Advancing Care - 2024 Issue 3

When Your Computer Is a Real Pain in the Neck

Spending hours looking at a laptop or hunched over a phone could strain more than just your eyes. Frequent headaches, feeling stiff or sore could be the result of “tech neck.”

It’s often associated with using tablets, laptops, videogames and watching TV, but it can also be caused by wearing heavy backpacks, sitting or driving for long periods of time and poor posture. Over time, this can result in pain in the neck, shoulders, arms, low back and even in the jaw.

Read more about treatment for “Tech Neck” pain

How Balance and Lifestyle Enhance the Quality of Your Health

If you’ve ever googled something like, “How to improve my diet,” or “What are the healthiest foods to eat?” then you already understand that food and nutrition play significant roles in determining the quality of our overall health. But how do we make changes to our diets that can truly enhance our lives?

Read more about how healthy eating can improve your medical condition

We Want You – To Volunteer at YNHH!

Yale New Haven Hospital’s Volunteer Services Department welcomes and needs energetic volunteers of all ages and skills on the York Street and Saint Raphael campuses as well as satellite locations. We want you — and your dog, too!

The hospital has numerous volunteer roles to fit individual time schedules, abilities and interests. Volunteers may work directly with patients or behind the scenes and impact nearly every area of the hospital:

• Behind the Scenes: Volunteers assist staff with clerical duties, deliveries and light computer work.
• Customer Service: Volunteers assist patients and visitors in navigating throughout the hospital or providing service to customers in the hospital’s gift shops.
• Integrative Wellness Programs: Reiki, pet therapy and music/arts are a few examples of volunteer programs that enhance the experience of patients, families, staff and the community. Certification and expertise may be required. Currently, there is a particular need for the following:
  • Pet Therapy: Offers patients staying on inpatient floors the opportunity to bond with certified, fully trained therapy dogs. Every therapy dog is accompanied by his or her owner/trainer at all times throughout the visit. All dogs need to be at least one year old and be registered and insured through a national organization such as, but not limited to, Alliance of Therapy Dogs, Pet Partners, LCC K-9 Comfort Dog (a Ministry of Lutheran Church Charities) or Therapy Dogs International. For details, call 203-688-2297.
  • Oasis for Healing volunteers provide relaxation sessions at the patient’s bedside. Volunteers are trained in the Reiki modality (must hold a minimum of Reiki 1 certification), guided imagery and light/healing touch. Volunteers talk to patients prior to their visit about their level of pain, anxiety, sleeplessness, and nausea after which a 10–15-minute relaxation session is conducted.
• Patient Support: Volunteers assist patients and staff in clinics as well as inpatient areas. Assignments may vary between moderate or intense patient support.

Learn more about volunteering at YNHH or fill out the application

Online Scheduling for Blood Draw Appointments at YNHHS Locations

You can now make appointments online to have your blood drawn at 38 Yale New Haven Health outpatient blood draw locations throughout the region, including Connecticut, New York and Rhode Island. Schedule online by searching for a list of locations; those with online scheduling available will have a “book online” button.

You must have a current order for blood or lab testing from your provider. YNHHS blood draw locations will accept orders for other labs such as Quest.

Adults may make their own online appointments and appointments for children ages 1 - 17. Some locations also take appointments for infants under 1 year old (except Darien, Greenwich, Stamford, Rye Brook, Norwalk, Wilton).

If you do not see an appointment available at your desired date and time, you can still walk into a blood draw station without an appointment during business hours.

For more information, call Laboratory Medicine customer service at 1-800-305-3278, Monday - Friday 7 am - 5 pm.

Find a Provider at YNHH

Are you looking for a physician? Call 888-700-6543 or visit our Find a Doctor feature for information on physician specialties, office hours and locations as well as insurance plans accepted. Many of our physician practices offer telehealth video visits for your convenience.

Billing Questions?

Yale New Haven Health offers financial counseling to patients and families. Spanish-speaking counselors are also available. To make an appointment with a financial counselor, call 855-547-4584.