They have a hotline at NYS Coronavirus: 1-888-364-3065 in order to encourage the spread of information and education into the community. You are encouraged to call if you have any questions about the general health and wellbeing of the community.
• You may also request a mask. All you have to do is call (518) 386-2824,  9am – 3pm, Monday – Friday.
• They also have a fully updated public health website which can be found here. This includes a lot of free information and education about the virus in order to ensure a safer overall community.

School During Covid-19

• Like many local schools in the area, Schenectady public schools are virtual until they can ensure a safe learning environment.
• The public school system update guidance can be found here.
• Union College has had an excellent system with mandatory weekly testing. The results are back the next day, giving students a positive and safe environment to learn in. All in person classes must be attended while wearing a face covering and contact tracing has been working to ensure the safety of faculty and staff.

Working During Covid-19

• For our essential workers who are putting their lives on the line and interacting with citizens on a day to day basis, it can be challenging. The community has put multiple efforts into place in order to show they care about their citizens and are looking forward to a safe and healthy environment in the future.
• People working are required to wear a face mask and stay six feet away from their coworkers when possible.
• If you start to develop symptoms of Covid-19 while working, you should immediately go home or to a testing center in order to ensure your own safety and those around you. Those who do test positive or those who were in direct contact with someone who tested positive must complete a two week quarantine before returning to their work setting.
• The photo pictured to the upper right is from (https://www.forbes.com/sites/alankohll/2020/07/29/study-how-americans-feel-about-returning-to-work-during-covid-19/?sh=3315a7785301)

Hospitals During Covid-19

• Ellis Hospital has a Covid tracking located on their website in order to keep the community aware and informed
• They offer testing for corona virus with an appointment
• In general, people exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms who have not been advised by a physician or public health professional to go to the hospital, should go into self-quarantine at home for 14 days, practice proper social distancing and preventive hygiene measures, and follow any prescribed treatment regimen.
• Whether or not a patient has been tested does not change the physician’s treatment options

The photo above shows doctors working hard to ensure the public’s safety. (https://www.jnj.com/personal-stories/meet-doctor-helping-treat-coronavirus-outbreak-in-wuhan)

Overall, Schenectady is trying their hardest to preserve during these tough times and we are working together as a community.

Sources

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/usa/new-york/

https://www.schenectadycounty.com/publichealth

https://www.schenectadycounty.com/sites/default/files/Essential%20Personnel%20Return%20To%20work%204.1.20.pdf

http://www.ellismedicine.org/covid19/public-details.aspx?ListID=30

What is included when we talk about diverse patient population?

There are many different ways to look into the topic of diversity here in Schenectady, so first lets start with the basic demographics. According to World Population Review, Schenectady is home to 66,107 citizens. Within this population, 58.1% are white, 20.8% are African American and 6.6% are Asian. These demographics give us a well rounded idea of the environment within Schenectady. based off the race demographics, we can conclude Schenectady is a pretty diverse environment. However, we cannot base diversity solely off race. Age, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation and identity and disabilities are all factors that would diversify the patient population. Therefore, these are all factors we need to look into when we talk about diversity within a community.

How do these demographics play into healthcare?

Now lets try to think about how these demographics affect the healthcare for this diverse patient population. First, we will look into the topic of race. It’s no secret that minorities are less likely to have healthcare coverage than their white counterparts. We have talked about numerous different situations in class where we see minorities in lower economic status also in poorer health than the white neighborhood a few miles down the road. Simple things like access to fresh food and a park to exercise in are luxuries some minority communities do not have. There is statistically more fast food chains in poorer neighborhoods and may be less access to healthcare resources due to a lack of transportation. There is also much more added stress when living in a poorer neighborhood and having to worry about paying bills. All of these factors decrease the overall health of the patients living within them. Thankfully, Schenectady is taking some small measures to help alleviate this strain on minority communities. For example, Ellis Hospital has a Financial Assistance Program to help patients who are uninsured or underinsured pay for their medical bills. There is also a Planned Parenthood that offers a lot of free contraception, screening and education to the general public. There are also numerous free clinics for non emergent care. Schenectady offers a lot of advancements for the minorities and lower income citizens.

Developmental Disabilities

Disabilities can range from mental, physical and psychological. They can severely impact families and the individual and gaining the proper healthcare for these individuals is one of the most important steps. According to the CDC, there are approximately 61 million adults in the United States living with a disability. Receiving healthcare coverage as a person with a disability can be difficult due to stigma and miscommunication. Those living with disabilities are also statistically more likely to have difficulty financing for healthcare as well. On a national level, The Health Insurance Marketplace is a good program for those with disabilities. It offers those who have gone without coverage or have had limited access to needed health care to obtain health insurance in the individual market. Within Schenectady, Schenectady ARC is a wonderful organization on State Street. It offers both residential and day to day services to those with an array of different disabilities.

Mental Health

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Within the United States almost 1 in 4 people will struggle with a mental health issue at some point in their lives. Within Schenectady there are thousands of citizens struggling with some sort of mental illness, but there are many resources here to assist with them. Ellis Hospital provides psychological services and referrals. Mohawk Opportunities also offers mental health assistance to those who are homeless or financially unstable. Rehabilitation Support Services (RSS) provides rehabilitation and therapy to those struggling with a substance abuse disorder.

 

Overall, Schenectady has many options to offer for their diverse patient population. They cover a large array of resources to those who may have mental health issues, disabilities and socioeconomic restraints.

Sources 

https://worldpopulationreview.com/us-cities/schenectady-ny-population

http://www.ellismedicine.org/financial-assistance/faqs.aspx

https://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-center/new-york/schenectady/12307/schenectady-center-4192-91180

Liberty ARC -Schenectady

https://www.schenectadycounty.com/node/278

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What Problems and Barriers Have People with Disabilities Historically Encountered Obtaining Healthcare Insurance?

 

End of life care can be a very emotional rollercoaster, for all those involved. Saying goodbye to a loved one can often be a very difficult road, especially when dealing with a terminal illness. Within our community in Schenectady, there are many end of life care resources worth looking into.  One of the biggest centers that specialize in palliative care is Saint Peters Health Partners, located in Albany, New York. Palliative care is something I didn’t know about before entering our unit on terminal illnesses and I think many other people also don’t know about these options as well. Palliative care is specialized medical care for those dealing with a serious, terminal illness.

In treatment, a patients healthcare team focuses on the following:

• How to understand a person’s illness
• How to assist family members and loved ones during such a difficult time
• How to reduce stress and anxiety surrounding their diagnosis
• How to manage pain and other uncomfortable symptoms

This type of treatment provides relief for many sufferers and gives them the hope they need to keep going. Below is a link to a video about palliative care and how it directly affects patients and their families, located on the Saint Peters Health Partners page. Neil Brown talks about his struggles with terminal illness and the positive effects palliative care has given him.

I found this video incredibly moving and it really shocked me how little was known about palliative care. Even Neil was close to giving up until he found out about this alternate method of care. I think it is incredibly important to spread information and awareness about these serious topics. This allows the people in need to not feel hopeless and know they have options even if it feels like they’re trapped by their diagnosis.

Saint Peters Health Partners has both inpatient and outpatient care plans, with specialized cancer and cardiac services.  For those who are concerned about money or don’t have insurance, Saint Peters Health Partners has this covered as well. AIM (Advanced Illness Management) provides support for families and patients struggling to afford medical insurance to cover the cost of home-based palliative care. The program includes a full time registered nurse and social worker with a combination of in home visits and phone calls with the goal of improving end of life care for those who cannot afford the proper treatment.

The photo above shows a doctor explaining to loved ones a planned care outline for their loved one struggling with a critical illness. Source: https://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Help-for-the-suffering-2210709.php

While palliative care is a great treatment option for some patients, hospice care is also available for those who would prefer it. The Community Hospice of Schenectady is an end of life care facility for those with 6 months or less to live. Their goal is to keep patients as comfortable as possible during their final time. Other hospice care options outside of Schenectady include The Community Hospice Inn and The Community Hospice of Amsterdam. Overall Schenectady and the surrounding area try to provide the best level of care in such unfortunate situations.

 

Sources

https://www.agingcare.com/local/search/hospice/schenectady%20ny

https://www.sphp.com/find-a-service-or-specialty/palliative-care/

 

Local Healthcare Facilities for Owners

Within the the city of Schenectady and surrounding area there are dozens of healthcare facilities. Some local primary care options include Ellis Medicine Primary Care at Mohawk Harbor and Ellis Primary Care Nott Street. If there is an emergency, Ellis Hospital is located on Nott Street. They have some of the best doctors in the state of New York working together throughout this pandemic. Ellis hospital also provides a free shuttle to the hospital that stops at local homeless centers. This allows the citizens of Schenectady to get the proper medical care despite financial restraints. If someone is unable to pay for a health service they need, the Schenectady Family Health Center and Capital City Rescue Mission both offer free medical assistance.

Local Healthcare Facilities for Pets 

Within the local community of Schenectady there are thousands of animal lovers! Myself included! Schenectady offers many wonderful animal shelters and veterinary clinics alike. The Animal Protective Foundation and Mohawk Hudson Humane Society have many dogs who need homes and would make a great addition to any family! Hernas Veterinary Clinic, Union Street Veterinary Hospital and Sunnyside Veterinary Hospital are located right in Schenectady and provide excellent veterinary care to all types of pets!

 

Resources For Families Struggling to Afford a Pet

• Another wonderful addition of Schenectady is the Pet Food Pantry, available through the Animal Protective Foundation. The Pet Food Pantry supplies donated dog and cat food along with cat liter to the families who struggle to take care of their pet. This allows low income families to afford food for their beloved pets. It also helps lessen the financial burden that ultimately leads many families to surrender their pet.
• The Pet Fund provides financial assistance to pet owners who are unable to afford minor procedures.
• The Guardian Domestic Violence Program is partnered with YWCA of Schenectady. They provide a safe home for the animals of both women and men who are in the process of leaving an abusive relationship. They will also provide the necessary medical necessities (spay, neuter and vaccinations) free of charge.
• There are numerous rabies clinics throughout Schenectady and surrounding towns as well.

The photo above shows the love shared between an owner and their pet. Credit of Chole Bennet

In my opinion, Schenectady does a great job of attempting to open resources up to pet owners as well. When speaking with a women who worked for the Animal Protective Foundation here in Schenectady, she told me about some of the struggles they’ve been facing recently. The Pet Food Pantry has had a dramatic decrease in donations and an increase in need recently. There are more and more people who have lost their jobs and are struggling to afford basic necessities right now due to COVID-19. The Pet Food Pantry has increased in need dramatically, however donations and volunteers are harder to receive due to the pandemic. We as a community must try and keep wonderful programs like this one on their feet! If you are able to afford dog or cat food, please consider donating! If you are looking to adopt contact The Animal Protective Foundation!

 

Sources

Help For Pet Owners

https://www.petsofthehomeless.org/2019/05/13/myths-and-misconceptions-about-the-homeless-and-their-dogs/