Category Archives: Healthcare

Two state agencies are marking Allergy Awareness Month by informing the public about a new law affecting New York restaurants and other food service establishments.

Beginning  May 20, any business that serves food in New York is required to post an allergy notice that is visible for employees involved in preparing and serving food. The notice also includes information on how staff should respond to a customer who reveals they have a food allergy, how to prevent cross-contamination in food preparation and service, and directs them to call 911 if a customer has an allergic reaction.

The policy is the product of a bill sponsored by state Sen. Cordell Cleare and Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal. Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the legislation in November. The legislators explained that the bill’s intent is to “educate restaurant personnel and ensure that safety mechanisms are utilized in food preparation and service.”

The new law also requires restaurants and food delivery services to label the eight major food allergens on menus.

Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation into law in May that officials say strengthens New York’s health care workforce by permitting nursing students to complete up to one-third of their clinical training through simulation experiences. 

Overseen by the state Education Department, simulation training gives students hands-on experience in clinical environments while allowing nursing education programs to offer more options for clinical education. As New York currently faces a nursing shortage, expanding simulation experiences can help expedite training and deliver an influx of nurses where they are needed most.

“Our nurses have been invaluable to our health care system, especially throughout the pandemic, but too often feel overworked doing the jobs that they love, which has only been amplified by the current nursing shortage,” Hochul said. “I’m proud to sign legislation strengthening our health care workforce expediting training and allowing more capable nurses into the workforce improving care for all and creating a safer, healthier New York.”

Legislation allows for up to one-third of clinical education in nursing certificate and degree education programs to be completed through simulation experience. It will make nursing education more accessible, helping to address New York’s nursing shortage, which is projected to reach a workforce need of nearly 40,000 employees by 2030. 

A new staffing agency will provide contract nursing staff to the hospitals and facilities of the Albany Med Health System, including Saratoga Hospital and Glens Falls Hospital. 

The Albany Med Health System (AMHS) Staffing Alliance was formed in April of 2021 as an affiliate of the VNA of Albany and became fully operational in October of 2021. Its mission is to provide a strategic source of contract nurses exclusively for the Albany Med health system’s facilities to fill temporary staffing gaps, and to provide flexible, temporary work schedules that meet individual and system needs.

“The AMHS Staffing Alliance is an appealing option for nurses who are interested in an Albany Med Health System hospital or facility but due to their current situations, prefer temporary nursing assignments instead of a permanent position,” said Susan Larman, RN, CEO of VNA of Albany. “Interested candidates can work with a dedicated team to help find flexible work schedules with their choice of these four highly reputable hospitals that make up the Albany Med Health System. It is a mutually beneficial opportunity for the candidates and the System facilities.”

The AMHS Staffing Alliance differs from private staffing agencies in that it is not focused on supporting multiple customers in several markets.

SUNY Empire State College will enhance nursing program to address the state and nation’s critical nursing shortage

The college has received a $245,580 grant from the SUNY system that is expected to boost enrollment in the college’s nursing program and help address the state and nation’s critical nursing shortage, officials said.

 The funds are part of a $3 million SUNY Nursing Emergency Training Fund designed to enable more students to enroll in SUNY’s nursing programs. SUNY Empire will use the money to offset the initial cost of hiring a full-time faculty member and an operations coordinator in its nursing program. 

The funding, which will be available July 1 after the state budget is approved, will enable the college to increase enrollment at the School of Nursing and Allied Health by 100 students.

 In all, SUNY campuses have more than 70 accredited nursing programs. SUNY campuses were eligible to apply for funding of up to $250,000. The funding can be used in various ways, including curricula development, partnership expansion, and the purchase of instructional equipment and technology.

 At SUNY Empire, most of the additional students are expected to come through the Multi-Award Nursing Program that SUNY Empire shares with Nassau Community College (NCC). NCC received $247,000 from the same SUNY funds to expand their nursing program.

The adult cigarette smoking rate in New York state achieved a new low of 12 percent in 2020, a rate lower than the U.S. average of 15.5 percent, State Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett announced on June 3. 

According to her report, among young adults, ages 18 to 24, the smoking rate is even lower, at 5.5 percent. These successes are believed to be due, in part, to the progress made by Department of Health’s Tobacco Control Program, which aims to prevent youth tobacco use and promotes tobacco cessation services.

“Our Tobacco Control Program has made tremendous progress at changing norms and getting the word out that smoking is bad for your health,” Bassett said. “The program has used evidence-based strategies, created tobacco-free spaces, and produced effective media campaigns that successfully encourage people to quit. New York state is committed to reducing the burden of nicotine addiction. 

“DOH will continue to reach out to the public with powerful messages, work with communities to protect their neighborhoods from tobacco-industry influence, create safe, tobacco- and vape-free spaces, and provide information about getting help to quit smoking.”

Despite these milestones described in the new report tobacco use remains a significant public health problem, with diseases caused by smoking and secondhand smoke killing more than 22,000 people each year in New York state, Bassett said. Another 650,000 adults live with a chronic disease caused by smoking.