How can I find a good family doctor?
Area hospitals can provide a list of physicians affiliated with the hospital. Northern Westchester Hospital Center offers a referral line at 241-6942 or visit www.nwhc.net. Norwalk Hospital offers a physician referral line at 203-852-2609, as does Danbury Hospital at 203-797-7001.
Will any doctors take walk-in patients?
Katonah Medical Group (232-3135) does not take walk-in patients, but offers same-day appointments.
Primary Medical Care (203-849-7777/ www.pmcc-ohc.com) at 345 Main Avenue, Norwalk, will take walk-ins, as will Norwalk Community Health Center at 121 Water Street, South Norwalk. The latter is affiliated with Norwalk Hospital. It is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 to 5:30 and sees patients by appointment or walk-in.
The Wilton Medical Walk-In Clinic (203-834-8885) is at 35 Danbury Road. It is open every day. Call for hours.
Are there CPR classes in town?
Most fire departments and ambulance corps offer courses periodically; call for more information (see section on Emergency Services).
Oakridge Fitness/The Ridge Club (533-6800) in the Oakridge Common Shopping Center in Vista offers CPR classes periodically.
The Northern Westchester Hospital Center in Mount Kisco offers infant, child and adult CPR courses at various times during the year. Call 666-1292 for information on infant/totsaver CPR; 666-1786 for the others.
The American Red Cross also provides adult, child, and infant CPR, as well as training on becoming an instructor of CPR. Anyone interested should call the Red Cross at 946-6500 or visit online at www.westchestercounty.redcross.org.
Is there a town health officer?
With six district offices, the county health department is the chief health office of Westchester, providing many of the services and information a town health department would. Dr. Joshua Lipsman is the county’s commissioner of health.
The health department protects and promotes the health of county residents through prevention, prolonging meaningful life, and leadership in health crises. The nearest district office is at 118 North Bedford Road, Mount Kisco, 864-7331, and covers environmental health services only. There is also an office at 134 Court Street, White Plains, 995-5800. To reach the main office in New Rochelle, call 813-5000. A complete list of the health department’s services is at the county Web site, www.westchestergov.com. There is a 24-hour public health information line at 813-5609.
What does a hospice do and who has it?
Hospice Care in Westchester and Putnam, an affiliate of the Visiting Nurse Association of Hudson Valley, helps individuals with advanced illness by focusing on a person’s medical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual needs. This includes care at home or hospice care in a hospital or nursing facility. There is 24-hour nursing and psychological support available. For information, call 666-4228.
How can I arrange for home care?
If you are being discharged from a hospital and require home care, the hospital social worker can arrange home care with an agency of your choice. If you want home care and are not being released from a hospital you, your guardian or your doctor may call an agency to arrange for home care.
Through its 55+ Community Connection, Northern Westchester Hospital Center offers Coordinated Care, a program that assists in setting up home care. Call 666-1925.
VNA Home Health Services (666-7616/ www.vnahv.org), an affiliate of VNA of Hudson Valley, offers skilled nursing, personal care, therapy (physical, occupational and speech), medical social work, and nutritional counseling.
Family Home Health Care in Tarrytown (631-7200/ www.dsfhs.org) offers registered and licensed practical nurses, physical therapy, home health aides, personal care aides, homemakers, companions, and live-in aides. It is an affiliate of Dominican Sisters Family Health Service.
Family Service of Westchester offers home health care to anyone in need of help and personal care, including the elderly, chronically mentally ill and the physically challenged. Aides are available by the hour or as live-ins to help with personal care, preparing meals, light housekeeping, laundry, shopping and companionship. Certified home health aides and personal care aides work under the direction of a registered nurse. For information, call 666-8075. The agency’s Web site is www.fsw.org.
Ridgefield Visiting Nurse Association (203-438-5555/ www.ridgefieldvna.org) offers private care home health aides for in-house support, but no skilled nursing care.
Through its Certified Home Health Agency, the county provides health care services to people in their homes. Call 813-5000.
Where can I get home care products?
JNR Pharmacy (533-5679) in the Oakridge Common Shopping Center in Vista offers a line of home care and post-surgical products.
Are any physical rehabilitation centers here?
Lewisboro Physical Therapy on Route 35 in Cross River, 763-5941, offers outpatient physical therapy for a variety of medical needs. Katonah Physical Therapy is at 190 Goldens Bridge Road, 232-3306. Adrienne Stone in Katonah also offers physical therapy, 232-5955.
VNA Home Health Services (666-7616) offers physical therapy at home as does Family Home Health Care (631-7200).
Burke Rehabilitation Hospital in White Plains, 597-2500, is a facility that has an extensive inpatient and outpatient program. The Northern Westchester Hospital Center also offers both inpatient and outpatient physical therapy as well as speech and occupational therapy in its Physical Therapy Unit, 666-1385.
Norwalk Hospital Rehabilitation Center (203-852-3060) has an extensive outpatient program.
Who helps the handicapped?
Dean Travalino, chairman of The Committee for The Handicapped in Lewisboro, acts as the liaison between the town government and the handicapped community. For more information, call him at 763-5393.
Lewisboro’s Advisory Committee for the Disabled advises on issues relating to the needs of the disabled community. Melissa Cunniffe is chair and members are Peter Beardsley, Laura Corrie, Todd Grossman, Maryellen Sperle, Blanche Stover, Dean Travalino, and Marc Weiler.
The Westchester Independent Living Center, 200 Hamilton Avenue, White Plains, is a non-profit, community-based advocacy and resource center that serves people with all kinds of disabilities, providing non-residential and non-medical services. Services include information and referrals, individual and group counseling and peer support groups, benefit advisement, and training in everyday life skills. For information, call 682-3926, TDD 682-0926. The Web site is www.wilc.org.
VESID (Vocational Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities), 75 South Broadway, White Plains, is a federal- and state-financed agency that promotes educational equity and excellence for students with disabilities, assures continuity between child and adult service systems, and provides vocational rehabilitation and independent living services. For details, call 946-1313 or go online to www.vesid.nysed.gov.
The Westchester County Office for the Disabled (995-2957) functions as a clearinghouse of information for people with disabilities. Direct services include Para Transit services, travel training services for people with developmental disabilities, on-site sign language interpreter, resource guide to camps and recreational activities, special events, and enforcement of handicapped parking laws in coordination with municipalities.
For the blind or visually impaired, The Lighthouse, 170 Hamilton Avenue, White Plains, provides rehabilitation services, adaptive computer training, community education, and screenings of preschool children for amblyopia (lazy eye syndrome). Call 683-7500.
Is there a group devoted to attention deficit disorder?
CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) of Putnam and Vicinity is a support and educational outreach group that meets the first Tuesday of each month (except April and September) at Four Winds Hospital. Call 845-278-3012.
How do I get a handicapped parking permit or a special license plate?
Have your physician complete form MV664.1 and bring it to the Town House; applications for parking permits are available and processed through the town clerk’s office. Parking permits are free and are issued to residents for permanent or temporary disabilities. For a license plate, bring the same form, proof of identity, and current plates to any DMV office. The cost is $18.
When are the local pharmacies open?
JNR Pharmacy (533-5679) in the Oakridge Common Shopping Center in Vista, is open Monday through Friday from 9 to 8, and Saturday from 9 to 6. Free delivery is offered on prescription medications. Cross River Pharmacy (763-3152) in the Cross River Plaza is open weekdays, 9 to 7, Saturdays, 9 to 6. The pharmacy will deliver in case of emergency. Katonah Pharmacy (232-3200), 294 Katonah Avenue, is open weekdays from 8 to 7:30, Saturdays, 8 to 6, and Sundays, 8 to 1.
Where is the nearest 24-hour pharmacy?
There are two in Norwalk: CVS at 235 Main Street (203-847-2351), and Walgreen’s (203-845-0457) at 55 Westport Avenue. There is also a 24-hour CVS at 360 North Bedford Avenue in Mount Kisco (241-1260).
Who organizes blood drives?
Hudson Valley Blood Services organizes blood drives throughout Westchester County. For information on donating blood, call 784-4600.
The American Red Cross in Westchester holds blood drives at its chapter and around the county. Call 946-6500.
Northern Westchester Hospital Center maintains a blood donor center; call 666-1925.
At its annual open house the second Saturday in June, the Vista Fire Department runs its yearly blood drive. For information, call 533-2727.
A person must be 17 or older and weigh more than 110 pounds. The entire process takes about an hour, including questions, donation, rest time and snacks afterward.
Where’s an Alcoholics Anonymous chapter?
For convenient locations, call 949-1200.
Where are drug and alcohol treatment centers?
Four Winds Hospital in Cross River offers an outpatient alcohol-chemical dependency program called Choices. Triage services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There are also outpatient services. For information or referrals, call 763-8151.
The Bedford/Pound Ridge/Lewisboro Drug Abuse Prevention Council (234-3227) provides information. For drug treatment referrals, call 591-HELP.
The Retreat at Westchester is a wing at New York-Presbyterian Hospital in White Plains for the treatment of patients with alcoholism and/or other drug dependencies and dual diagnosis. It emphasizes a discreet approach to recovery. For information, call 888-694-5700.
What type of help or counseling is available for the mentally ill and their families?
Four Winds Hospital in Cross River (763-8151) offers inpatient and outpatient psychiatric treatment for children, adolescents, and adults. There are programs for psychiatric/substance abuse (dual diagnosis), eating disorders, psychological trauma/abuse, and behavioral and anxiety disorders. The hospital’s Web site is www.fourwindshospital.com
The Northern Westchester Hospital Center has an inpatient behavioral health unit designed to provide short-term hospitalization to evaluate, stabilize and rehabilitate people with acute behavioral illnesses including mood disorders such as anxiety and schizophrenia. Call 666-1200.
The VNA Hudson Valley (666-7616) offers short-term counseling and crisis intervention.
Dominican Sisters Family Health Service (941-1654) offers in-home care for patients with a diagnosis of mental illness.
Family Services of Westchester has family mental health specialists available for outreach mental health services and crisis intervention. Call 666-8075 or visit online at www.fsw.org. The agency also has seven licensed mental health clinics offering individual, family, marital, and group treatment for all ages. It also offers psychological testing. The nearest is at 344 Main Street, Suite 303 in Mount Kisco.
You can find more services by calling 211.
Where can I get an eating disorder treated?
Four Winds Hospital in Cross River (763-8151) offers inpatient and outpatient services with group and individual therapy.
The Northern Westchester Hospital Center in Mount Kisco offers an Intensive Outpatient Center for eating disorder recovery. Call 242-8333.
Are there any health education programs?
Each spring and fall the Four Winds Foundation sponsors programs open to the community. Check the Web site at www.fourwindshospital.com for the calendar.
Whom do I call if I am being abused?
My Sister’s Place (683-1333/ www.mysistersplaceny.org) has a 24-hour hotline (1-800-298-SAFE) and can provide shelter, counseling, advocacy, referrals, and resources for people in need.
The Northern Westchester Shelter maintains a hotline at 888-438-8700. It offers a 16-bed shelter, safety planning, counseling, support groups, legal assistance, and a teen dating abuse prevention program. The Web site is www.northernwestchestershelter.org.
The Putnam/Northern Westchester Women’s Resources Center in Mahopac maintains a 24-hour hotline at 845-628-2166. You may also call 845-628-9284. The center offers information and referrals, a shelter, and support groups.
The Men’s Domestic Violence Program of Putnam County can be reached at 845-225-9491.
Is there help for victims of domestic violence?
Four Winds Hospital in Cross River offers inpatient and outpatient mental health services for victims of domestic violence. Four Winds Foundation sponsors lectures and seminars on issues of domestic violence, including where to get help from local agencies. Call 763-8151 for more information or go online to www.fourwindshospital.com.
The Northern Westchester Shelter offers individual counseling and support groups for women and children. See above.
The county’s Office for Women offers assistance on domestic violence issues through its helpline at 995-5972, weekdays from 9 to 5. Numerous resources can be found at www.westchestergov.com/women/referral.htm.
Should I worry about Lyme disease here?
Lyme disease is a prevalent disease spread by the bite of an infected tick. Although all types of ticks can spread disease, the deer tick - about the size of a pin head or poppy seed - is the most common offender. Take precautions when going in the woods and fields. Use insect repellent, dress in light-colored clothing, roll pant cuffs into socks, wear long sleeves and a hat, and avoid walking in the woods or tall grass. Inspect pets that roam daily.
If you notice a tick bite or any bite around which a redness forms in the shape of a bull’s-eye target, or if you have flu-like symptoms, see a doctor immediately for treatment.
Another tickborne disease that is becoming more of a problem in this area is ehrlichiosis. Spread through the bite of an infected deer tick, symptoms include fever, headache, chills, malaise, muscle and joint pain, nausea and vomiting. Acute weight loss, low platelet count, and low white blood cell count can also occur.
Landscaping suggestions to reduce the tick population around your home include: keep grass cut short; remove leaf litter and brush; keep woodpiles in a dry, sunny area; keep the ground under bird feeders clean; create a three-foot barrier of wood chips between your lawn and bushy vegetation surrounding wooded areas; and keep patio furniture, swing sets, etc., away from wooded areas. Some people have their lawns sprayed.
Where can I get information on Lyme disease?
The Tickborne Disease Infoline (813-LYME) is available 24 hours a day. More information can also be found at www.westchestergov.com/health.
The following Web sites are recommended: www.ilads.org; www.columbia-lyme.org; www.cdc.gov;
www.TheRidgefieldPress.com. Color pictures of several variations of the Lyme rash may be viewed at the Lyme Disease Foundation Web site: www.lyme.org.
The Ridgefield Lyme Disease Task Force offers an annual spring seminar on Lyme disease. Call 203-431-7006 or e-mail rldtf@comcast.net.
What is rabies? How prevalent is it in this area?
Rabies is a fatal disease caused by a virus that travels through the body to the brain via the nervous system. Once it reaches the brain, it causes encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain, which results in neurological damage and cannot be treated. During the last 15 years, there has been an outbreak of rabies along the East Coast. Raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats are the most common carriers of the rabies virus. Small rodents such as squirrels, hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils, chipmunks, rats, mice, and rabbits are almost never infected with rabies.
The best way to protect yourself is to not approach or handle wild animals, dead or alive, or strange pets and to keep your own pets vaccinated.
If you think you have been exposed to rabies - for example, you slept in a room where a bat was found - consult a doctor immediately and report the incident to the county health department at 813-5000 and the animal control officer at 763-3536. Because the rabies virus is carried in saliva, the wound should be washed thoroughly with soap and water. This decreases the chance of infection. If possible, capture the animal in a large box, but do not try to handle it. Because the testing procedure for rabies involves dissecting the brain, the animal must be killed to be tested.
For more information, the rabies info line at 813-5010 offers recorded information. You may also call 813-5194 Monday through Friday from 8:30 to 4:30.
What type of treatment is available for rabies?
Once rabies has been contracted, it is always fatal. However, prophylactic treatment in the form of a series of injections is available for people who have been exposed to the virus. The procedure involves administering immunoglobulin followed by a vaccination. This is succeeded by a series of four vaccinations given in a 28-day period after the initial treatment.
What is West Nile virus and what do I need to know?
West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne infection that can cause encephalitis. Although most mosquitoes do not transmit the virus, the one most commonly associated with it is the common house mosquito. These mosquitoes are most active from dusk to dawn and reproduce in any stagnant water that remains more than four days. People can best protect themselves by eliminating pools of stagnant water around their home, such as birdbaths, old tires, kiddie pools, and clogged gutters. You should report any standing water you cannot get rid of at www.westchestergov.com/health/westnile.
A batch of mosquitoes found in Rye in July tested positive for West Nile virus.
Viral encephalitis may not have any symptoms at all; mild cases may include a slight fever and/or headache. Severe infections are marked by a rapid onset of a high fever, head and body aches, and usually occur five to 15 days after exposure. There is no specific treatment for viral infections, other than to treat the symptoms and provide supportive care. Those who may be most susceptible to encephalitis are infants, the elderly and people with weak immune systems.
For more information, visit the county health department at www.westchestergov.com or call the West Nile virus info line at 813-5609.
What should I do if I find a dead bird?
Birds die for many reasons, but they are often a harbinger of diseases that can affect humans, including West Nile virus and bird flu. (It is important to remember bird flu has not been reported in this country.) If you find a dead crow, you are asked to call 1-866-537-BIRD. If you find many dead birds, other than crows, call the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation at 845-256-3098.
Where is smoking banned?
Smoking is banned in all indoor areas, public or private (aside from your own home). Details are online at www.westchestergov.com/health.
How often are restaurants inspected?
The county inspects restaurants on a set schedule depending on what kind of restaurant it is, and whenever there is a major change or opening.
Where are free blood pressure screenings?
A nurse visits the Lewisboro Senior Adults the first Wednesday of the month at the South Salem Fire House to check blood pressure and screen for sugar. Call 232-6167 for details.
Where can I get a list of area support groups?
Call 211, any day, any time.
The American Cancer Society offer a number of support groups. Call 949-4800.
Northern Westchester Hospital Center also offers various support groups. Call 241-NWHC.
The Westchester Self-Help Clearinghouse maintains a database of area support groups. Call 949-7699, ext. 319.
Where can I find information about AIDS?
Through the AIDS Council, the county health department offers prevention, education, care and advocacy programs. Call 813-5020.
The American Red Cross provided educational materials about HIV/AIDS. Call 946-6500.
The National AIDS Hotline is 1-800-342-2437. Aids.org publishes the complete searchable archive of AIDS Treatment News.
Where can I get a rapid HIV test?
Several county health offices offer this service, including the White Plains office at 134 Court Street. Call 813-5256 for the schedule. You may also go to Planned Parenthood at 280 North Avenue in Mount Kisco. Call 666-6025.
