October 27, 2021
Contact: Jason Molinet
516-321-6705
jmolinet@northwell.edu
Northwell opens clinic to treat Belmont Park backstretch workers
ELMONT, NY – Northwell Health today announced the opening of a health clinic for Belmont
Park workers in collaboration with the New York Racing Association (NYRA), which operates the track,
and the Backstretch Employee Service Team (BEST) of NY, the nonprofit organization devoted to the
health and social welfare needs of several thousand barn area workers.
The $200,000, 1,000-square-foot health clinic will provide a continuum of care and offer wellness
programs for the thousands of backstretch workers at Belmont Park. The free program is part of
Northwell’s commitment to providing equitable care to all New Yorkers. A high percentage of
backstretch employees are immigrants who live at the track.
“Clinics like this one are important because they allow quick access to care, before health issues
become health care emergencies,” said Michael Dowling, president and CEO of Northwell Health. “This
community dedicated to the sport of thoroughbred racing deserves a commitment to wellness – and
Northwell Health is happy to provide it. That’s our passion.”
Northwell provided coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) testing for Belmont workers
beginning in 2020 and provided COVID-19 vaccines in 2021. Now, Northwell will offer clinic hours
three days a week with the opportunity for specialty services as needed. The clinic features two exam
rooms and lab services for point of care testing. Tochi Iroku-Malize, MD, senior vice president and chair
of family medicine, will serve as medical director.
“This important partnership will increase access to high quality health care for the backstretch
community at Belmont Park,” said David O’Rourke, President and CEO of NYRA “Northwell Health has
already made a significant impact through their COVID-19 testing and vaccination efforts here at
Belmont, and we thank them for their dedicated service to the men and women working every day to
support thoroughbred racing in New York State.”
While language barriers and cultural biases are often reasons why some immigrants don’t seek
care, Northwell has gotten out of the starting gate quickly. It offered flu vaccinations this week for nearly
100 backstretch workers.
“Northwell came to the rescue of the backstretch workers during the pandemic and now
BEST is thrilled to collaborate again with Northwell to provide the hard working backstretch
workers of Belmont and Aqueduct with on-going, first-class, primary and preventative care,”
said Paul Ruchames, executive director of BEST. “BEST is also deeply grateful for the steadfast
and generous support from the New York Racing Association and the New York Thoroughbred
Horseman`s Association, without which none of the great achievements of the past 20 months
and beyond, would be possible.”
One of those backstretch workers can attest to the need. Francisco Barrera grew up riding horses
in his native Peru. At 47, he’s still exercising horses before dawn each day, putting thoroughbreds through
their paces as one of thousands of backstretch employees at Belmont. Mr. Barrera has suffered a number
of physical injuries working with these powerful animals over the decades. It can be dangerous but
rewarding work, which is why he’s eager to see clinical care return to the backstretch at Belmont,
bringing medical services to a hard-working community.
“It’s a big step for us,” said Mr. Barrera, a married father of three. “We are mostly immigrants. It
is hard for us to get medical attention outside the track.”
Through Northwell’s ongoing efforts, more than 90 percent of backstretch workers are
vaccinated, well above the New York State average. The health system anticipates handling more than
2,000 visits to the clinic in 2022.
MEDIA ASSETS
Photo (Credit Northwell Health): https://northwellstudios.smugmug.com/2021-Events/October-EventsFolder/Belmont-Clinic-Opening/n-S5csx6/
Video (Credit Northwell Health):
English:https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1WMupeu4kfPPKxO9dUiuIMD8izYFC57x9?usp=sharing
Spanish: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-Al_u2q80lStjyeX1RiirmcDmqCHtOpk?usp=sharing
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About Northwell Health
Northwell Health is New York State’s largest health care provider and private employer, with 23
hospitals, 830 outpatient facilities and more than 16,600 affiliated physicians. We care for over two
million people annually in the New York metro area and beyond, thanks to philanthropic support from
our communities. Our 77,000 employees – 18,900 nurses and 4,800 employed doctors, including
members of Northwell Health Physician Partners – are working to change health care for the
better. We’re making breakthroughs in medicine at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. We’re
training the next generation of medical professionals at the visionary Donald and Barbara Zucker School
of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and the Hofstra Northwell School of Nursing and Physician Assistant
Studies. For information on our more than 100 medical specialties, visit Northwell.edu and follow us
@NorthwellHealth on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
