NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, elected leaders from across New York came together at Emerest Connect to discuss urgent issues related to healthcare services, with a particular focus on underserved communities and their caregivers. The meeting brought together several healthcare leaders across New York state elected politics, including Assemblymember Amy Paulin, Senate Codes Chairman Jamaal Bailey, Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson, Assemblymember Chantel Jackson, Assemblymember Yudelka Tapia, Assemblymember Kenny Burgos, and Governor Hochul’s Bronx representative, Fidel Malena. Emerest Connect is a telehealth platform and homecare agency with a patient engagement television studio in the Bronx.
The meeting comes at a particularly pivotal moment, as year’s end approaches and New York State legislators begin to plan for the 2024 budget. Homecare and the demand for caregivers have emerged as focal points of the debate, given that New York expects an estimated 932,000 residents to be homebound by 2035.
In New York, state funding for telehealth and the homecare industry has been a pressing topic. More than 80% of New Yorkers surveyed have used telehealth during the past two years, according to the New York State Department of Health. However, despite the widespread efficacy of telehealth in delivering comprehensive behavioral and social care, accessibility remains a persistent issue for New York residents. Remarkably, a recent study indicated that 76% of New Yorkers with disadvantaged backgrounds have reported barriers to access for telehealth services.
“Emerest Connect is truly an all-encompassing health resource,” said Assemblymember Amy Paulin. “I congratulate them on what they have achieved and hope their model will be widely embraced.”
"I am honored to have been part of Emerest Connect's grand opening today. It's incredibly important for organizations like Emerest Connect to exist in their communities and to be recognized for their commitment to home care workers and consumers,” said State Senator Jamaal Bailey. “Their solutions to combat loneliness and isolation among the City’s elderly should be commended, as should their unwavering support to home care workers. The Bronx is proud to call Emerest Connect a community partner.”
For low-income and other underserved communities, telehealth has reimagined homecare services in the state, and served as a lifeline for the state’s most vulnerable populations. Telehealth is able to deliver top-level care from the comfort of patients' homes, breaking socio-economic barriers that often contribute to health discrepancies. However, these vital services are under threat as budget cuts in 2024 loom, risking essential care for some of our most vulnerable populations.
“At the heart of Emerest Connect's mission is a commitment to deliver high-quality virtual homecare that's within reach for all, regardless of their location or financial means.” said Josh Klein, CEO of Emerest Connect. “We have witnessed firsthand the profound impact that telehealth can have on the holistic well-being of older individuals, illuminating the transformative potential of this innovative approach to healthcare. I’m proud to be bringing together these amazing leaders to discuss how we can work together to make telehealth, specialized healthcare, and homecare solutions more accessible to everyone.”
Emerest Connect is a telehealth platform and behavioral health studio based in The Bronx. As telehealth has expanded since the pandemic, large disparities in access have developed based on race, income, and social determinants of health. Emerest Connect has focused on helping marginalized communities, and is proud to serve exclusively Medicaid patients, 92% of which come from racial or ethnic minority backgrounds.
This gathering is a milestone moment for healthcare innovation in the City, as Emerest Connect is consolidating two other leading healthcare companies under their roof in The Bronx – U@, which provides wellness services for healthcare workers struggling with burnout, and Royal Care, the largest homecare provider in New York City.
ABOUT EMEREST CONNECT:
Emerest Connect provides a community of dedicated home care professionals, specializing in home care services that prioritize the holistic wellness of our clients – encompassing physical, mental, and emotional health. Operating as a cohesive and technology-driven remote healthcare collective, our expertise extends to medication management, therapeutic support, client-centric social networking, and beyond. Embark on a journey with us to seamlessly connect with a specialist tailored to your unique requirements. Your well-being is our commitment.
