press releases Archives - Anchor Health CT

Anchor Health Named Best STD Testing Facility in Stamford by Testing.com

Anchor Health — Tue, 27 Sep 2022 15:28:42 +0000

The community-based health center was ranked among providers with affordable care and confidential services.

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

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AHI Awarded Best STD Testing Community Organization In New Haven, CT

Anchor Health — Thu, 09 Sep 2021 09:00:00 +0000

Connecticut – Testing.com, a trusted informational guide for medical lab testing and at-home screening, has recognized Anchor Health Initiative as one of the best community-based organizations in New Haven for providing vital services, such as free or low-cost STD testing and treatment, to fight the growing STD epidemic.

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

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.

AHI Announces Merger With GLAM Center

Anchor Health — Wed, 19 Aug 2020 09:00:00 +0000

Connecticut – Anchor Health Initiative Corp (“Anchor Health Initiative” or “AHI”) announced today it is combining with the Gender & Life-Affirming Medicine (GLAM) Center, a Hartford-based LGBTQ health center founded by AJ Eckert, DO, to become Connecticut’s only trans-led LGBTQ medical center. Anchor Health Initiative’s GLAM Center is excited to continue setting the standard of care for transgender, genderqueer, and nonbinary communities across the state.

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

Contact

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

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

AHI Announces Departure of Chief Medical Officer and Cofounder

Anchor Health — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 09:00:00 +0000

Connecticut – Anchor Health Initiative Corp (“Anchor Health Initiative” or “AHI”) announced today that A.C. Demidont, DO, AAHIVS, is stepping down from her role as Chief Medical Officer (CMO) effective January 27, 2020. She is transitioning out of patient care to pursue career opportunities in advancing HIV prevention across New England. Dr. Demidont will join AHI’s Board of Directors to oversee its mission. She will also be a volunteer consultant for AHI’s care team, which includes medical providers, managers, and support staff.

Dr. Demidont commented, “It has been an honor to be a part of the foundation of Anchor Health Initiative—an organization setting the standard for LGBTQ-affirming health care in Connecticut. Although I will no longer provide patient care, I assure you that my presence and spirit will be alive at AHI.

It has not been an easy decision to no longer serve in a direct role with staff and patients, many of whom I have known for years, but this is something I need to do to preserve my faculties so I can continue advocating for LGBTQ health care. I will be moving into a position that allows me to focus on HIV prevention efforts across New England.

To all my patients, thank you so much for your ongoing support. Because of you, AHI has grown from me working in a closet in New Haven to a fully-fledged health care agency with two locations, 1,400 patients, and a diverse staff of over twenty individuals who proudly reflect the communities that we serve.

By continuing your care at AHI, you are ensuring that the energy and passion I founded this organization with stays here.”

Anchor Health Initiative will be working closely with Dr. Demidont in the coming weeks to find a suitable candidate for CMO.

About Anchor Health Initiative

Contact

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

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