SIGNATURE HEALTH FREE
Another important part of the care team are the onsite clinical pharmacists that converse with patients about their prescribed medications and assist with identifying reduced or free payment sources, while providing education and guidance along the way. Regardless of insurance status, when new patients visit us for treatment, they receive all of the basic elements of care at their first consultation – including labs and scans.” With many patients walking in without insurance, financial counselors are available to evaluate situations and help identify available resources, including Medicaid eligibility and other options. Sarah Hoehnen, Medical Director of Infectious Disease at Signature Health shares, “Patient unawareness of infection is one of the greatest obstacles to treatment. For some, hepatitis C is a short-term illness, but for most that become infected with the virus, it becomes a long-term, chronic infection. According to the CDC, hepatitis C is spread through contact with blood from an infected person with most people infected by sharing needles or other equipment used to prepare and inject drugs. One of the most common screenings done is for hepatitis C, a liver infection caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Patients may face barriers to comprehensive health care due to negative experiences, social stigma and discrimination, transportation issues, lack of safe spaces, and many others. Those seeking addiction recovery and mental health support have a link to infectious disease care but are often reluctant to seek out medical treatment for various reasons. Signature Health is committed to creating an environment that treats the whole person. This collaboration is reflective of the proactive steps Signature Health is taking to increase and improve patient care outcomes across Lakewood and other Northeast Ohio communities.Ī non-profit, Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Signature Health provides mental health, addiction recovery, primary care, and infectious disease services while aiming to eliminate health disparities. In addition to the Lakewood facility, Signature Health has seven care locations throughout Northeast Ohio serving patients regardless of ability to pay.
Despite her anxiety, the flexibility of the medical team at that moment in time resulted in immediate care and the treatment needed to manage her hepatitis C ─ with medications facilitated by an onsite pharmacist and follow-up appointments scheduled via telehealth for continued ease.
With the help and support of the infectious disease team, the patient expeditiously received basic elements of care including lab work and a FibroScan all at the same Lakewood facility. As she entered, a poster promoting hepatitis C screening services was a quick reminder of her own diagnosis and the fact that she had yet to pursue any medical care. On a recent day, an individual accessing behavioral health services visited Signature Health Lakewood.
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