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WCA Releases Report: Towards a Stronger Future |
WCA's “Towards a Stronger Future” report was issued yesterday from our Post Pandemic Working Group (PPWG), who is working collaboratively to support the recovery and long-term prosperity of the region. The report sets forth a clear advocacy and action agenda in four Foundational Pillars of Economic Recovery where the WCA is well-positioned through its proven expertise and deep professional network to achieve significant impact: healthcare & bioscience, real estate & housing, digital connectivity, and energy & sustainability.
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Last chance to register: Healthcare Course |
Beginning September 22, 5 – 7 pm, WCA is hosting the popular Healthcare Analytics Course. This online course is updated to address pandemic responses and population health initiatives. It will focus on the rich clinical and business sources of ‘Big Data’ available in the healthcare industry. Participants will learn the value of using data to make informed business decisions in the areas of operations management, planning, and strategic initiatives. Taught by Adjunct Professor Paul Savage at Hofstra University and CEO of Healthcare Intelligence, LLC. Registration deadline is tomorrow. Only $495 for WCA members!
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County Announces $10M Grant Program for Business Recovery |
Westchester County's Office of Economic Development announced a new $10 million grant program designed to support small businesses and nonprofits facing challenges as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. The program– Westchester County Business FIRST– will be accepting applications from Sept. 21 at 10 a.m. through Sept. 30, 2020 at midnight. Businesses and nonprofits with 99 or fewer employees may qualify for up to $49,000 to cover expenses such as rent or mortgage payments, salaries or benefits, working capital, equipment and those related to COVID-19.
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Workforce Committee Update |
Jason Chapin, WCA's director of workforce development, provides an update on the workforce committee's ongoing efforts to help employers fill positions with qualified candidates. Also, Johny Nelson of the NYS Department of Labor shared updates and insights on employment figures and trends in our region, including increasing job opportunities in the financial, information technologies, construction, and healthcare sectors.
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Save the Date: September 25 |
On September 25 at 2:00 pm, join WCA and Westfair Communication for another episode of Business Insights as Peter Katz interviews members of the WCA's Post Pandemic Working Group with key insights, advocacy, and action in healthcare & bioscience, real estate & housing, digital connectivity, and energy & sustainability.
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On-Demand Video Now Available
9/16: Updates from the Front Lines
Hear the experts from the Healthcare Association of New York State and the Suburban Hospital Alliance give important pandemic updates. Click here for video
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Key takeaways include:
- The rate of new cases, current hospitalizations and new deaths have decreased significantly in NY, and the number of new tests have increased.
- Hospitals in NYS are projected to suffer $20-$25 billion due to COVID-19 related expenses. Hospitals were mandated to increase capacity 50% and purchase extraordinary amounts of PPE, ICU equipment, etc. all at extremely high cost.
- Significant revenue losses arose from the cessation of elective surgeries. Patients are still slow to get routine care and procedures which will prove detrimental to overall health. Patients/employees should feel safe to return to their providers as proper safety protocols are in place.
- The federal government should put politics aside and pass additional relief funds for not only hospitals and healthcare providers but state and local governments as well. Businesses should keep the pressure on their congressional representatives to pass the needed funds.
- Without additional funding, the current year (2020-2021) budget for NYS is projected to show a shortfall of $14 billion. Projections for 2021-2022 are for an additional shortfall of $16 billion.
- There are some glimmers of hope as vaccine developments are underway and there is continued research and findings in the medical treatment of COVID-19
- Health insurers reported record profits as they did not need to pay claims on elective surgeries yet many employers and individuals received double digit premium increases. We need to ask why they haven’t come to the table to assist during this healthcare and economic crisis.
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This pandemic highlighted the need for medical personnel, particularly nurses, to be cross-trained in several disciplines particularly in the critical care area. That will allow hospitals to efficiently allocate staff as needed. Click here to watch full video.
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Member News & Announcements
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HealtheConnections has partnered with Nuvance, formerly Health Quest, a leader in healthcare in the Hudson Valley region of New York state and eastern Connecticut, to sunset their current physician portal and replace it with the health information exchange (HIE) portal through HealtheConnections before the end of September. Read more here
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Mark your calendars for Friday, October 2nd at Mulino’s Lake Isle Country Club in Eastchester, for the Eighteenth Annual NCADD/Westchester Luncheon. Click for more
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Join Grassi on Sept. 29 at 12:30pm for a webinar "Reopening & Rebuilding Your Westchester Business." Tap into their experience and insights to learn what’s working – and what’s not – as businesses reopen across the county. Grassi’s Westchester business, HR, technology and tax specialists will share what they are seeing and recommending for successful reopening and recovery. Register here
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Thank you to our Platinum Investors |
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WESTCHESTER COUNTY ASSOCIATION | 1133 WESTCHESTER AVENUE, S-217, WHITE PLAINS, NY
914-948-6444 | INFO@WESTCHESTER.ORG | WWW.WESTCHESTER.ORG
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