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Q&A
Exploration of alternative models and geographical challenges for Neponset Center
0:55:03
ยท
5 min
Council Member Brooks-Powers and Dr. Katz discuss potential alternative operational models for the Neponset Center and the unique geographical challenges faced by the Rockaway community.
- Brooks-Powers inquires about partnerships with nonprofits or other healthcare providers to keep the facility open
- Dr. Katz suggests that senior centers might be a more suitable operational model
- The discussion highlights the geographical isolation of Rockaway and its impact on healthcare access
- Brooks-Powers emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach and requests a specific hearing on the issue
Selvena Brooks-Powers
0:55:03
So and and I will say that the presenter last night, did not give any alternatives in terms of like, the community wants to know, if we got the census up, what is that number to be able to keep this facility open?
0:55:19
But what you just said leads into my next question was has Health and Hospital explored keeping the facility open under a different operational model such as a partnership with a nonprofit or another health care provider?
0:55:32
Because, again, and we've been working really closely together over the last several years, and you know how I look at health care, less about dollars and cents and more about lives.
0:55:45
And so this is a a a much needed service for people in our community our community, which as you know, because you've come a number of times at this point, geographically isolated.
0:55:58
You know, a fifty five minute ride from Rockaway looks very different.
0:56:03
I don't think there is a true fifty five, minute ride because just to get to some parts of Southeast Queens alone, it takes forty five to fifty minutes.
0:56:11
So has health and hospitals begun to explore keeping that facility open but under a different operational model?
Dr. Mitch Katz
0:56:19
Well, the I mean, I think the the operational model that makes the most sense are the senior centers that the city runs including in Far Rockaway.
0:56:30
And if people needed additional medical services, I think that there would be an opportunity through the new center to provide the medical services.
0:56:42
I think it's the legal requirements under the regs that if you're an adult day health center that you must provide skilled nursing as part of what makes it very expensive to run it and also creates the the niche that you can't be you you have to be this sick, but you can't be that sick because you can't then get on the van.
0:57:04
And
Selvena Brooks-Powers
0:57:05
Right.
0:57:05
Because some people have, like, dementia, for example.
0:57:07
I don't think that the senior centers are equipped in terms of staffing for certain conditions of, individuals.
0:57:15
So that's the the challenge I think we run into on that.
0:57:20
Right.
0:57:20
And another concern was the lack of sufficient outreach.
0:57:25
So the community questions, how committed health and hospitals, may have been to really keeping it open because there were several instances where enrollment had stopped.
0:57:41
So one was, I think, in, like, 2017 or 2018.
0:57:45
And in another one, obviously, COVID, we know things will close, and then, it opened back up and started to slowly ramp back up.
0:57:53
But as recent as 2023, there were people at the town hall last night that said when they called to enroll, they were told that there was no more enrollment taking place.
0:58:05
And so while the way it was presented last night was that this is bleeding money, and it's not a a proper model because, you know, it it is just draining resources.
0:58:19
In Rockaway, we have a really large senior population.
0:58:25
We probably have some of the, highest density in terms of, nursing homes and senior centers and that population.
0:58:34
And so with the proper marketing, I believe that it would be more than the number that exists today.
0:58:43
And there obviously is a need for it, a desire for it.
0:58:47
And then we have challenges that I think, just like as we talk about the trauma hospital, the way we look through that lens, that we are geographically isolated, and it makes it much more challenging for someone to say, well, I'm going to drop my parent off at this facility fifty five minutes away for 08:00 and have to be to work at 09:00 was an example used last night.
0:59:12
So I would love to be able to work with my colleagues in government as well as you, doctor Katz, to find a solution to this.
0:59:20
But at this this time, I do not believe that closure of Nunpontent is in the best interest of the residents on the Peninsula and nearby Brooklyn because I do understand that people do come over the bridge from Brooklyn, Howard Beach, and Broad Channel to use this facility as well.
0:59:38
But I think we need to have a more comprehensive approach.
0:59:43
And, chair Narcisse, I would love the opportunity if we can be able to maybe do a hearing specific on this.
0:59:51
But right now, as we're talking about the preliminary budget, I wanna make sure that we're taking into account this population that is at at severe risk of losing critical service on the Peninsula.