STAR Program Services Expand to Brookdale Hospital

SUNY DOWNSTATE MEDICAL CENTER AND BROOKDALE HOSPITAL EXPAND STAR PROGRAM SERVICES TO INCREASE COMPREHENSIVE CARE FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV AND AIDS

STAR Health Center – Brookdale will combine services from both medical centers for people living with HIV and AIDS

BROOKLYN, NY—SUNY Downstate’s Special Treatment and Research (STAR) Program officially cut the ribbon expanding the STAR Health Center – Brookdale, a primary care clinic for people living with HIV and AIDS. The center, formerly known as the Treatment for Life Center, is a collaborative effort between SUNY Downstate and Brookdale Hospital Medical Center.

“Our role of caring for our neighbors is one that we take seriously-we are committed to keeping our community healthy,” said SUNY Downstate president Wayne J. Riley, M.D. “This is a significant effort in our ongoing partnership with One Brooklyn Health and Brookdale to best serve Brooklyn residents. With the extended grant, we are afforded greater opportunities to expand our services and help more people live longer and healthier lives.”

“Brookdale and One Brooklyn Health are excited about strengthening our relationship with SUNY Downstate and other community partners to provide enhanced care to those we serve,” said Brookdale Medical Center President and CEO and One Brooklyn Health System Chief Operating Officer Dominick Stanzione,

The STAR Health Center – Brookdale was created in partnership between the two medical centers to provide enhanced clinical training, as well as expanded services such as care coordination, home visits, mental health, and substance use counseling at the STAR Health Center – Brookdale.

“By combining the work and expertise of two medical institutions, the STAR Health Center will be able to bring patient-centered, comprehensive care to a population that we know benefits when their providers work together,” said Jack DeHovitz, M.D., and SUNY Distinguished Service Professor who will lead the STAR Health Center – Brookdale. “I am proud to spearhead this new initiative and look forward to improving the health of those living with HIV.”

Established in 1992, the STAR Program is a multidisciplinary care, clinical education, and research program responding to the combined epidemics of HIV, HCV, and substance use in Central Brooklyn. The STAR Program will continue its mission to achieve health equity and create a culture of continuous improvement, integrity, and respect for patients and employees at the STAR Health Center – Brookdale site.

The expansion represents one of 3 new grant awards totaling $7.7 million to expand care coordination, mental health and substance abuse treatment services at the STAR Health Center, its primary care clinic for adults with and at risk for HIV, located at University Hospital of Brooklyn and Brookdale Hospital. The first award of $3.3 million over 2.5 years is from the Ryan White Part A Care Coordination Program for New York City.

This award represents a significant increase in funding that will allow STAR to expand care coordination services to people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) to the STAR Health Center-Brookdale site. The Care Coordination Program re-engages PLWHA who are lost-to-follow up into consistent medical care and self-directed health promotion activities.

The primary strategy is medical case management, which includes assessment, treatment plan development, and regular plan updates. Patient Navigators are key to the program, providing home visits, appointment accompaniment, ongoing support, education, and directly observed therapy, when needed.

For more information on the STAR Program, click here.

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About SUNY Downstate Medical Center

SUNY Downstate Medical Center is the borough’s only academic medical center for health education, research, and patient care, and is a 376-bed facility serving the healthcare needs of Brooklyn’s 2.6 million residents. University Hospital is Downstate’s teaching hospital and is backed by the expertise of an outstanding medical school and the research facilities of a world-class academic center. More than 800 physicians, representing 53 specialties and subspecialties—many of them ranked as tops in their fields—comprise Downstate’s staff.

A regional center for cardiac care, neonatal and high-risk infant services, pediatric dialysis, and transplantation, Downstate also houses a major learning center for children with physical ailments or neurological disorders. In addition to University Hospital, Downstate comprises a College of Medicine, College of Nursing, College of Health-Related Professions, a School of Graduate Studies, a School of Public Health, and a multifaceted biotechnology initiative, including the Downstate Biotechnology Incubator and BioBAT for early-stage and more mature companies, respectively. For more information, visit www.downstate.edu.

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This post was written by Kathleen Russell