Health Care Forum at Harlem Hospital

Health

On Saturday, July 24, 2010 from 9:30 AM to 1:15 PM, Harlem Hospital Center will host a community Health Care Forum. The event will take place at 506 Lenox Avenue, MLK Pavilion, 2nd Floor in the Herbert G. Cave Auditorium. Distinguished guests, colleagues and the community will come together to discuss Health Care Reform, the Harlem Healthy Living Initiative, and the health of the Harlem community.

The Health Care Forum at Harlem Hospital Center is being sponsored by The Greater Harlem Chamber of
Commerce’s HARLEM WEEK Event, Healthfirst and AM1600 WWRL Radio. This town hall meeting is a follow-up to the June 26, Harlem Hospital Outreach Center of Excellence Health Expo, where community members had the opportunity to speak to health professionals, received health literature, materials, and free health screenings. In
addition, attendees completed a Community Survey designed to gain a better understanding of the needs of the community and provide programs and services that will meet those needs. Results of the survey will be shared and discussed at the July 24th town hall meeting.
The Honorable Charles B. Rangel, Member of the United States House of Representatives, will begin the program by providing an overview of the Health Care Reform Bill and suggest strategies to preserve the health of the Harlem community. A panel discussion will follow featuring leaders who are representatives of the many individuals affected by the changes in healthcare. Panelists include John M. Palmer, Ph.D., Executive Director of Harlem Hospital Center and The Renaissance Health Care Network; Pat Wang, President and CEO, Healthfirst; LaRay Brown, Senior Vice President of Corporate Planning, Community Health and Intergovernmental Relations, NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation; Patricia A. Ricketts, Vice President of Programs, Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce; Neil Calman, M.D., President and CEO, Family Health Center at North General; and Judy Wessler, Director, Commission on the Public’s Health System. The goal of this session is to illustrate how national and local
partnerships can join forces for the good of the community. We want to send a clear message that healthcare is everyone’s responsibility. “In today’s evolution of healthcare, it is important that we strengthen our partnerships to
ensure the health of the Harlem community,” said John M. Palmer, Ph.D., Executive Director of Harlem Hospital Center and the Renaissance Health Care Network. “While we must recognize the impact the changes have on the individual, we must remain focused and united for the ultimate goal, a healthier Harlem.”

The Forum, which starts at 9:30 a.m., will be keynoted by congressman Charles Rangel the forum at 11 am in the hospital Herbert G. Cave Auditorium.

The event is free and open to the public; breakfast will be served.

Harlem Hospital Center is a member of the Generations+/Northern Manhattan Health Network and the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation.