44 THE QUEENS COURIER • BUSINESS • FEBRUARY 7, 2013 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com business s EmblemHealth offers ‘solution specialists’ BY MAGGIE HAYES mhayes@queenscourier.com EmblemHealth is putting a new face to health care – its own. The health insurance company launched a new Neighborhood Care program last Wednesday, January 23 -- a new initiative that will put the company’s resources right in front of the consumer. “We want people to take better care of themselves,” said Dan Shur, the initiative’s director. “If you share your health needs with us, we’re going to help you fi gure out how to achieve those needs.” Through the new program, community members in need can visit an EmblemHealth location and sit down with one of the many “solution specialists,” who all have healthcare backgrounds. In these intimate meetings, the patient shares his issues, whether it is physical or emotional, and the specialist can direct them towards the right form of care. “We want to change the whole paradigm of the health care experience,” said Shur, who admits that the healthcare system can sometimes be daunting and convoluted to the average consumer. For the program, EmblemHealth is focusing on creating strong partnerships with other community organizations, such as local hospitals and insurance companies. Through these relationships, Emblem can more accurately and confi dently care for each patient’s specifi c needs. “Imagine you have a brother or a sister who’s a nurse,” said Dr. Eliza Ng, Senior Medical Director at EmblemHealth. “That’s the kind of care that we want to provide.” Neighborhood Care currently has two locations – one in Cambria Heights, and another in Harlem. Shur said that these locations were chosen after assessing each community’s medical needs. In Cambria Heights, he said, although highly educated, there is a health risk due to people not providing themselves with the proper care. With this new program, Emblem will not only give clinical solutions, but behavioral ones as well. “Social issues sometimes get in the way of people helping themselves,” said Karen Wauchope of EmblemHealth. “At the end of the day, you can’t separate one element of health – it’s the whole person.” The Neighborhood Care program is now open Monday through Saturday, and solutions specialists are available to cater to each and every ailment. “We’re trying to give health care in a uniform way,” said Shur. “We want to give that sense of hospitality.” THE COURIER/Photo by Maggie Hayes EmblemHealth members, along with various community leaders, cut the ribbon to offi cially open the new Neighborhood Care program which will give consumers more personalized treatment. THE COURIER/Photo by Terence M. Cullen The Queens Courier’s Associate Publisher Bob Brennan accepting a media sponsorship award from the Leukemia & Lymphoma society’s Lisa Schwerdt and Allison Schnall. Racino breaks the bank COURIER FETED IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CANCER The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society honored The Queens Courier on Thursday, January 24 at its 2012 Light the Night Awards Party for its media sponsorship. The Courier has been a strong partner of the society over the years, said Lisa Schwerdt, senior campaign manager for Light the Night. The paper provided free advertising space for the foundation to promote its Light the Night events, as well as raised awareness for the fi ght against blood cancers. Associate Publisher Bob Brennan accepted the award on The Courier’s behalf during the awards ceremony, held at Flushing Town Hall. BY TERENCE M. CULLEN tcullen@queenscourier.com They did it again. Resorts World Casino New York City offi cials announced they broke the bank once again after patrons spent $1.2 billion in the facility’s two fl oors of games last December — the most to go through a Racino in state history. The Racino took back just about half of that, with $59.2 million in revenue and $42 million going back to the state in tax revenue. Continuing to earmark money for specifi c programs, $26 million will go to New York’s Education Fund. Resorts World President Michael Speller lauded the record, noting it was a good way to kick off the New Year with high hopes for 2013. “Resorts World Casino is breaking records on a regular basis,” Speller said. “With more visitors than ever coming through our doors, it’s clear that New Yorkers and tourists alike know that Resorts World Casino New York City is a world-class gaming experience right here in Queens – just minutes, not hours away. With a fantastic fi rst year in the books, we look forward to doing even more to improve the gaming and entertainment experience in 2013.” This caps off a record-breaking year for state gaming, with Resorts World sending $460 million back to the state, according to Racino representatives. Of that intake, $295 million was allocated for education. The remaining revenue has usually been earmarked for programs for the racing industry. New modes of transportation are leading to increased numbers of gamers walking through the Racino’s doors. These include an upgraded A train stop at the Aqueduct site and a new visitor’s center at the arcade shops at Sutphin Boulevard.
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