NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Vanderbilt Offers Buprenorphine Treatment to Address Opioid Addiction and Provides Community Support in Staten Island
NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Vanderbilt Offers Buprenorphine Treatment to Address Opioid Addiction and Provides Community Support in Staten Island
Sep 14, 2023
Gotham Health, Vanderbilt Buprenorphine Clinic staff: Alexander Ling, MD, Attending Physician and Jennifer Yepez, RN, Assistant Director of Nursing/Buprenorphine
NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health, Vanderbilt today announced the opening of a Buprenorphine Clinic, which will provide comprehensive treatment for individuals with addiction to opioids, which includes substances such as heroin, fentanyl and oxycodone. Buprenorphine is incredibly safe and highly effective medication that can reduce the cravings and withdrawal symptoms of opioids as well as substantially reduce the risk of an opioid overdose and death. The Buprenorphine Clinic will prescribe buprenorphine as part of a holistic approach to healing and long-term recovery. The evidence-based program is designed to address the underlying causes of addiction and help patients recover, and it is available to all qualified New Yorkers regardless of ability to pay or immigration status. Currently, Staten Island has the 2nd highest rate of overdoses in the five boroughs. The Buprenorphine Clinic is funded by the NYC Health Department.
“The Buprenorphine program at Gotham Health, Vanderbilt offers evidence-based care and individualized treatment plans to provide our patients the best possible outcomes,” said Gotham Health Chief Executive Officer Michelle Lewis.
“Buprenorphine is a critical and proven tool to address and treat opioid use disorder, and part of our all-hands-on-deck strategy to fight rising overdoses in New York City,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan. “Clinics like these, which integrate medication assisted therapy into primary care in highly-impacted communities, are key to meeting our city’s goal to reduce overdose deaths. Everyone who wants treatment deserves stigma-free access.”
“We are committed to address the opioid epidemic by providing on-site support within our community health centers. This includes individual counseling along with medication assisted therapy, and care management, aligning with standard of care for the treatment of Opioid Use Disorder,” said Gotham Health Chief Nursing Officer Lawanda Curry. “Our Nurse Care Manager offers patients guidance, education, and consistent monitoring. Our program empowers patients to achieve sustainable long-term recovery.”
The Buprenorphine Clinic at Gotham Health, Vanderbilt includes the following key components:
- Buprenorphine Treatment: Buprenorphine is an evidence based medication that treats opioid use disorder (OUD), it works as a maintenance treatment with a long duration of action and high safety profile.
- Nurse Care Manager: The Nurse Care Manager plays a pivotal role in coordinating personalized care plans for patients and collaborates with providers to assist the patient through the enrollment process and home-induction process.
- Guidance and Education: Social services on site assist in providing care to patients and families and helping them gain a better understanding of their condition and treatment options.
Patients seeking to enroll in the Buprenorphine Clinic at Gotham Health, Vanderbilt may schedule an appointment by calling 1-844-NYC-4-NYC, or by being seen as a walk-in patient. Gotham Health, Vanderbilt is located at 165 Vanderbilt Ave, Staten Island, NY 10304. The clinic is open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM, Tuesday, 8:30 AM – 7:00 PM.
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MEDIA CONTACT: 212-238-7766; Nash.Dunlap@nychhc.org
About NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health
NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health is a Federally Qualified Healthcare Provider formed in 2012 to enable individuals and families to address their health care needs in their own neighborhoods. Serving more than 100,000 New Yorkers annually in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, Staten Island, and Queens, Gotham Health consists of 38 healthcare sites in all five boroughs of New York City. Gotham Health provides easy-to-access, high-quality, affordable health care services with a focus on primary care. It is committed to promoting healthy lifestyles and building healthy communities, with a focus upon providing patients and families convenient access to high-quality preventive care, such as annual check-ups and immunizations. Health care teams are trained to help patients manage ongoing conditions, such as hypertension, diabetes, asthma, and heart disease.
About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest public health care system in the nation serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city’s five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system’s trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlus health plan—all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 43,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.