Duffy Doings: Integrated Care During a Crisis

About Us Services Partnerships News Giving

Duffy Health Center is a community leader in caring for those who are experiencing homelessness or at risk for it. For the past several weeks, our team has worked tirelessly to identify and fill the gaps in services needed by those most vulnerable in our community during this crisis.

Read below to learn more about the work we're doing on the front lines while safely maintaining our other programs and integrated health care services. If you'd like to support our work during this critical time, consider making a gift.

Testing for Individuals Experiencing Homelessness


	Medical Director Dr. Rob Baginski and Associate Director of Clinic Operations Margie Burke hold a "Together We Stand" flag with members of the testing team.

For several weeks, Duffy Health Center's medical team has been collaborating closely with the Hyannis Fire Department and nursing staff from Cape Cod Healthcare to perform COVID-19 testing on individuals living in shelter and congregate housing. State Senator Julian Cyr was instrumental in obtaining the tests for this population on Cape Cod.

On Friday May 1st, members of the team performed testing on all guests and staff at St. Joseph House, the adult shelter in Hyannis. Test results came back within 24 hours, and we learned on Saturday May 2nd that 100% of the tests were negative.

Over the course of the past week, residents and staff at Homeless Not Hopeless and Champ Homes have also been tested by the same team. Again, 100% of test results for residents and staff came back negative.

This collaboration and the results are a true testament to the work of so many coming together to protect our most vulnerable neighbors. In particular, St. Joseph House, Homeless Not Hopeless, and Champ Homes have been extremely vigilant in protecting the individuals in their care throughout the pandemic. While we recognize that the work of keeping everyone safe is ongoing, we are happy to know that what's been done is working.

To learn more about this testing program, read this article from the Cape Cod Times.

Daily Breakfast


	Brown bag breakfasts with notes that say, "You are loved. Stay strong!" await pickup.

During the first week of May, Duffy Health Center and Here Now Ministries began a daily program to provide breakfast to those in our community who are unable to access food elsewhere.

This program is another brilliant example of the community collaborations we've seen during this pandemic. Food is being prepared by members of South Congregational Church, First Church Sandwich, UCC and Duffy staff member Nichole Ewing. The Federated Church of Hyannis has offered space for food distribution - individuals walk right up to a window and pick up their meal! Volunteers from the Medical Reserve Corps and members of the Duffy staff are distributing the food each morning.

As with so many of our programs, the offer of something as vital as breakfast gives our Case Managers an opportunity to touch base with individuals who may otherwise be difficult to engage. Many do not have a permanent address, access to the internet, or even a telephone. Duffy and Housing Assistance both have Case Managers available at the Breakfast Program to engage with individuals and assist with client needs, and members of the Barnstable Police Community Impact Team are also available daily to provide support.

We are grateful to all involved in this important program. It's an honor to work alongside you!

Curing Hepatitis C

"It's rewarding to still be able to be there for patients; the fact that we're able to provide this treatment during the pandemic helps us keep an eye toward the future. It gives them hope, and gives us hope too."

- Emily & Shantel, Hepatitis C team members

One of Duffy Health Center's most innovative clinical programs is for the treatment of Hepatitis C (Hep. C). Since 2016, a multi-disciplinary team has provided medical treatment and primary care, wrapped in other services such as nutrition education, harm reduction, mental health support . These s ervices are provided to small cohorts of patients over the course of a12-week long clinical treatment. In all, 151 patients have been cured.

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March, one cohort of patients was in the middle of treatment when Duffy had to limit access to the health center to comply with state mandated closure orders. To continue treating their patients, Nurse Practitioners Su Wasseluk and Carrie Sullivan quickly shifted to telehealth appointments to provide uninterrupted care. Patients are able to pick up their medication at Duffy Health Center, but have otherwise been managing their treatment protocols over the phone.

"An operation that was running seamlessly within the clinic is now being done as a hybrid model between remote and on-site staff," notes Emily Hildebrant, Coordinator of Chronic Disease Management. "These are well-established Duffy patients who are comfortable with our staff and have already had a lot of communication with the team over the phone."

With another cohort of 8 patients slated to begin treatment on May 7, there was some trepidation about the logistics. "At first I was nervous about starting a new cohort during this time," says Shantel Williams, Population Health Coordinator. "I'm glad that Margie [Burke, Associate Director of Clinic Operations] pushed for this, because it's working well and it's rewarding to still be able to be there for our patients, even with everything going on. We really want them to be treated."

Duffy's Hep. C team is already reaching out to members of the next patient cohort to ensure that they are physically and mentally prepared to begin their journey toward a cure later this summer.

You're receiving this email because you have expressed an interest in Duffy Health Center.

Please add cwiseman@duffyhealthcenter.org to your address book so we'll be sure to land in your inbox!

Duffy Health Center | (508) 771-7517
cwiseman@duffyhealthcenter.org | DuffyHealthCenter.org