RECORD NUMBERS ATTEND FIRST "TAKE CARE NEW YORK" EVENTS AT HHC HOSPITALS AND CLINICS IN ALL FIVE BOROUGHS

A middle-aged woman who hadn't seen a doctor in more than two years stopped by a "Take Care New York" event at Woodhull Medical and Mental Health Center in Brooklyn in early October. She went to the screening area and, to her complete surprise, was found to have dangerously elevated blood pressure and blood glucose levels. Hospital staff escorted her to the Emergency Department, where she was treated and monitored. At the same event, Woodhull did 30 cardiology screenings, found seven people at risk for a heart attack, and placed two under immediate care for coronary disease. In all, 32 follow-up appointments were made for at-risk people that day at just one HHC facility.

In the first two weeks of the TCNY campaign over 100,000 people logged on the HHC website, nyc.gov/hhc to get information about the program and to download event schedules in English, Spanish and Chinese. While online, over 130 people requested more information on low-cost health insurance and health screenings. Over 1,600 New Yorkers have called 311, the New York City information number to learn more about "Take Care New York."

Approximately 10,000 people attended the October 4th kickoff events at 14 HHC facilities and received over 5,000 health screenings that included blood pressure, glucose, dental and bone density screenings, as well as many others. Nearly 150 uninsured people were also enrolled in Family Health Plus and Child Health Plus insurance plans that afternoon, which was the opening day for the month-long “Take Care New York” program sponsored by the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC).

"Only halfway through the month, we're seeing that "Take Care New York" is a major success, particularly in detecting the incidence of chronic diseases that reach epidemic proportions in at-risk communities,"notes Dr. Benjamin Chu, President and CEO of HHC.

As interest builds, through public health messages on television, radio, newspaper, bus stops and subway platforms throughout the city, attendance at "Take Care New York" events continues to grow. "With the level of interest and the number of people being screened, positive treatments will be initiated and lives will be saved," added Dr. Chu. At little or no cost to the participants, they are receiving child and adult immunizations, including flu shots, as well as screenings for heart disease, asthma, diabetes, mental illness and breast and prostate cancer. Health education programs and opportunities to enroll in affordable public healthcare are also part of the mix.

Each year HHC provides health care to 1.3 million New Yorkers - nearly 500,000 of whom have no health insurance - at its acute care public hospitals and more than 100 community health clinics located throughout the five boroughs

For more information on specific "Take Care New York" events, dial 311 or log on to www.nyc.gov/hhc.