Jamaica juice bar eyes
expansion to airports NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst Earns
National Recognition for Commitment to
BY NAEISHA ROSE
The Nourish Spot, an all-natural
juice bar and salad joint in Jamaica,
has not only expanded its offerings
since its opening more than a year ago,
but will also extend its reach, according
to its owner Dawn Kelly.
On Nov. 30, the juice bar was certified
as a Minority and Women-owned
Business Enterprise and in June was
certified as an Airport Concession Disadvantaged
Business Enterprise and a
Disadvantaged Business Enterprise
by the Port Authority of New York and
New Jersey, according to Kelly.
“I’m ecstatic,” said Kelly. “It means
that we are now able to do work with
the city of New York entities like
schools, businesses, and libraries —
the MWBE certification means that
we are able to open up to wider avenues
for new clientele and increase profit.”
Kelly said she will reach out to Resorts
World Casino New York City and
Jamaica’s Central Library — which has
a food hub — about selling her items,
which now also includes customizable
wraps for $7 to $9 and soups that cost
$3.75 to $5.75 at the store, located at 107-
05 Guy Brewer Blvd.
“We had two sizes of soup last winter,
but now we have three because
men were telling us our cups were too
small,” said Kelly, who started adding
the new items February.
Now that she is certified by PANYNJ,
she can expect to have a concession
at one or more of the airports and
railway stations that they work with,
including Newark Airport and the
redeveloping LaGuardia and John F.
Kennedy airports in Queens.
“We can show up one day at an
area airport or train station near
you,” said Kelly.
The entrepreneur is also in the process
of speaking with the Jamaica Center
Business Improvement District in
hopes of opening up a booth at Jamaica
Coliseum with the help of her children
The Nourish Spot in Jamaica.
Photo via Google Maps
Jade Duncan and Owen Duncan, who
helps her run the store.
Not only will she benefit from the
new business opportunities, but so will
the kids from local area high schools,
according to Kelly.
“We give them vocational training
here,” said Kelly.
Kelly credits her continued success
to Lisa Ennis, a client manager at the
NYC Department of Small Business
Services, which helped her to get certified
and offers free resources for new
entrepreneurs. She also thanked Brendez
Wineglass, a project manager from
Small Business Services who managed
a two-day boot technology boot camp
for restaurateurs in Downtown Jamaica
called ResTech in October.
The boot camp taught several business
owners how to utilize technology
to optimize their workflow and improve
their customer service, and the entrepreneurs
also got free photos to showcase
their firms and their offerings.
“We can’t wait for 2019!” said Kelly.
Reach reporter Naeisha Rose by email
at nrose@cnglocal.com or by phone
at (718) 260–4573.
Improve High Blood Pressure
Hospital Receives Accolades from Health Organizations
for Commitment to Prioritize Blood Pressure Control
within the Communities It Serves
(Elmhurst, NY –December 7, 2018) NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst has been
recognized by the American Heart Association and American Medical Association
as a leader in the national effort to get people’s blood pressure under control and
reduce the number of Americans who have heart attacks and strokes each year, it
was announced today.
The two organizations named NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst as one of 802
physician practices and health systems nationwide recognized for a commitment
to help patients improve blood pressure control through this year’s “Target: BP™”
recognition awards.
Launched in 2015, Target: BP™ is a national initiative of the American Heart
Association and American Medical Association aimed at addressing the growing
burden of high blood pressure in the United States.
More than 1,600 physician practices and health systems nationwide have joined
Target: BP™, sharing a common goal to reduce the number of adult patients with
uncontrolled blood pressure and improve health outcomes associated with heart
disease.
“We are enormously proud of our successes in helping our patients control their
blood pressure and avoid strokes, heart disease, and their complications,” said
Israel Rocha, chief executive officer of NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst. “Our
physicians have long worked closely with our patients to help them make lifestyle
adjustments that include a focus on exercise and healthy eating, and we are pleased
that our efforts are having a real impact. We are honored by this recognition and
look forward to continuing to empower our patients to make choices that will lead
to good outcomes.”
Of the 103 million Americans with high blood pressure, less than half have it
controlled to a healthy level. This is despite the fact that high blood pressure can
often be managed effectively when patients work with their physician to create and
follow a treatment plan. No single risk factor has more impact on the nation’s death
rates from cardiovascular disease than high blood pressure.
“I am ecstatic that NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst has been nationally recognized
as a leader in helping patients manage their blood pressure,” said Assemblymember
Michael DenDekker. “Preventive care is crucial for averting serious health issues,
and it is an imperative that our communities receive the tools necessary for healthy
blood pressure control.”
“Congratulations to Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst on receiving these well-deserved
accolades,” said NYC Council Member Daniel Dromm. “Each year, thousands of lives
are saved thanks to the excellent high blood pressure treatment and other types of care
patients receive from the hospital’s dedicated medical staff. Throughout my tenure as
a council member, I have fought for and allocated millions of dollars to expand services
at Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst. I remain committed to securing additional funding so
that the facility remains on the forefront of quality care in Queens.”
“More than one in four New Yorkers have high blood pressure, a key risk factor
for heart disease and stroke,” said Acting Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot.
“We’re working to drive down those numbers with our Take the Pressure Off, NYC!
initiative, and I congratulate NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst on their impressive
achievement in preventing and controlling high blood pressure.”
“Although we have the tools to easily treat high blood pressure, many patients
face a variety of barriers making it difficult to successfully manage the condition,”
said Barbara L. McAneny, MD, president of the American Medical Association. “We
applaud the physicians who are already working hard to control their patients’ blood
pressure, and we will continue to urge more physician practices, health systems,
and patients to join this effort to prioritize blood pressure control and increase the
national blood pressure control rate. Together, we will be able to save many more
lives and improve health outcomes for patients throughout the nation.”
“A driving force behind Target: BP’s goal of improving cardiovascular health is
the physician and patient partnership,” said Ivor Benjamin, MD, FAHA, president of
the American Heart Association. “We are pleased to see more and more practices
prioritize blood pressure control and collaborate with their patients to achieve the
program’s goal of reducing heart disease and strokes in their communities.”
NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, along with all other practices and health
systems being recognized, will be featured in upcoming Target: BP materials.
This includes appearing in national journal ads, on TargetBP.org, and the Target:
BP Wall of Recognition that will be displayed at American Heart Association and
American Medical Association events throughout the year. For more information on
programs and services at the hospital, please call 718-334-4000 or visit www.
nychealthandhospitals.org/Elmhurst.
About NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst
NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst is a major provider of hospital and ambulatory care services
in the borough of Queens. The 545-bed hospital is a Level 1 Trauma Center, an Emergency
Heart Care Station, and a 911-Receiving Hospital. It is a premiere health care organization
for key specialties, including surgery, cardiology, women’s health, pediatrics, rehabilitation
medicine, renal services, and mental health services. Last year, the hospital’s robust primary
and specialty care practices handled nearly 700,000 ambulatory care visits and its emergency
medicine teams responded to more than 130,000 emergency room encounters.
About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest public health care system in the nation, serving more
than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city’s
five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty
care centers anchors care coordination with the system’s trauma centers, nursing homes,
post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlus health plan—all supported by 11
essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 42,000 employees is uniquely focused
on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more
information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/NYCHealthandHospitals or Twitter at @NYCHealthSystem.
TIMESLEDGER,14 DEC. 14-20, 2018 TIMESLEDGER.COM
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