Having trouble paying your PSE&G bill?
PSE&G representatives will provide information on payment arrangements, reading your meter, collections, and their Customer Service Center on April 20. The Energy Workshop will take place at Guttenbergs Town Hall in Court Chambers on the second floor from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The event is hosted by Mayor Gerald Drasheff, PSE&G, and Town Council in partnership with P.A.C.O. They want to help you understand your PSE&G bill and other energy assistance programs that could help you save money. Applications and information for other programs like PSE&Gs Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Universal Service Fund, State of NJ Weatherization Program, and more will be available at the workshop.
To go over the information, you must bring copies of your Social Security Card, proof of earned and unearned income, deed or lease, current PSE&G bill, and proof of legal U.S. citizenship or Legal Residency Status.
The first 30 people to bring their PSE&G bill will receive an item from PSE&G.
Slow down on Kennedy Boulevard!
Union City Mayor and State Sen. Brian Stack recently publicized a campaign called “Give us a break – slow down” urging residents to use caution and observe 25 m.p.h. limits on local streets, and 15 m.p.h. near schools. In a letter to the community, Stack said the Police Department and commissioners took the pledge to slow down. He says he hopes residents will also.
The Police Department, commissioners, and Stack are working on safety improvements from Fifth to 49th streets on Kennedy Boulevard to ensure that drivers remain at a safe speed.
Stacks letter says that the Police Department issued hundreds of summons for speeding on Kennedy Boulevard.
State said in the letter, “The extra few minutes it takes us to get to our destinations when we do not speed could mean saving a life.”
In the last year, there have been several serious accidents on Kennedy Blvd., including a hit-and-run that killed two local teenagers in March near the Union City/North Bergen border.
New fingerprint ID provides convenient patient registration
HackensackUMC Palisades (formerly Palisades Medical Center) patients can now experience a modern, convenient registration process that protects against identity theft and the creation of duplicate medical records. Using the state-of-the-art system, called SafeChx, patients are now able to register using their fingerprint to instantly secure their medical information.
Enrolling in the system for the first time takes each patient less than 30 seconds. No fingerprints are stored by SafeChx. Instead, SafeChx creates a unique identifier of more than 2,500 characters per person that is used to ensure the right person receives the right care. In follow up visits, registration using SafeChx will take just seconds and provide an additional layer of identity protection.
“We fundamentally believe patient care begins in the waiting room. By providing a better overall experience, HackensackUMC Palisades can provide even better care,” said Sean Lane, Co-Founder and CEO of CrossChx. “Patients should expect this level of protection and efficiency as the new standard of patient care.”
In more than 200 hospitals across the country, CrossChx has found that nearly 14 percent of medical records contain serious identity errors. At the same time, medical identity theft crimes are rising at a rate of 22 percent annually. Hospitals using SafeChx have taken a proactive measure to prevent these risks, which can cause serious adverse effects to patients and lead to millions of dollars in waste, fraud and abuse for the health systems.
HackensackUMC Palisades releases maternity class schedule
HackensackUMC Palisades (formerly Palisades Medical Center) in North Bergen has released a schedule of classes involving childbirth and small children, held for a small fee. To register or for more information, please call Robin Petrick at (201) 295-4823.
Childbirth Education Series, a two-day class, costs $125 per couple if delivering at PMC; $150 if delivering elsewhere. Topics covered include: understanding the labor process, breathing and relaxation techniques to work with your body, the role of the support person, options for pain medications and medical interventions, Caesarean birth, understand your changing body after birth, newborn appearance and procedures after birth. The childbirth education series also includes a tour of Palisades Medical Centers labor and delivery unit. There will be series in May and June.
The hospital also runs newborn baby care classes, breastfeeding classes, sibling preparation, and Friends & Family CPR. For upcoming dates, please call Robin Petrick at (201) 295-4823.
HackensackUMC Palisades (formerly Palisades Medical Center) is located at 7600 River Road in North Bergen.