"Did You Get Your Vaccine?" The Answer Is Yes
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SUMMER 2021
“Did You Get
Your Vaccine?”
The Answer Is Yes
When Americares Free Clinics staff began
receiving the COVID-19 vaccine in December
2020, they each took another shot – a photo
of themselves, proudly showing off their
bandaged arms. “Did you get your vaccine?”
one patient asked Muguette Maignan, clinic
The wait is over: In a partnership with the city of Bridgeport, Americares Free
director of Americares Free Clinic of Stamford, Clinics patients received COVID-19 vaccinations at the clinic in April 2021.
when he saw her image posted in an exam
The Free Clinics’ close ties to each of the four communities in
room. “Well then, I’m going to get it too.” Fairfield County were critical. “We participated in weekly
meetings with the departments of health and the hospitals,”
Posters and conversations were just one way Americares Free says Gottlieb. “The success was due to the community.”
Clinics made vaccinations easy and possible for their patients. Clinics staff also directed patients to free testing sites.
Free clinics staff knew that in early 2021, patients faced many
barriers on their way to vaccination. Connecticut’s Vaccine Free Clinics’ staff let the Danbury health department know
Administration Management System (VAMS) required access about the success of the Stamford no-barriers system and the
to the internet and a computer or smart phone as well as city created its own, with vaccination clinics in Rodgers Park
literacy in English and the ability to navigate an online form. and other locations. Danbury clinic staff called patients and
close to 200 patients received protective shots. In Norwalk,
When Stamford Hospital created a no-barriers vaccine clinic, staff contacted 380 patients to schedule them at Norwalk
it reserved slots for Americares Free Clinics patients, Community Health Center and the Department of Health.
and staff began phoning patients. “We called every active In Bridgeport, more than 230 patients received vaccinations,
Stamford patient and more than 250 were scheduled,” says including 91 at the Americares Free Clinic building, opened
Karen Gottlieb. “It set the stage for everyone to realize how on a Sunday for a vaccination event hosted by Bridgeport
important it was to meet the patients where they were in Department of Health staff and volunteers.
terms of accessing the vaccine.” When the age range
expanded, the clinic also scheduled patients’ friends and By combining staff
families. “We were able to help a community larger than
We got our vaccine! vaccinations with patient
our patients,” Gottlieb says.
We hope you will, too. education and support for
¡Nosotros ya nos vacunamos, testing and vaccination,
esperamos que usted también Americares Free Clinics
se vacune!
helped protect their patients
during the pandemic
and reduce the spread
of COVID-19 in the
communities they serve.
Staff turned their own vaccination selfies into posters
that encouraged patients to also get the shot.
Americares Free Clinics staff guided patients through the vaccination
process — including receiving their all-important vaccination card. SUMMER 2021 | americaresfreeclinics.org
Electronic Health Records Deliver
From the
Executive Director
Is it over yet?
COVID-19 is the pandemic we were warned
about, and for too many people — including
my Americares colleagues in other states
and countries — the outbreak continues.
Jennifer DaSilva, Clinic Director of the Fred Weisman Free Clinic staff in Bridgeport, uses the telephone
But here in Fairfield County, vaccination and video conferencing to meet patients’ needs during the pandemic.
rates are high, which protects the population,
and we can begin to take a look back at When the COVID-19 pandemic reached The electronic health record used by
our pandemic year. Here are critical steps Fairfield County, the Fred Weisman Americares Free Clinics also allows
we took to save lives and keep our
Americares Free Clinic of Bridgeport was providers to email or text message select
community safe.
just months away from switching from groups of patients. During the peak of
• We closed our doors but didn’t stop paper to an electronic health record. the COVID-19 pandemic in Connecticut,
services. Stopping the flow of traffic in our Director of Clinical Operations Janet Yon Americares Free Clinics staff used the
clinics helped protect staff and patients quickly realized that EHR would be critical messaging service to alert patients to the
from the coronavirus. for patients and staff during the pandemic, availability of COVID tests and vaccines.
and launching the system became an
• We provided care for those affected by urgent priority. “COVID brought the clinics together, and
COVID-19. For patients with COVID-19 the electronic health record further united
symptoms, we provided thermometers,
masks and more; for those few who were Working under strict COVID-19 safety us,” says Yon. “I’m chomping at the bit
hospitalized, we acted as advocates. protocols, the Bridgeport team scanned to set up learning collaboratives for the
hundreds of patient records — including clinics, once each is on the platform.
• We pivoted to telehealth and learned a lot. test results, lab records and provider notes Each month, we can have staff and
For some patients, care is better on a video — and, in April 2020, the clinic’s EHR volunteers listen to guest speakers and
chat — it’s more convenient and of equal launched. Bridgeport staff then shared share knowledge — we won’t just train
quality. So, like many health care providers,
their skills and knowledge with staff at the staff how to use the electronic health
we will keep telehealth in our arsenal of
patient services. other Americares Free Clinics and now, record. We’ll keep educating ourselves
Boehringer Ingelheim Americares Free and stay current.”
• We partnered throughout the community Clinic of Danbury also has an EHR, and
to be efficient and effective. To keep our the Bob Macauley Free Clinic of Norwalk’s
patients safe and well, we connected them EHR is due to launch in fall of 2021.
with testing and vaccination services in The Stamford clinic has always used an
their communities, which are also our
communities. These connections to local electronic health record.
hospitals and departments of health run
deep and are critical. Electronic health records feature more than
just digital records of a patient’s medical
Most important was you: You made care. Americares Free Clinics providers can
everything possible – whether you’re a
schedule telehealth appointments on the
volunteer, donor, partner or staff member.
Your support for Americares Free Clinics platform — and exchange messages with
played an essential role in keeping this other staff about patient records in real time.
community safe. Patients benefit: Americares Free Clinics
specialty providers can meet with patients Director of Clinical Operations Janet Yon followed
From the bottom of my heart, thank you. from clinics other than the one clinic where protocols – wearing a mask and contacting
patients and staff by telephone — during the
they traditionally volunteer. pandemic.
Karen Gottlieb 2 | SUMMER 2021 | americaresfreeclinics.org
Clinics Welcome Volunteers
When the COVID-19 pandemic reached Fairfield County,
Americares Free Clinics made a rapid pivot to telehealth. To
keep patients, staff and volunteers safe, the Clinics transitioned
appointments to phone calls and video chats. Small and
efficient teams — buoyed by just a few volunteer providers and
interpreters — kept the clinics open and treating patients.
Volunteers are the heart of Americares Free Clinics. Skilled
volunteers provide medical care to and interpret for the clinics’
nearly 3,000 patients. By early July in Fairfield County, nearly
80 percent of people age 18 and over had received at least one
vaccine shot, and clinic staff began to welcome volunteers back
into the clinics.
“We’re slowly bringing volunteers back in person,” says Director
of Volunteer Services and Community Outreach Terri McCartney. Volunteer Pat Porio, RN, and Gail Banigan, Norwalk clinic patient
care coordinator, enjoyed a moment together at the 2019 Americares
“Our volunteers missed being in the clinics, and our patients volunteer celebration.
missed having them there. The one-on-one connection patients
have with In-person volunteer doctors, nurses and interpreters If you’re interested in volunteering with Americares Free Clinics,
at the clinic serves to strengthen the patient experience.” please visit americaresfreeclinics.org.
With Your Support: A Camera That Saves Eyesight
Quality diabetes care includes retina screening: Diabetes can damage the retina, and annual eye screenings are critical to prevent
partial vision loss or blindness. More than 400 Americares Free Clinics patients have diabetes and need regular eye exams.
The Free Clinics recently purchased four Welch Allyn RetinaVue cameras, which make screenings available at all four Free Clinics
— an ophthalmologist need not be present. Trained clinics staff use the camera, capture the image and send it electronically to a
volunteer ophthalmologist for analysis. The results appear in each patient’s electronic health record automatically — saving time
and ensuring quality, current medical records.
For 10 years, Dr. Arnold Pearlstone provided ophthalmologic exams; his passing in 2020 left a gap.
Just after training, staff demonstrated the Welch Allyn RetinaVue camera, This new technology will provide access to quality eye care to patients with
which transmits the patient’s eye exam results to a volunteer ophthalmologist diabetes at all four Americares clinics.
for analysis.
SUMMER 2021| americaresfreeclinics.org | 3
Non-Profit
Non-Profit Org.
Org.
U.S.
U.S. Postage
Postage
PAID
PAID
AmeriCares
AmeriCares
Headquarters
Headquarters
88
88 Hamilton
Hamilton Avenue
Avenue
Stamford,
Stamford, CT
CT 06902
06902
203.658.9500
203.658.9500
americaresfreeclinics.org
americaresfreeclinics.org
Fred
Fred Weisman
Weisman Americares
Americares Free
Free Clinic
Clinic
115
115 Highland
Highland Avenue
Avenue
Bridgeport,
Bridgeport, CT
CT 06604
06604
203.333.9175
203.333.9175
Boehringer
Boehringer Ingelheim
Ingelheim Americares
Americares Free
Free Clinic
Clinic
76
76 West
West Street
Street
Danbury,
Danbury, CT
CT 06810
06810
203.748.6188
203.748.6188
Bob
Bob Macauley
Macauley Americares
Americares Free
Free Clinic
Clinic
98
98 South
South Main
Main Street
Street
Norwalk,
Norwalk, CT
CT 06854
06854
203.899.2493
203.899.2493
Americares
Americares Free
Free Clinic
Clinic of
of Stamford
Stamford
401
401 Shippan
Shippan Avenue
Avenue
Stamford,
Stamford, CT
CT 06902
06902
203.658.9507
203.658.9507
“For Us, Health Is Life”
AACOVID-19
Patient’s
Patient’s Story:
Story: Kenny Kenny
left a deep scar on Ana* and Matteo’s lives: Ana’s
AAyear
year ago,
ago, Kenny
stepfather Kenny was
wasthe
died from without
without aa home
disease. home or
or aa job.
“He kept job. But
Butthat
saying he
he did
did have
his have anan appointment
appointment at at the
the Fred
Fred
Weisman
Weisman Americares
insuranceAmericares Free
didn’t coverFree Clinic
Clinic of
everything, of Bridgeport
Bridgeport
and –– aaexpensive,”
it was too date
date that
that saved
saved his
his life.
life. Just
Just days
days before
before
his
his appointment,
appointment,
says Ana. Kenny’s
Kenny’s vanvan had
had been
been stolen.
stolen. Kenny
Kenny had
had been
been living
living in
in his
his van,
van, soso when
when itit
disappeared,
disappeared, soso did
did his
his home,
home, hishis mechanic’s
mechanic’s tools
tools and,
and, perhaps
perhaps most
most critically,
critically, his
his insulin,
insulin,
the
the medicine
medicine
There werehe
he needs
needs
other to
to stay
losses, stay
too:alive.
alive.
Both Ana and Matteo became
unemployed
After
After Patient
Patient Carebecause
Care of the pandemic.
Coordinator
Coordinator Karina With their
Karina Rodriguez
Rodriguez two teenage
noticed
noticed Kenny
Kenny waswas quiet
quiet and
and withdrawn
withdrawn
children,
during
during his the coupleKenny
his check-up,
check-up, followed
Kenny toldprotocols
told Rodriguez
Rodriguez to about
stay
aboutsafe,
the even
the loss ashis
loss of
of his van.
van.As
As well
well as
as providing
providing
they wondered
primary
primary care, about their
care,Americares
Americares Free
Free future. “Itstaff
Clinic
Clinic wasconnect
staff a really patients
connect hard situation,”
patients to
to services
services for
for which
which they
they are
are
says
eligible,Ana.
eligible, and The couple
and Rodriguez married
Rodriguez did
did just and
just that, immigrated
that, contacting from Guatemala
contacting Bridgeport’s
Bridgeport’s Homeless
Homeless Outreach
OutreachTeam.
Team.
more than 10 years ago and have been part of the Bridgeport
Kenny
Kenny hadn’t
hadn’t always
always been
been without
without means.
means.AAskilled
skilled auto
auto mechanic,
community ever since. That includes being patients at the Fred
mechanic, Kenny
Kenny immigrated
immigrated from
from “I
“I receive
receive veryvery
Trinidad
Trinidad to
to the
the United
United States
States 30
30 years
years ago
ago and,
and, after
after managing
managing aa successful
successful repair
repair shop
shop in
in
Weisman Americares Free Clinic of Bridgeport.
New
NewYork,
York, bought
bought aa building
building in
in Bridgeport
Bridgeport to
to relocate
relocate his
his business.
business. good
good care care here—
here—
All
All“We
along,
along,
wereKenny
Kenny
already had
hadresearching
been
been working
working with
withto
where an
ango
immigration
immigration lawyer
lawyer to
to get the vaccine to attain
attain legal
legal status.
status. ButBut when
when there
there are are no no
Kenny
Kenny
whenfirst
first
theused
used
clinichishis new
new social
called,” socialMatteo.
says security
security card,
card,always
“They he
he learned
learned
havethethe
us number
number was
in was bogus.
bogus. Kenny’s
Kenny’s
mistakes
mistakes and and
calls
calls to
to his
his lawyer
lawyer went
went unanswered
unanswered and
and he
he realized
realized
mind — not just in terms of health care, but in our lives as well.” he
he had
had been
been scammed
scammed out
out of
of his
his entire
entire
savings.
savings.
The coupleWhen
When the
the building
received building
both he’d
he’d purchased
shots purchased in
in Bridgeport
Bridgeport
from the Bridgeport turned
turned out
Department out to
to be
be unusable
unusable for for aa everyone
everyone cares. cares.
repair
repair shop,
shop,atKenny
of Health
freelance
freelance repair
Kenny was
was bankrupt
the Americares
repair jobs.
jobs.
bankrupt
Freeand
and forced
forced
Clinic to
to live
live in
in Bridgeport. in his
his van,
van, using
using his
his tools
tools to
to pick
pick upup
II am
am happy.
happy.
vaccination was also my birthday,” says Matteo. “I felt like it was
Being
Now,
Now, vaccinated
helped
helped by
by the has delivered
the Homeless
Homeless many benefits.
Outreach
Outreach Team
Team staff, “It gave
staff, Kenny
Kenny me hasthean
has truly a divine
an apartment.
apartment. He gift to receive it. It’s aGood
He continues
continues Good people
people
new opportunity – to be at
to opportunity
to receive
receive care to
care at have a job
atAmericares again,”
Americares Free says
Free Clinic.Ana,
Clinic. And who
And he
immunization for her new job at a deli. And Matteo is now
needed
he isis very the
very thankful
thankful for peace,
for the enjoy
the connections
connections the family and see
really
really do
an
do exist.”
opportunity
exist.”
for the future.”
Americares
Americares Free
Free Clinics
Clinics staff
staff made
made on on his
his behalf.
behalf. “I“I receive
receive very
very good
good care
care here—there
here—there areare
noworking
no asand
mistakes
mistakes a landscaper
and everyone and
everyone treesays
cares,”
cares,” trimmer.
says Kenny.
Kenny.“The day helped
“They
“They of my me
helped me find “It may
find food,
food, soundaalike
clothing,
clothing, a cliché,” says
house—
house— Ana. “But
––Bridgeport
Bridgeport forpatient
clinic
clinic us, health
patient Kennyis life.”
Kenny
everything.
everything. II am
am happy.
happy. Good
Good people
people really
really do
do exist.”
exist.” *names changed for privacy
44 americaresfreeclinics.org
americaresfreeclinics.org
4 | SUMMER 2021 | americaresfreeclinics.org
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