Programs

Health Education, Patient Advocacy, Medical Outreach

Family Planning, Walk-In Teen Clinic Services

HIV Testing, Primary Care and Prevention Education

Program Overview:

Health Education, Patient Advocacy and Medical Outreach...
Urban Solutions acts as the prevention, education and medical outreach arm of our strategic alliance partner, Health Associates of South Philadelphia/HASP, providing health education and medical outreach services to the practice’s 18,000 adult and pediatric patients, serving another 4,000 patients through specialized clinics and programs, and hosting annual community health events for teens, adults, seniors and men.

Urban Solutions provides nurse educator and patient advocacy services for the HASP patient universe. Services include links to public information, social services, free medication and medical equipment for indigent patients, ongoing educational programs for diabetes, hypertension, nutrition and other topics requested by the patients. Telephone and face-to-face counseling to assist patients in navigating the medical system to secure care and functioning as their patient advocate with external providers and inpatient facilities.

Measurable outcomes include a high retention in care and reduced instances of hospitalization for hypertensive and diabetic patients under long-term care.

Family Planning Services, Walk-In Teen Clinic...
Since 2000, Urban Solutions’ Family Planning Clinic has provided daily, confidential health education, STD testing and treatment access for youth and adults. 90% of at-risk women receive pregnancy prevention counseling and cancer screening. An average of 10% test positive for undiagnosed STDs and are referred to onsite treatment and HIV testing. 90% of clients with STDs show follow-up reduction in infection, demonstrating the effectiveness of the Clinic’s risk reduction-centered counseling approach. Staffed by Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, and Board-Certified internists and pediatricians, the Family Planning Clinic serves over 1,000 patients annually, who are income eligible for clinical services through our Just 4 U Teen Clinic. The Just 4 U Teen Clinic provides confidential walk-in services for adolescents and young adults seeking HIV/STD testing, sexual health education, counseling and referral services. Many patients return for additional medical care and ongoing treatment. These Title-X services are funded and administered by The Family Planning Council.

Health Education for Youth focused on Safe Sexual Behaviors....
Urban Solutions provides a strong outreach and prevention program for African-American youth, focused on sexual health behaviors and healthy decision-making. For nine years, Urban Solutions has built a high level of trust among African American youth city-wide through effective teaching of the Center for Disease Control approved HIV prevention curriculum for young adults Becoming A Responsible Teen (BART). Funded by the Center of Disease Control through The City of Philadelphia Department of Public Health, AIDS Activity Coordinating Office (AACO), this curriculum engages peer educators at seven high schools to help teens foster self-esteem and communication skills to negotiate safer sexual practices and associated behaviors, such as substance use.

Through placement of a Nurse Practitioner/NP-supervised HIV Counselor onsite at South Philadelphia High School funded by The Family Planning Council, Urban Solutions maintains a dedicated presence and safe place within the school for teens to address sexual health matters in confidence. School-based components serve as outreach mechanisms for the Clinic. Thirty percent of youth receiving school-based health education come to the walk-in Teen Clinic for follow-up HIV/STD testing and treatment. The Clinic is also developing a new program to address the growing number of youth sexual abuse issues, which will include a focus on grooming, appropriate appearance, social and sexual behaviors.

In partnership with Citizens Acting Together Can Help (CATCH), a Philadelphia-based mental health provider, Urban Solution sends a team of Board-certified Nurse Practitioner Educators into 5 South Philadelphia elementary schools to teach a comprehensive year-long health education curriculum which is focused on the information needs of the middle school age students. These courses cover “hot topics” such as H1N1, preventing the spread of germs and bacteria, becoming aware of abusive behaviors, understanding HIV and nutrition as a tool to prevent chronic disease. All materials are age appropriate.

HIV/AIDS – Confidential Counseling, Testing and Primary Care......
While offering HIV testing and primary care since its inception, Urban Solutions recognized a heightened need and secured City of Philadelphia Department of Public Health, AIDS Activities Coordinating Office (AACO) funds to launch HIV Primary Care Services in 2002. Since then AACO services have expanded to include Counseling and Rapid Testing, BART, and Early Intervention services in 2008.

Our certified HIV peer counselors conduct community education and outreach services. Onsite we offer walk-in rapid and traditional HIV testing, counseling and referral services, using a CDC-supported risk reduction framework. HIV Medical Case Management services are provided by Action AIDS . HIV Care Outreach services are provided by Philadelphia Health Management Corporation (PHMC). Counselors reflect the client population, creating significant consumer trust. One of our success stories was a former counselor who remains a patient. When he arrived at Urban Solutions he was homeless, addicted, affected by mental health challenges and HIV positive. His condition stabilized owing to Urban Solutions’ effective intervention and training opportunities.

Urban Solutions’ co-location with its primary care affiliate, Health Associates of South Philadelphia, assures that clients diagnosed as HIV positive benefit from immediate referral, confirmatory testing and intake to primary care. All staff physicians are certified to provide HIV primary care. Our internal medicine practice which serves the general public greatly lessens stigma for HIV patients receiving treatment. As such, the program maintains a high retention rate. Patients feel respected and able to maintain their privacy regardless of their economic status or sexual orientation.

Walk-In Services for Family Planning and HIV Primary Care....
One of the features which makes Urban Solutions unique and guarantees immediate access to care for our patients is our daily walk-in services for Family Planning and HIV Primary Care. Medical Providers are assigned daily coverage to see Family Planning and HIV Primary Care patients on an emergency basis without an appointment. These services can be accessed without an appointment.

Hospital Affiliations.....
Our adult and pediatric practice is affiliated with The Pennsylvania Hospital of The University of Pennsylvania Health System and Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania (CHOP). This permits our patients to receive inpatient care by the same providers they see on a regular basis for outpatient care.

Other Programs.....
US Cares.....The Board of Urban Solutions maintains an emergency relief fund to assist indigent patients in overcoming financial barriers which prevent their retention in care. A Board committee approves these expenditures based on client eligibility.

Camp Urban Solutions.....Each summer Urban Solutions hosts high school interns with an interest in the health care field. They gain first-hand work experience on meaningful projects (i.e. Electronic Medical Records implementation), obtain training in HIV/AIDS prevention, health education and career opportunities in medicine and public health. This year we hosted interns from St. Joseph’s Preparatory High School, Penn Charter, and The Philadelphia High School for Girls.

Medical Community Education and Outreach....Each year, Urban Solutions sponsors education and networking programs for physicians, nurse practitioners and nurses which focus on front-line public health issues facing the African American community. Topics have included: HIV, diabetes. Coronary artery disease and prostate disease in the African American community. We provide informal round table discussion opportunities for practitioners to enrich their shared learning opportunities based on what they experience on a daily basis in their practices. Expert speakers are supported by pharmaceutical sponsors.

Community Outreach and Education Services.....
Urban Solutions is considered a hub of South Philadelphia community services. We have a patient-led neighborhood council, which is coordinated by the local block captain who is also a patient. All patients have access to onsite counseling and advocacy services to obtain healthcare along with transportation aid, utility bill shut-off support, housing, nutrition and access to free medication programs, career services and counseling. Urban Solutions engages private donors to provide patient and client incentives such as subway tokens, food, promotional give-away items and raffle prizes to encourage clients to seek care and remain compliant. We work with Medicaid companies, pharmaceutical companies and insurance companies to augment services through health education programs. Urban Solutions/HASP is frequently selected as a showcase site by pharmaceutical companies hosting community education and outreach events. Recently, the manufacturers of Flomax hosted a men’s prostate cancer education event, broadly covered by the media, which featured former NBA star Earl “the Pearl” Monroe and Medical Director Dr. Noble Jones.

Organizational Partners and Affiliates....
Urban Solutions has developed numerous collaborative relationships with local service providers. Each partnership is designed to enhance quality health care and related support services to underserved patients, and assure that un-/underinsured individuals receive care entitlement benefits. As an AACO funded agency, it is an active participant in the City of Philadelphia's Continuum of Care for HIV Services which mandates full compliance with federal CDC protocols. In addition, Urban Solutions maintains formal linkages with:

• BEBASHI (Client Recruitment and Prisoner re-entry supports)
• Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia/CHOP (pediatric inpatient services and consulting on complicated cases)
• Gaudenzia House (housing and services for homeless women)
• Intercultural Family Services, Inc. (immigrant medical services)
• ODAAT, Inc./One Day At A Time (addiction and ex-offender services)
• The Partnership/Drexel University (Support for HIV positive pregnant women)
• Pennsylvania Hospital/The University of Pennsylvania Health System (adult inpatient medical care for hospitalized patients)
• Philadelphia Health Management Corporation/PHMC (HIV Care Outreach)
• South Philadelphia High School (HIV early intervention and education)
• The WEDGE (Substance abuse treatment)
• United Way of Southeast Philadelphia - Gifts in Kind Program