Blog
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COVID-19 Safety: What Should You Do If You Get Sick?
COVID-19 Safety: What Should You Do If You Get Sick?
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COVID-19 Testing for Members and Their Eligible Family Members
Your Benefit Fund has partnered with One Medical, a primary care practice that is doing COVID-19 testing. If your employer is not providing testing, the Fund has arranged for a 30-day One Medical membership for you to get tested for COVID-19 if you are experiencing symptoms. Watch your mail and email for information on how to access your 30-day membership. If you have questions, contact your Outreach Coordinator for assistance. -
Takisha Jenkins: Member Profile
Takisha Jenkins
Takisha Jenkins credits her benefits with helping her get healthy and maintain her well-being.
Takisha Jenkins, a Medical Office Assistant at Cohen Children’s Medical Center – Northwell Health, and an 1199SEIU member for 17 years, has always been committed to staying healthy—and she relies on her Fund benefits to help her do so. In 2016, after suffering from an upset stomach, nausea and fatigue, she was diagnosed with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), a serious condition that can cause abdominal pain, digestive problems and even malnutrition. Her gastroenterologist prescribed a two-week course of antibiotics that, without her Benefit Fund prescription drug benefit, could have cost as much as $2,000. “I was relieved that I didn’t have to pay anything,” said Takisha. “And they delivered my medication free of charge to my home!”
I have relatives who are lively and active in their 60s and 70s. I hope if I follow all of the advice I’m getting, I can be like that too.
Medical Office Assistant
Cohen Children’s Medical Center – Northwell Health
Having lost her mother and her grandmother to cancer, Takisha knows how important preventive screenings can be, so she goes for regular checkups without fail. She also attends the Fund’s quarterly wellness workshops, as well as a Fund-sponsored annual health fair at work. Taking what she’s learned at these events, Takisha stays as active as possible. She’s created a home gym, where she practices yoga, works out with a punching bag, does strength training and uses an elliptical machine. Her exercise routine even helps keep her mild asthma in check, so she doesn’t need to rely on inhalers or other medications.
After recovering from her illness, Takisha also took her doctor’s advice and changed her diet by reducing her intake of sugar, bread and coffee, drinking more tea, and steaming vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower. She has been symptom- and pain-free ever since—and after losing 20 pounds, she is now at what she feels is a more comfortable weight. Now that her medical conditions are under control and she’s following a healthy lifestyle, Takisha continues to get wellness inspiration from the Benefit Fund, such as the Protecting Our Health calendars she has on display in her home. She also looks forward to reading each issue of For Your Benefit. “I get motivated by the stories of people like me, who’ve changed their lifestyles to eat healthier and exercise more,” she explained. “I have relatives who are lively and active in their 60s and 70s. I hope if I follow all of the advice I’m getting, I can be like that too.”
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Talk to a Therapist Through Teladoc
Talk to a Therapist Through Teladoc
Now you can connect with a doctor for behavioral and mental health issues through your Teladoc benefit. If you’re struggling with stress, anxiety, depression, issues related to addiction or another behavioral or mental health diagnosis, call or log on to Teladoc to speak with a licensed counselor, therapist, psychologist or psychiatrist from the privacy and convenience of your home. This benefit is only for eligible adults. Children in need of behavioral health services should still be referred to a specialist by your primary care doctor.
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COVID-19: Important Information about Your Teladoc Benefit
COVID-19: Important Information about Your Teladoc Benefit
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Dr. Dunn Delivers a Special Message to Our Members Working on the Frontlines of COVID-19
Dr. Dunn delivers a special message to our members working on the frontlines of COVID-19.
About Dr. Dunn
Dr. Dunn oversees the 1199SEIU Benefit Funds’ clinical, care management and analytics functions, and is responsible for pursuing health and wellness initiatives and value-based strategies.
Read bio » -
Oliveen Cowans-Mitchell: Member Profile
Oliveen Cowans-Mitchell
Faced with an increased risk of diabetes, Oliveen Cowans-Mitchell got her health back on track with the help of her Benefit Fund.
Every morning, Oliveen Cowans-Mitchell, a Certified Nursing Assistant at the Hebrew Home at Riverdale, begins her day with a smoothie packed with leafy greens and seasonal fruit. But that wasn’t always the case. Oliveen had always enjoyed making home-cooked meals, often rich dishes from her native Jamaica, while her busy work schedule had led her to rely on snacks and quick and convenient meals heavy in starches like potatoes and rice. After a routine checkup with her doctor in 2018 revealed she was pre-diabetic, Oliveen used her Benefit Fund coverage to take control of her health.
Oliveen began regularly attending the Benefit Fund’s wellness workshops for healthy-eating tips, and she was excited to learn that she could receive additional help through pre-diabetes counseling. When she enrolled, a counselor helped her create a personalized diet and exercise plan to keep her blood sugar levels in check. Oliveen learned how to make some simple changes that made her meals healthier without sacrificing flavor
or taking too much time to prepare..I’ve loved learning more about food and how to read nutrition labels. There is a lot of hidden sugar!
Certified Nursing Assistant
Hebrew Home at Riverdale
“I’ve loved learning more about food and how to read nutrition labels,” she said. “There is a lot of hidden sugar!” Oliveen now follows a diet low in carbohydrates with no added sugar, uses oil-free cooking methods to prepare favorites like baked salmon and steamed vegetables, and pays attention to portion sizes.
She also exercises three to five times a week at a gym near her home in the Bronx, where she focuses on cardio workouts on the StairMaster or the stationary bike. Weight training has become a favorite part of Oliveen’s regimen, which she says makes her feel “strong and toned.” Her healthy lifestyle has even helped her lose 23 pounds and drop several sizes over the past year.
With a family history of diabetes, Oliveen knows the importance of continuing to manage her risk, and she tries to encourage her sister to be more proactive with her own health. She has also shared her healthier outlook with colleagues, who say they’re motivated to make changes after seeing her success. Oliveen is confident she will reach her weight-loss goals and get her blood sugar levels within the healthy range: “I’m never looking back!”
