To help ease the suffering of Queens and Long Island citizens ravaged by the violence of Hurricane Sandy, the North Shore-LIJ Health System has launched “Project Coastal Care”—a mobile medical van that is setting up shop in Broad Channel, Long Beach and other communities in need of immediate, short-term health care services.
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The effort is being spearheaded by Maria Carney, MD, North Shore-LIJ’s director of community-based geriatrics and former Nassau County health commissioner.
The mobile van, one of only six in the New York City/Long Island area, is working in conjunction with the New York State Department of Health to treat a variety of conditions, including: upper respiratory infections, asthma exacerbations, anxiety, minor lacerations or puncture wounds, prescription refills, hypertension, flu and tetanus vaccinations and diabetes management.
North Shore-LIJ has been providing free medical care at the mobile van since mid-November, when the health system’s medical team began visiting Broad Channel, Queens.
The van is currently going to Long Beach on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m..
The medical van is staffed by a doctor, a physician’s assistant and nurse, as well as an administrator and a driver.
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“This is truly a humanitarian effort. For the people who live in these decimated communities, the medical infrastructure is almost non-existent,” said Dr. Carney. “We’re fulfilling our mission to serve these storm-ravaged communites.”
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