WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER SETS RECORD VISITS FOR YEAR 7,017,658 VISITS! 2,098,003 VISITORS MADE 6 VISITS A DAY EVERY DAY. 63,330 UNIQUE VISITORS MADE 133,730 VISITS IN DECEMBER. WPCNR AVERAGED 17,284 VISITORS A WEEK, VISITING 31,270 TIMES.

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With the rise of COVID-19 cases in our local area, Westmed is working hard to stop the spread of the virus while ensuring you remain connected with your health care team. We are rescheduling most elective procedures and non-essential office visits at this time, but we do not want that to prevent you from accessing care when you need it. That is why we now have Virtual Visits available for nearly every primary care service and medical specialty that we offer. Keep reading for information on how to get started.

PRIMARY CARE & SPECIALIST VIRTUAL VISITS

Most of the Westmed primary care or specialty physicians are now offering Virtual Visits in order to ensure the continuity of your care during this uncertain time. It’s convenient, safe and helps you stay connected to your care provider when you can’t get into the office.

What Specialties Offer Virtual Visits:

• Primary Care: Internal Medicine, Pediatrics and OB/GYN
• Medical Specialties: Orthopedics, Dermatology, Gastroenterology, Weight Management & Nutrition, Allergy and many more

Here’s How to Get Started:

• Call your Westmed provider’s office, just as you would for an in-person visit, and request a “Virtual Visit” at a date and time that is convenient for you.
• You will receive an email with your appointment date, time and instructions on how to get set up for your Virtual Visit on your mobile device or desktop.
• To save time, you can download the instructions for getting set up with Virtual Visits here.*

*Your provider may use an alternative telehealth platform, like Zoom or Skype, to conduct your visit and will send you appropriate instructions if either of these alternative platforms are to be used for your visit.

Most insurance carriers provide coverage for Virtual Visits, but check with your insurance directly if you have any concerns regarding coverage. If you have questions or concerns about COVID-19, you may consider scheduling a Virtual Visit with your provider to discuss them further.

VIRTUAL URGENT CARE VISITS

You can also access Urgent Care services through an on-demand Virtual Visit. Common conditions we treat through Urgent Care Virtual Visits include:

Westmed is here to help you get through this challenging time. Our goal today and into the future remains keeping you and your family safe and well. Visit our regularly updated Coronavirus (COVID-19) Informationpage and be sure to stay up to date by calling into our Public Health Announcements hotline at (914) 831-4149.

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WPCNR CORONAVIRUS REPORT. From the Mayor’s Office. March 23, 2020:

In Mayor Tom Roach’s nightly telephone report to White Plains at 6:50 this evening, the Mayor says there are now 2,894 coronavirus-infected patients in Westchester, up 1,021 from yesterday, and 55 coronavirus cases in White Plains. The Mayor said 15,000 have been tested in Westchester and the number of cases of coronavirus positives will continue to grow as tests continue.

He said the County Center was being analyzed by Army Corps of Engineers personnel and on its way to becoming a backup hospital for the county.

He praised employees of police, fire, and city employees who continue to provide services to the city which have not been interrupted. He praised doctors and nurses working around the clock. “They are the true heroes, and all they ask is for you (the residents of the city) to stay home.”

He

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PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS STATED IMMIGRANTS FEARING THEY WILL BE RUNNING INTO ICE AGENTS at CORONAVIRUS TESTING AND TREATMENT SITES NEED NOT BE AFRAID. ICE AGENTS WILL NOT HAUNT TESTING SITES FOR UNDOCUMENTED ILLEGALS.

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From the New York State Education Department. March 23, 2020 (Edited):

In his Presidential News Conference Saturday, President Trump announced due to the widespread closing of schools, national education assessment tests would be suspended.

The New York State Education Department said in a press release dated Friday, the following assessments would be suspended for the remainder of the school year:

New York State Grades 3-8 English Language Arts Test; (Scheduled this week, now suspended)

New York State Grades 3-8 Mathematics Test;

New York State Grade 4 Elementary-Level Science Test;

New York State Grade 8 Intermediate-Level Science Test;

New York State English as a Second Language Achievement Test

New York State Alternate Assessment (NYSAA) for students with severe cognitive disabilities in Grades 3-8 and high school.

This was the year when all test takers were to take the tests on computer in New York State. But that is not going to happen.

In an announcement from the Board of Regents on the NYSED (without a Commissioner of Education since the Commissioner abruptly resigned last summer after dismal results on last year’s assessments), the Board announced:

This was the week New York State Schools were to have taken the controversial State Assessments in ELA. In a news release dated Friday the New York State Education Department announced the tests were off for the year. The news release said:

“The school closures caused by Novel Coronavirus are unprecedented and so, we have to make unprecedented decisions for our students. The administrations of the 2020 elementary- and intermediate-level State assessments have been suspended for the remainder of this school year.

It is most important that during the time of closure, schools are able to continue to focus their efforts toward local school and community needs, as they have been doing, and not be concerned about State assessments. NYSED has applied for federal waivers for testing, accountability, and reporting requirements.

“The priority for the Board of Regents and the Department is to ensure that districts provide continuity of instruction for students to the greatest extent possible. It is a critical component of school emergency management, as it promotes the continuation of teaching and learning and prevents learning loss while schools are closed. However, many considerations play a role in developing continuity of learning programs such as access and availability, type and quality of materials and the length of time that the various types of learning will require. We are working with districts now to receive and review their plans.

We are incredibly grateful to the educators who are devoted to developing these plans in the most equitable way possible and who have provided resources for parents and children.

NYSED continues to work with the Governor’s Office, the state Department of Health, the Division of Homeland Security and the Office of Children and Family Services to ensure that we are up to date on all guidance and all of our resources for schools related to COVID-19 can be found on NYSED’s dedicated website. 

Most of all, we hope that our students and educators are well.  We are thankful for the devotion and ongoing leadership of our teachers, administrators, school board members and parents who have gone above and beyond so that students are safe and impacted as little as possible.