Denise Croken, NP, CARN-NP, with former Codman staff member Pooja Raval, MC, and Raphael Apter, LMHC.
This winter, Codman staff joined forces with the National Aids Education and Training Center to host a full-day conference in Boston titled “35 Years of HIV and SUD Lessons Learned and Shared Experiences.” The conference was organized and kicked off by Codman’s Dr. Jonathan Pincus, MD, who has worked in HIV care for more than 25 years.
“When I started working with HIV patients in the 90s, they faced serious stigma, complex treatment needs, housing issues, and other challenges,” says Dr. Pincus “We are seeing patients with addiction facing many of those same issues, so we believe there is great value in getting those involved together to talk about what we’ve learned and the best ways to move forward.”
At the conference, experts in the fields gathered together and shared information, broke into discussion groups, and heard from experts in topics such as community engagement, peer/patient engagement, legal support, and more. Like HIV, harm reduction practices in addiction use can save lives, and providers see that up close.
In addition to Dr. Pincus’ contributions, Codman’s Ian Huntington, MD, and Denise Croken, NP, spoke about advanced clinical issues in substance use health and wellness. They presented on a cutting-edge treatment that is a long-acting injectable for opioid disorder. Instead of a pill every day, patients can get an injection once a month. “Codman was one of the first community health centers in the state to offer this injectable, so we were happy to share our experiences,” says Denise Croken, MSN, NP, CARN-NP, a substance use health and wellness nurse practitioner.
/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/logo.png00codman/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/logo.pngcodman2020-05-04 20:22:582020-05-06 12:41:22Codman Co-Hosts Conference on HIV and Substance Use Disorder: Lessons Learned
Desiree Otenti, MSN, MPH, recently joined Codman’s Board of Directors and brings with her advanced practice nursing experience, deep knowledge of vulnerable populations, and management and insurance expertise. Her unique experience and perspective will be a valuable addition to the board, which is comprised of patients, community members, and experts in the health care field.
Otenti studied biology in college, but it was an early experience that drove her to want to help others. She recalls when she was 8 years old her father, born in India, took her on a trip to visit family in his home country. While shocked by the poverty in general, she was particularly moved by an elderly man sitting in the hot sun begging for money. Her father wondered aloud why no one helped move the man to the shade. Desiree remembered thinking “Why don’t we help him?” That memory and the feeling of wanting to help people in need remains with her today.Once she graduated, she decided to combine her passion for science with her life-long desire to help people.
Desiree continued her education and became a nurse practitioner. She started to practice at our fellow community health center – Boston Health Care for the Homeless. Here she gained a lot of medical experience, and also got to know a very vulnerable population of patients. She later went back to school to study Public Health, focusing on policy and management. “I realized that helping patients one-on-one was meaningful, but using the knowledge I gained from patient care to help create patient-centered policies would be more impactful. I wanted to help a population of people all at once,” she says.
She has served as the director of case management at Boston Health Care for the Homeless, and eventually became a senior clinical manager at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts where she is now their senior director of medical policy. “It’s been eye opening to see the health care system from this bigger-picture view. Health care resources are limited, so it’s increasingly important to make sure the right patients are getting the right treatments that will actually improve their health outcomes.”
In this current role, Desiree oversees the review of medical literature that examines which new medical devices, drugs, and procedures are most effective for which patients. With that information, BCBSMA can create criteria about which patients receive certain services. “We look at the studies product manufacturers conduct to get FDA approval and ask – does this study prove that this device actually makes the patient have a better health outcome?” she says.
Desiree also volunteers for BCBS’s Women’s Inclusion Network. As a past president, she continues to organize programs and events for the female BCBS staff.
In the summer of 2019, Desiree learned about the opportunity to serve on the Board of Directors of Codman, and was happy to become a part of team Codman. “Between my ongoing work as a nurse practitioner taking care of vulnerable patients and my work on the payer side, I have a unique perspective of the health care field – the forest and the trees,” she says. “I hope to use this knowledge to help continue to position CSHC as a leader in the heaLth care industry, not only as a model for other community health centers, but as a beacon for the industry as a whole. CSHC has a holistic view of health that goes beyond the stethoscope and clinic door, which complements her talents..
Desiree says that she is still trying to learn as much as possible about the health center, its staff, board, and aspirations. She is committed to working with Codman in its role of keeping the community healthy. She says she doesn’t think that the current status quo of health care delivery does that, but is impressed with Codman’s work thus far in making positive change.
“CSHC has a history of exploring outside of the box ways to bring health and wellness beyond the clinic doors. I want to continue to explore new models of care delivery, new ideas around what actually makes a community healthy, and new partnerships to deepen CSHC’s impact for the people we serve.”
As soon as Annette Bartley heard about the opportunity to become a DotRx coach, she knew that it was something she wanted to do. Bartley, a Codman patient , knew that as someone who struggled to get healthy and succeed with lifestyle changes, she wanted to help others do the same.
Bartley was one of the first coaches , in Codman’s DotRx healthy prescription program and loves it. DotRx is a no-cost, prescription-based program for Dorchester residents who are patients at Codman. With the support of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Ma and our community partners The Daily Table, Healthworks, Outdoors Rx and the Dorchester YMCA, our providers write “prescriptions with the goal to connect families to experiences that promote healthier lives, including opportunities to eat healthy, get outside, and be active. A key component to the program is that patients are connected with a peer coach – a resident from our community who can help them eat healthier and engage in more activity – outdoors and indoors.
Bartley, now in her second year, finds helping families rewarding and fun. She recollected that her first DotRx family was introduced to the program by their Codman provider. prescribed DotRx because their 12-year-old was struggling with weight issues. Bartley reached out to the family and met them at Franklin Park for a walk, through the Outdoors Rx program.
While the youth was reluctant at first, Bartley stressed “try everything once and see if you like it,” and the boy ended up having a good time while he got some exercise. Another day they went to the Roxbury Y so the mom could take a Zumba class and the son could play basketball.
She has inspired several families with her gentle but persistent outreach, and keeps up with them by texting frequently, asking them to shoot a quick picture of them being active or enjoying a healthy meal, and generally giving support and advice. She also shares her own journey with DotRx patients, texting back photos of herself being active.
She reads a lot of health information and talks with friends who are fitness enthusiasts. “Even though we are not experts in everything, people see that you lost weight and will do the same things you did,” Annette says.
At one point, in her life, Bartley struggled to lose weight. As a high school swimmer, getting to the YMCA to swim for exercise was a natural step. However, when swimming alone wasn’t accomplishing what she wanted, she knew she needed to add something new to her fitness routine. She realized it was challenging to step into the gym and to try something new, but she put herself out there and encourages DotRx families to do the same.
When it comes to healthy eating, Annette sings the praises of The Daily Table, a low-cost grocery store in Codman’s Health and Wellness Center at 450 Washington St. Dorchester, whose mission is to sell healthy and tasty food at fast food prices.
“You can have a ‘hungry horror’ day and go into Daily Table and grab a quick, healthy, and affordable snack. How much damage can you do at Daily Table? Most of their products are healthy,” she says. She gives clients tips based on her own experience there, such as going in at night and buying two salads – one for dinner and one for lunch the next day.
When she talks about exercise, she talks about the Dorchester YMCA pool for families, and was thrilled to see one client who had a particularly difficult time because of pain and inflammation do well in the pool. “She couldn’t believe what she could do in the water that she couldn’t do on land — squats, kicks, jumping jacks.” She also talks about the benefits of working out at healthworks Fitness at 450 Washington Street. Annette stressed that having a coach is what got this particular client to try the pool in the first place.
Bartley, like the other DotRx coaches, has a full-time job. She knows the challenges of making time for a healthy lifestyle when your schedule is tight. She has had a lot of success with the clients she has worked in the program, and loves being able to work with members of her community and show them the resources they have here in the neighborhood.
/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/logo.png00codman/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/logo.pngcodman2020-05-04 19:42:082020-05-06 12:41:22After Struggling to Get Healthy, This DotRx Coach Now Helps Others
On Dec. 30th, Boston Medical Center opened the BMC Pharmacy at Codman Square Health Center, BMC’s first offsite pharmacy. The pharmacy, located on the ground floor of the Health Center, has dramatically improved service, as it offers a seamless link between BMC and Codman’s electronic medical records. Many of Codman’s patients are also patients at BMC.
BMC Pharmacists are nationally certified, in addition to being registered health providers with the commonwealth. In addition, the pharmacy has added a new state-of-the-art automation device, as well as other technology upgrades.
The BMC Pharmacy at Codman easily accesses interpreters in 240 languages so that patients can communicate in the language in which they feel most comfortable. Patients can also use the mobile app called Pocket Rx, where they can check their profile and request refills without having to make any phone calls. (The app is available at on iTunes, or Google Play.)
/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/logo.png00competenow/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/logo.pngcompetenow2018-04-04 21:47:102020-05-06 12:41:22Boston Medical Center Opens Pharmacy at Codman Square Health Center
-HIV/STI Screening: Monday – Friday 10 am – 3:30 pm
-PrEP/PEP Navigation: Monday – Friday 10 am – 3:30 pm
-COVID-19 Vaccination: Tuesday & Thursday 10 am – 3 pm
-Substance use screening and referral: Monday – Friday 10 am – 3:30 pm
157 Washington Street, Dorchester, MA – WCAC (Women Connecting Affecting Change)
-HIV/STI Screening: Monday – Friday 10 am – 3:30 pm
-PrEP/PEP Navigation: Monday – Friday 10 am – 3:30 pm
-COVID-19 Testing: Monday & Wednesday 11 am – 3 pm
-Substance Use Screening and Referral: Monday – Friday 10 am – 3:30 pm
Services offered: MAC offers testing for HIV, hepatitis C, and sexually transmitted infections at no cost to clients. We provide prevention counseling and education, navigation to medical care if needed, and access to PrEP. A wide range of services for People Living with HIV are available, including peer support, case management, and access to pharmacy delivery or pick-up.
-HIV/STI screening
-HIV/HCV Nonmedical Case Management
-HIV Health Education/Risk Reduction
-COVID-19 PCR Testing
-COVID-19 Vaccination
-Health System Navigation
Insurance: Services provided at no cost to clients. Most insurances accepted patients without insurance can still be seen.
Loving our Trans Kids
Are you the parent of a Trans child?
This support group aims to provide parental support. We’ll tackle questions about gender development, navigating the transition process, developing healthy and respectful communication, and advocating for your child.
Who: Parents of Trans, non-binary, and gender-questioning individuals
Where: Online via Zoom (Call or email for the Zoom link)
Are you part of the LGBTQ+ community? Are you a community ally? Are you age 14 – 19?
Codman Square Health Center’s LGBTQ+ support group offers youth a safe space where you can express your feelings and thoughts, and create ideas and projects that you feel passionate about.
Where: Codman Square Health Center (637 Washington St., Dorchester), 3rd Floor Multi-purpose Room.
Program:Project SHINE: HIV/STI Testing & Treatment Coordination, PrEP Navigation, Community-based Prevention, HIV Medical Care Coordination, Linkage and Retention, Medical Case Management, Behavioral Health
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 am – 5 pm. Testing by appointment only on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, 8:30 am – 3:30 pm
Services offered:Project SHINE offers confidential HIV/STI testing and treatment. Prescribe PrEP and provide navigation. Provide HIV medical care, medical case management, linkage to care, peer support and behavioral health to patients who test positive for HIV.
Insurance: HIV/STI testing is free for all patients with or without insurance. The person does not need to be a patient of EBNHC for HIV/STI testing at Project SHINE. Uninsured patients who want to take PrEP or test positive for HIV will be helped in accessing Masshealth/Healthconnector. Uninsured patients that test positive for a bacterial STI can be linked to BMC or MGH for treatment. EBNHC accepts several insurances. Patients interested in PrEP at EBNHC/Project SHINE and have primary care elsewhere are encouraged to check with their insurance provider if EBNHC/Project SHINE is in network and if the patient will need a referral from their PCP (for those with HMOs).
Please note that times for the clinic are subject to change.
Walk-in appointments are accepted and will be seen the next available time slot that the center can offer.
Type of appointments: Virtual, Walk-in, Scheduled appointments
Testing Services: PrEP
PEP
Hep C/Hep B
HIV
STD
Plan B
Additional Services: Safety planning
Sexual Health Education
Transgender Health Care Safety Planning
Peer Groups
Free condoms, lube, and sexual health supplies
HIV Case Management
Future Services: Mobile Testing
Outreach
Home Testing Kits
Sexual Health Chat with Zariah (teens and young adults)
Living with HIV Peer Connect
Harm Reduction
Canned Food Bags/Pantry
HIV Wellness Group
Insurance: We accept most health insurance, including the following:
Aetna
BMC Health Net
BMC-BACO -Community Alliance
MassHealth limited/basic and Standard
Harvard Pilgrim
Health Safety Net
Tufts
Tufts Together
United Health Plan
Medicare
Cigna
BlueCross BlueShield
Unicare
AARP
Senior Whole Health
Health Plans
Children Medical Security Plan
Allways-NHP
Please contact us if you have insurance that is not listed above.
DotHouse Health
1353 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester, MA, 02122
We Keep You Well
Testing: Patients can receive HIV testing during routine visits to their primary care provider. You can also be tested on a walk-in basis in our Urgent Care Department which is open 7 days a week. You should receive your results within 30-45 minutes.
HIV testing is billed to your insurance. If you are uninsured, our financial counselors will help you apply for insurance or explore other options.
HIV PrEP: We offer education, counseling, and medication management to prevent HIV infection to those at risk. DotHouse primary care patients can speak with their primary care provider if they’re interested in PrEP. Urgent care patients who do not have a primary care provider can speak to their attending provider, who will help them determine options, including establishing care with us.
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI): DHH provides comprehensive care for patients at risk or diagnosed with STIs. Care can be accessed in primary care or at our urgent care center.
HIV treatment and supportive services: People living with HIV can access comprehensive HIV treatment and services with the DotHouse infectious disease team. Services include case management assistance with insurance, treatment adherence, risk reduction, income and food support, housing, legal issues, and referrals to psychosocial services.
Contact:
To schedule an appointment, please call the Appointments Line at 617-740-2320.
For information on testing services, please call 617-288-3230 and ask to be connected to the Urgent Care Reception Desk.
For information about treatment and case management for people living with HIV, please call 617-740-2584.
Location: 637 Washington St., Dorchester, MA 02124
Hours:
Monday: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm
Tuesday: 8:30 am – 7 pm
Wednesday: 8:30 am – 4:30 pm (Express only)
Thursday: 8:30 am – 4 pm; 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Friday: 1 -5 pm
Saturday: 9 am – 1 pm
Services offered: The X-Clinic offers patients counseling, testing, and treatment for sexually transmitted infections. Patients can access services through telehealth or in-person (walk-in or appointment). We are LGBTQ+ friendly, and have the newest and fastest testing equipment. We are proud to be a safe space, culturally competent, and have multi-lingual staff. The X-Clinic can get you your STI test results on your phone in as little as a few hours, though some results can take up to a couple of days. The X-Clinic offers: Same-day PrEP, Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP), Emergency Contraception/Plan B, testing for teenagers (visits and results are completely confidential), testing and treatment regardless of citizenship status, on-site or at-home HIV tests.
Insurance: The X-Clinic accepts all insurances. If you do not have insurance, Codman can help you apply for health insurance for you and your family. Visit our website or call 617-822-8162.
Harbor Health
Name of programs: Recovery services THRIVE Clinic PrEP Navigation
PrEP/PEP for primary care patients
HIV treatment, care, and support
Contact information: HIV Services website
Recovery services: 617-282-3200
THRIVE Clinic: 617-533-2228
PrEP Navigation: 617-533-2319
HIV treatment, care, support: 617-533-2318
Hours and locations: Please visit our website or call for up-to-date hours.
Services offered: At Harbor Health, we offer HIV prevention, treatment, and support services to make sure everyone can get the care they need. Our THRIVE clinic offers free and confidential rapid testing, risk counseling and prevention education, and free safer sex supplies. Our PrEP Navigation services are free and open to anyone who needs assistance connecting to PrEP. We also offer care, treatment, and support services to help people living with HIV lead a healthy life.
Insurance: Harbor Health serves everyone, regardless of ability to pay or insurance status. You do not have to have insurance to receive care and support services. Our HIV Rapid Testing and PrEP Navigation Services are offered free of charge and no insurance is required. For medical services, we accept most insurances including MassHealth and Health Safety Net. We can help you apply for insurance and programs to help with the cost of a prescription. We also offer a sliding fee scale for services and discounts based on income and family size.
New England AIDS Education & Training Center Program
The New England AIDS Education and Training Center (NEAETC) provides HIV/AIDS education, consultation, technical assistance, and resource materials to health care professionals. The MA Regional Partner (MARP) is a member of the Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) Steering Committee, working with stakeholders in Suffolk County to support workforce capacity development and provide technical assistance. The MARP has also been awarded additional funding to increase screening, prescribing, and management of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Non-Occupational Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (nPEP) among, but not limited to, People Who Inject Drugs (PWIDs) and Trans/Non-Binary individuals, as well as overall expansion of same-day PrEP/nPEP access in Suffolk County.
Care that Fits You is an education and awareness initiative of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s (MDPH) Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences (BIDLS). The initiative is designed to inform gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men about the most effective HIV prevention options as well as related health topics and services. This website features current information about gay men’s health and includes links to medical and community resources. Learn more about MDPH.
JRI Health | Justice Resource Institute | Boston GLASS
Contact: Text or call 978-604-6937 to set up an appointment for HIV/STI testing and PrEP. Find us on Instragram @boston_glass
Location: 555 Amory Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02135
Hours: Appointments available Monday-Friday 10 am – 6 pm
Services offered: Boston GLASS is a program of JRI Health offering a dynamic, welcoming drop-in center for LGBTQ+ Youth of Color ages 13-29 to receive supportive social and clinical services that cultivate a sense of belonging. The program serves LGBTQ+ Youth of Color who are at risk for HIV/STIs, substance use, homelessness, violence, commercial sexual exploitation, family disruption and lack of access to healthcare.
Insurance: Insurance accepted, but not required (all testing and PrEP services are free)