Press Release

 SOUTH AMBOY — The Dowdell Library received a grant to provide the community with telehealth services. The ongoing pandemic has spotlighted inequities in the healthcare system, especially among the most marginalized members of the community. Those who suffer most are new immigrants, the elderly, and people from lower incomes who lack access to medical care, technology, and health information necessary to make informed choices about their health.

They are confronted with barriers to health equity, such as finding health information in a language or reading level that they can understand to ask their medical provider the right questions. Other barriers, such as the high cost of medical insurance or the need to work irregular shift hours, exclude some people from seeing a doctor during normal office hours. The Dowdell Library is playing a role in leveling the playing field through NJHealthConnect@Your Library so that everyone has an equal chance to live the healthiest life possible.

NJHealthConnect@Your Library addresses health inequities in the community by providing iPads that are preloaded with apps and links to telemedicine sites for doctor appointments, multilingual health information, places for mental health support for adults and teens, the latest COVID updates, and crisis hotlines in New Jersey.

Telemedicine is a more affordable, portable, and convenient lifeline for people with or without medical insurance to connect with a doctor. Telehealth is a skyrocketing trend that grew out of the pandemic and is here to stay with its proven patient satisfaction. It allows people, especially those most vulnerable, to obtain an early-stage diagnosis, prevent illness, seek early treatment intervention, and obtain and renew medications so that health equity is within the grasp of everyone.

Telehealth iPads are available for private telehealth appointments for South Amboy Library cardholders. Just make a reservation to ensure a time slot.  Contact the library at 732-721-6060 or comments@dowdell.org. Additional information about this state program can be found online at www.njstatelibr.org/njhealthconnect.

Library Hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 10 am-8 pm, Wednesday & Friday 10 am-5 pm, and Saturday 12-4 pm. Comments, queries, compliments? Please visit www.dowdell.org, or contact the Library at 732-721-6060 or comments@dowdell.org. The library is located off John O’Leary Blvd, adjacent to South Amboy Middle High School.