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Direct Service Programs
CARELINK: An HIV/AIDS Care Network of Community Health Centers
Contact: Jessica Chen, Project Coordinator
(215) 567-8001 x3005
jchen@healthfederation.org
CareLink is an HIV/AIDS care network comprised of 15 federally qualified community health center sites. These neighborhood centers provide medical care to predominantly African-American and Hispanic/Latino adults, children and families who experience disproportionately high rates of poverty, homelessness, violence, drug use, STIs, and HIV/AIDS.
The CareLink network model was implemented in 1994 to create an infrastructure to provide comprehensive, integrated HIV/AIDS services in low-income communities whose residents would otherwise face overwhelming barriers to obtaining accessible, culturally sensitive and gender specific care. Services provided to or arranged for patients by primary medical care staff, care coordinators, adherence counselors/nurse educators and care outreach workers include:
- direct provision of primary medical care;
- comprehensive care planning;
- patient education about medications and self-care techniques;
- intensive, patient-focused adherence counseling;
- arrangement for case management services at their own sites or from outside agencies;
- laboratory testing,
- immunizations and medications for uninsured and underinsured patients;
- nutritional supplements and other patient-care resources;
- arrangements for transportation to medical appointments,
- arrangements for home care or hospice care;
- negotiation with insurance companies to secure appropriate benefits;
- referral for provision of mental health care;
- patient support groups; and
- outreach to patients who consistently miss appointments.
The locations of CareLink community health centers are:
Esperanza Health Center 2940 N. Fifth Street Quality Community Health Care QCHC Family Health Center Vaux Family Health Center Meade Family Health Center Finley Family Health Center Cooke Family Health Center Spectrum Health Services |
Broad Street Health Center Delaware Valley Community Health Maria de los Santos Health Center Norristown Regional Health Center The Health Annex ChesPenn Health Services Eastside Medical Center Center for Family Health |