Stamford, Connecticut – Testing.com, a trusted informational guide for medical lab testing and at-home screening, has recognized Anchor Health among the best STD community testing centers in Stamford, Connecticut. Testing.com experts reviewed several local community organizations that provide access to testing, treatment, and prevention services. The top five testing providers were selected based on accessibility, affordability, and professionalism.

Anchor Health and other facilities on the list deliver convenient and confidential services for patients who do not have access to private health care or have concerns about visiting their primary doctor. The study also prioritized providers that accept major insurance plans and offer free or low-cost testing for patients without insurance. Many community testing centers support programs with sexual and reproductive health education.

Testing.com conducted the study to increase awareness about community-based STD testing centers in Stamford. The online guide is a valuable resource and was designed to help people make informed decisions about testing options. To access the complete review and list of the best STD community testing centers in Stamford, Connecticut, please visit testing.com/std-testing/stamford-ct.

About Anchor Health

Anchor Health is Connecticut’s leading health center focused on embracing and promoting the health and wellbeing of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and gender nonconforming individuals through compassionate, comprehensive, and evidence-based care in a safe, welcoming, and affirming space. Established in 2016, Anchor Health now sees more than 2,500 patients across two full-service clinics and over 50% are transgender and gender nonconforming. Anchor Health’s services include primary and preventative care, Gender & Life-Affirming Medicine (GLAM), HIV prevention and treatment, comprehensive STI testing, behavioral health care, and more. It is health care for queer people by queer people.

To learn more, visit anchorhealthct.org.

About Testing.com

Testing.com is a trusted guide for lab and at-home testing information and resources. The online platform was launched in 2018 to help educate consumers about various lab tests and health screenings. Testing.com uses comprehensive, data-driven research to deliver content that includes articles on common conditions/diseases, current lab test and at-home screening options, medical testing fees and more. The site is produced by a team of experts that work with healthcare professionals to review and provide the most accurate and up-to-date lab testing information. To learn more, visit testing.com.

Contact

Name: Michael DeWolfe
Email: mdewolfe@ahicorp.org
Phone: 203-903-8308
Media kit: anchorhealthct.org/media-kit

The post Anchor Health Named Best STD Testing Facility in Stamford by Testing.com appeared first on Anchor Health CT.

We at Anchor Health are incredibly devastated by the attacks on LGBTQ youth by lawmakers in states across the country, including the passing of the “Don’t Say Gay or Trans” bill and “Stop WOKE Act” in Florida, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott declaring gender-affirming care as “child abuse,” and Idaho proposing a ban on gender-affirming care for trans youth.

On April 24, the Florida House of Representatives passed the “Don’t Say Gay or Trans” bill (HB 1557/SB 1834) and the “Stop WOKE Act” (HB 7/SB 148).

If enacted, the “Don’t Say Gay or Trans” bill will limit any discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third-grade classrooms and allow parents to sue schools that oppose the ruling. This bill will keep teachers from providing a safe classroom for their students and open up already vulnerable LGBTQ youth to attacks and danger. As of March 8, the Florida Senate passed this bill, which means Gov. Ron DeSantis will either sign or veto it.

The “Stop WOKE Act” is also going to the Florida Senate for consideration. This bill will limit protected speech in workplaces and classrooms around topics of gender, sexuality, systemic racism, and discrimination. It will allow employees to file discrimination claims against employers who hold training or discussions about LGBTQ issues, Black history, and other aspects of marginalization and injustice.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is directing the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to investigate gender-affirming care for youth in the state. Supported by state Attorney General Ken Paxton, Gov. Abbott has declared gender-affirming care as “child abuse” under Texas law. Anyone reported to be practicing and supporting gender-affirming care for youth faces criminal charges.

On March 8, the Idaho House of Representatives approved legislation that makes it a felony to provide gender-affirming care to trans youth. The bill, HB 675, will make it a crime, punishable by life in prison, not only to provide gender-affirming care but to provide permission for a minor to receive it, or to permit a minor to travel out of state to receive it. This bill now heads to the Idaho Senate.

2022 is set to surpass any year in history in anti-trans legislation intended to counteract the progression made on the state and national levels toward trans equality.

So far, there are 266 proposed anti-LGBTQ bills across our nation’s state legislatures, with 125 directly targeting trans youth and adults.

We are at a critical and dangerous time in history. If signed into law, these hateful attacks will propel increased censorship, stigma, and erasure of LGBTQ people and communities of color. These attacks are extreme, deliberate, political, and aim to turn back decades of LGBTQ progress. The recent debates around state laws restricting trans rights have directly led to adverse effects on mental health in a reported 85% of trans youth.

To LGBTQ youth, please don’t give up hope. You are loved, and you are perfect just the way you are. We will continue to fight alongside you. Please reach out for support if you need it.

We are not going anywhere.

Signed,
Anchor Health

The post Anchor Health Statement on States Attacking LGBTQ Youth appeared first on Anchor Health CT.

Hi! We’re pumped to announce that Anchor Health has a refreshed look and new website. Don’t worry. We’re still the same LGBTQ health center you love—just now, we look the part. As we continue to grow, we want to share our changes and the reasons behind them.

Why the change?

It was overdue. When A.C. Demidont, DO, AAHIVS, founded Anchor Health in 2016, all she had was a laptop, a cellphone, a stethoscope, and a vision of empowering queer people in all aspects of their lives. Our focus was on providing high-quality and LGBTQ-affirming patient care. We didn’t have the resources to establish our brand. All our growth came through the power of community and word-of-mouth.

Last year, we came together as a team and decided that it was time to invest in ourselves. We set out to create a stunning, cohesive, and inclusive brand to accompany our patient care.

It’s time to build for the future.

So, what’s different?

We’ve refined the Anchor Health brand with updates to our name, logos, colors, descriptions, imagery, and more. We’ve also launched a new website.

Name

We’re just Anchor Health now. It’s nice to meet you! 👋

We no longer use “Anchor Health Initiative.” Since our founding in 2016, we have grown significantly. “Initiative” didn’t feel like the right fit anymore. Our name now reflects our role as Connecticut’s leading LGBTQ health center. It also positions us for the future.

Logo

We have simplified our logo to tie in with our name update. The pink to blue gradient represents fluidity, creativity, and queerness.

Colors

Our primary brand colors are Break Free Blue and Purple Menace.

We use functional colors like black, grey, and white to accompany our brand colors.

And accent colors give us creative flexibility.

Messaging

We’ve updated how we talk about Anchor Health to better reflect who we are and what services we offer.

Description

Use this as your go-to description when you need to provide a brief overview about Anchor Health.

Anchor Health is Connecticut’s leading health center for the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) community. We bring groundbreaking, radically inclusive, gender-affirming, and sex-positive care to every patient who walks through our doors. Established in 2016, we now see more than 2,500 patients across two full-service clinics and over 50% are transgender and gender nonconforming. Our services include primary and preventative care, Gender & Life-Affirming Medicine (GLAM), HIV prevention and treatment, comprehensive STI testing, behavioral health care, and more. We are health care for queer people by queer people.

To learn more, visit anchorhealthct.org.

Taglines

Our taglines communicate our identity, purpose, and values.

Health care for queer people by queer people.

Groundbreaking, radically inclusive, gender-affirming, and sex-positive care.

Connecticut’s leading LGBTQ health center.

Website

Our new website URL is anchorhealthct.org.

Over the past year, we’ve been working hard to create a website that better reflects our community and services, improves navigation and accessibility, and creates a space to share resources and uplift the community.

Highlights:

• UserWay’s Web Accessibility Widget is available in the lower right corner of most pages
• In-depth accessibility information
• Helpful FAQs to answer your burning questions
• Our history
• Updated services information
• Patient forms to get a head start on your paperwork
• Feedback form to submit compliments, complaints, and concerns
• Resources available through our blog

And more! Take a look around and let us know what you think.

What’s next?

We’re excited to go into this new chapter of Anchor Health with you. Stay tuned as we roll out additional updates, website features, and more throughout the next few months.

For media inquiries, please email Michael DeWolfe, Head of Communications & Events, or send us a message. We’d love to hear from you!

Shout outs

This project was a huge team effort. It would’ve been impossible to do without a lot of collaboration, creativity, feedback, and patience. Thank you to Touch The Road for bringing our website to life. 

The post The Refreshed Anchor Health ✨ appeared first on Anchor Health CT.

In-house behavioral health services are now available!

LGBTQ communities have faced unprecedented stress, trauma, and insolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. We’re here to help. Our behavioral health program is trauma-informed and experienced in the unique needs of queer people.

Our behavioral health services include psychiatric assessment, medication management, and letters for gender-affirming surgeries and procedures. These are available to Anchor Health patients ages 5 years and older. In-person and telemedicine visits are available in both offices.

Melissa Strauss, APRN, PMHNP-BC, is launching these services as the newest member of our team! Melissa is a family psychiatric nurse practitioner with extensive experience in attachment, mood, and trauma disorders, along with ADHD, anxiety, OCD, and schizophrenia.

If you are a current patient seeking behavioral health services, please call 203-903-8308 or send us a MyChart message. You can also request a consultation through your medical provider during your next visit.

If you are not a current patient, your first step is to establish medical care. You can request an appointment online and we’ll contact you within 1-2 business days with your next steps. You can also call 203-903-8308 for assistance over the phone.

If you have any questions, please contact us.

The post Introducing Behavioral Health Services appeared first on Anchor Health CT.

Research shows that the most reported STDs in New Haven are chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. Chlamydia is the most common STD in New Haven, with an infection rate in 2018 of 554.1 per 100,000 people, according to data produced by the CDC. While not as common as chlamydia, according to information provided by the Connecticut Department of Health, gonorrhea infections grew by 97% between 2014 and 2018. Although overall infection rates are lower than other STDs, the incidence of early and latent syphilis, together with primary and secondary syphilis, more than doubled in Connecticut over the 10 years between 2009 and 2018. In response to this public health crisis, it’s critical that local organizations offer the community free and low-cost resources to help prevent the spread of STDs.

Testing.com’s report aims to educate the public about the current health crisis and encourage people in the community to reach out to local organizations for testing and treatment options.

About Anchor Health Initiative

Anchor Health Initiative is a health care provider offering medical services to everyone in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community with particular expertise in the area of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, and transgender medicine. The mission of Anchor Health Initiative is to embrace and promote the health and well-being of LGBTQ individuals and others living in our communities by providing compassionate, comprehensive, and evidence-based medical care in a safe, welcoming, and non-judgmental environment.

About Testing.com

Testing.com is a trusted guide for lab and at-home testing information and resources. The online platform was launched in 2018 to help educate consumers about various lab tests and health screenings. Testing.com uses comprehensive, data-driven research to deliver content that includes articles on common conditions/diseases, current lab test and at-home screening options, medical testing fees and more. The site is produced by a team of experts that work with healthcare professionals to review and provide the most accurate and up-to-date lab testing information. To learn more, visit www.testing.com.

Contact

Email: info@ahicorp.org
Phone: 203-903-8308

The post AHI Awarded Best STD Testing Community Organization In New Haven, CT appeared first on Anchor Health CT.

As Connecticut’s first out nonbinary doctor, Dr. Eckert founded the GLAM Center in 2018 with the goal of creating a practice focused on trauma-informed care and safe space for the LGBTQ community. They decided to specialize in LGBTQ health after completing their education at Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine and residency at NEOMEN/Maine Dartmouth Family Medicine Program.

Dr. Eckert provides primary and preventative care, PrEP/PEP, osteopathic manipulation treatment, and gender-affirming services (including hormone therapy and puberty blockers). They are board-certified in family medicine.

“I am thrilled to be joining with Anchor Health Initiative. As a queer person in medicine, I am fulfilling a dream and I feel honored to be in a position to provide gender-affirming care to my LGBTQ family. I will continue to work hard to support and uplift our communities,” Dr. Eckert commented.

Dr. Eckert will lead AHI’s GLAM Center as its medical director effective September 1, 2020. All patients of AHI’s GLAM Center will have access to its expanded programming and services, including in-person or telehealth appointments with Dr. Eckert, in-office blood draws, expanded primary care services, access to case management services (including updating gender ID documents, transportation to medical appointments, insurance and affordable health care resources, etc.), and more.

Dr. Eckert will join AHI’s established team of providers to provide care to our growing patient population. AHI has been providing health care services to the LGBTQ community since it was founded in 2016 and now services more than 1,500 patients with over 50% identifying as trans or gender nonconforming. From humble beginnings, AHI now boasts two offices and an in-house pharmacy.

A.C. Demidont, DO, AAHIVS, AHI’s cofounder, said, “I am so thrilled that Dr. AJ Eckert is joining the AHI team. I founded AHI with the goal of creating a full-service health care organization for our community with an emphasis on trans care. I know that Dr. Eckert is a fantastic physician with a history of doing the work that AHI was built upon. I look forward to seeing them continue that crucial work and to see where they will take us.”

Mike Crisp, chair of AHI’s board, commented, “The combination of these two health care companies that serve the primary and specialty health care needs of the LGBTQ community is a transformational event. Dr. Eckert is the right person to help the combined organization expand our ability to serve the transgender community in Connecticut and the broader region.”

About Anchor Health Initiative

Anchor Health Initiative is a health care provider offering medical services to everyone in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community with particular expertise in the area of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, and transgender medicine. The mission of Anchor Health Initiative is to embrace and promote the health and well-being of LGBTQ individuals and others living in our communities by providing compassionate, comprehensive, and evidence-based medical care in a safe, welcoming, and non-judgmental environment.

Contact

Email: info@ahicorp.org 
Phone: 203-903-8308

The post AHI Announces Merger With GLAM Center appeared first on Anchor Health CT.

About Anchor Health Initiative

Anchor Health Initiative is a health care provider offering medical services to everyone in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community with particular expertise in the area of HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, and transgender medicine. The mission of Anchor Health Initiative is to embrace and promote the health and well-being of LGBTQ individuals and others living in our communities by providing compassionate, comprehensive, and evidence-based medical care in a safe, welcoming, and non-judgmental environment.

Contact

Contact 
Email: info@ahicorp.org
Phone: 203-903-8308

The post AHI Announces Departure of Chief Medical Officer and Cofounder appeared first on Anchor Health CT.