Email from Zufall Health

New Comprehensive System of HIV Care Comes to Zufall-West Orange

Zufall Health received more than $650,000 from the New Jersey Department of Health to address the HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) epidemic in Essex County, where rates are among the highest in the U.S. Zufall's HIV Services department is implementing a new system of status neutral HIV care at our West Orange facility that includes extended service hours, Spanish language support groups, access to preventive medications, and an increased community presence to encourage testing, provide education, and reduce stigma. The expansion of HIV care coincides with this year's opening of our 15,000-square-foot building in West Orange.

Smiles for Our Heroes Event Returns

Smiles for Our Heroes, an event providing no-cost dental care to military veterans in partnership with Delta Dental, returned in November 2022 after a COVID hiatus. Patients also received refreshments, goodie bags, nutrition education, and a visit from Rep. Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11), a former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot. Beyond this special occasion, Zufall has been able to provide year-round free or low-cost dental care to vets, thanks to additional support from Delta Dental.

How Zufall Primary Care Providers Facilitate Substance Use Recovery

Substance use disorders (SUDs) impact tens of millions of people in the U.S., but most don't get help, largely due to stigma and lack of access. At Zufall, patients can receive whole-person support for SUDs that considers both their primary care and behavioral health needs together. With initiatives like Medication Assisted Treatment and the Maternal Wraparound Program, we acknowledge that providing support for SUDs is just as vital as that for hypertension or diabetes.

Meet Your Provider: Patricia Kao, M.D.

Patricia Kao, M.D., is a pediatrician and the lead physician at Zufall Health's Plainsboro site with extensive experience caring for underserved patients. She considers it both her duty and her honor to create better health outcomes for the children who come to Zufall, many of whom face challenges with housing, food, and health insurance. In her "Meet Your Provider" piece, Kao tells the story of how a arrived baby and his mother thrived in response to the holistic care she and her colleagues provided.

Virtual Conference Draws More Than 300 Learners

Zufall and the New Jersey Department of Health hosted the day-long Fourth Annual Rural Oral Health Conference in November 2022. Themed “Diversity and Inclusion: Addressing the Needs of Marginalized Populations in Rural Communities,” the ROHC provided a close look how rural residents and members of marginalized groups experience barriers to oral health care. The ROHC was held in honor of National Rural Health Day (NRHD), a celebration of rural America’s community-minded spirit and health care providers, and featured speakers from community health centers, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations

Construction Activity to Improve Patient Experience This Year

Our ability to deliver high-quality patient care will be enhanced during the coming year through the completion of a number of new construction, renovation, and expansion projects. In addition to our new West Orange building, we're adding dental facilities to Somerville and Plainsboro and completing significant renovations at our Dover and Morristown sites.

Ask Dr. Bob: How to Find Meaning and Happiness in 2023

The start of the new year encourages many people to look for greater meaning and happiness in their lives. Robert Zufall, M.D., or Dr. Bob, the founder of Zufall, suggests using this time of transition to reflect on what might make you happier. Of course, happiness means different things to different people, but there are a few basic things we all can do to bring some happiness into our lives this year.

"Be Well" is a quarterly publication of Zufall Health.

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