By Caribbean Life
CHI Health Center’s COVID
19 Testing and Resource Center
opened recently at Coney Island
Cathedral, dedicated to providing
same-day rapid COVID-19,
strep and flu tests, and flu shots.
The center opens as the flu and
strep season begins and at a
point in time when the incidence
of COVID-19 is on the rise.
“When we conceived the idea
of our Testing and Resource
Center, we recognized that
with the flu and strep season
approaching, and the similarity
in symptoms with COVID-19,
there needed to be increased
access points for testing. Having
an additional testing site in
the community that provides
testing, education and immediate
access to primary care will
help our residents deal with the
uncertainty when and if they
have symptoms. As providers,
patients, parents, and members
of this community, we want
to prepare ourselves as best as
possible,” said Alex Movshovich,
CEO of CHI Health Center
(Community Health Initiatives,
Inc.).
CHI is a Federally Qualified
Health Center (FQHC), primarily
focused on Coney Island,
offering primary, behavioral
and specialty care, with increasing
attention to telehealth. As
an FQHC, CHI Health Center
operates to serve the most
underserved and vulnerable
individuals and families, regardless
of ability to pay. The new
testing site, which will be open
at the Cathedral from 9 am to 5
pm Monday through Friday, will
serve as an additional “triage
center” for existing as well as
new patients to ensure a safer
environment for providers and
patients at the main site, Mr.
Movshovich says. You will be
able to access a medical provider
at the church via telehealth.
However, he added, to schedule
an in-person appointment with
a provider, visit www.chihealthcenter.
com.
That accessibility cannot be
underestimated, said Bishop
Waylin Hobbs, senior pastor and
chief visionary of Coney Island
Cathedral, Inc. “There’s a real,
immediate benefit to the community
by providing the opportunity
Caribbean Life, N 22 OVEMBER 20-26, 2020
to get tested,” he said.
“We’re excited for this opportunity,
and we can’t lose sight
of ingrained inequities between
lower income citizens and
access to affordable healthcare.
This eases that inequity and
also creates new pathways for
more diligent self-care.”
Linkage to care — particularly
for patients who are not
engaged in their primary care
— is a planned result of the new
center, said Movshovich, who
emphasizes that testing services
are not intended to be “one-off”
actions. Echoing the thoughts
of Bishop Hobbs, he points out
that “it’s especially important
to have people in the community
benefit from follow-up in
the primary care or specialty
care areas. Having an open, collaborative
relationship between
patient and physician and staff
makes a huge difference in their
total health picture.”
As the incidence of COVID-
19 sharply spikes, the Center
will be there to meet the community
need with 1000 rapid
response tests made available by
the NYC Department of Health.
Fromleft, Shirley Aikens, president of Carey Gardens Tenants
Association; Dr. Zlata Vainstein, COO of CHI Health Center;
State Senator Diane Savino; Alex Movshovich, CEO of CHI
Health Center; Assemblywoman Mathylde Frontus; Bishop
Waylin Hobbs, senior pastor of Coney Island Cathedral and
Ari Kagan, District Operations for Councilman Mark Treyger’s
Offi ce. Nikolai Komissarov
CHI COVID-19 Testing and Resource
Center opens at Coney Island Cathedral
NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN
ANNUAL
Caribbean Life's Annual Impact Awards recognizes the
achievements and contributions of outstanding individuals
of Caribbean background who have created the most
impact in their respective career fields — from the arts, to
advocacy, entrepreneurship, and much more. By
establishing themselves in these lanes, they’ve helped
continue opening the path for incoming immigrants and
inspiring generations to come.
Submit your nomination
www.CaribbeanImpactAwards.com/Nominate2020
or call Amanda Tarley at 718 249 9640
Sponsored by
/www.chihealth-center.com
/www.chihealth-center.com
/www.chihealth-center.com
/Nominate2020
/Nominate2020
