Depression Screenings

Depression is a type of behavioral health problem that often goes unrecognized and untreated.  Depression is a major cause of disability among adults in the United States.  It affects individuals and as a result, their families.  Screening can lead to early diagnosis and treatment.

Screening refers to medical professionals asking about symptoms of depression, even when patients do not mention them.  Depression symptoms include feeling sad, hopelessness, fatigue, loss of interest in activities, and inability to concentrate.  It is common for depression to occur without physical symptoms.  Because of that it is difficult for health care professionals to be able to diagnose unless asked directly.

SCREENING METHODS

Several questionnaires are used to screen for depression.  The most commonly used in the primary care setting are patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) and the Becks Depression Inventory.  These consist of between 2 to 9 questions and require only a few minutes to complete.

WHO SHOULD BE SCREENED

The US Preventive Health task Force currently recommends depression screening for all adults older than 18 years of age, including pregnant women and new mothers as well as elderly adults.  Extensive research has shown that there is significant patient benefit to diagnosis and treatment of depression.

TREATING DEPRESSION

There are many effective ways to treat depression including counseling, cognitive behavior therapy, medication and a combination of these approaches.  Your provider and the behavioral health team at AbsoluteCARE are equipped to address and treat this issue. Call 404.231.4431 to schedule an appointment.

AbsoluteCARE’s New Pride

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 30, 2015

Contact: Dr. Joel Rosenstock

(404) 231-4431

jrosenstock@absolutecarehealth.com

 

AbsoluteCARE’s New Pride

 

(Atlanta, GA) After 20 years, Pride Medical is closing its doors, but AbsoluteCARE is opening theirs to all of Pride’s patients and many of their caregivers and staff.

 

For two decades, Pride Medical has been a fixture in the LGBT community and has been, in fact, synonymous with gay men’s health. But it’s likely that only the Pride name will be missed. The patients they have served so well—along with the compassionate people who served them—will have a new home at AbsoluteCARE just four miles away.

 

There is literally Pride in AbsoluteCARE. Dr. Amy Swartz and Terry Hackworth, FP, along with about six full-time staff members, will join the AbsoluteCARE team led by Medical Director Dr. Joel Rosenstock, who founded the full-service Medical Center and Pharmacy in 2000 to care for a struggling and underserved HIV population in Atlanta.

 

“I’ve been working in Atlanta serving this population for 26 years,” says Dr. Rosenstock, “and I think the combination of Pride Medical with AbsoluteCARE is the most exciting thing to happen in a long time. Both medical centers have provided compassionate and innovative care for many years, but together they will be able to accomplish much more. The AbsoluteCARE of the future will test more clients, identify and engage many more people in care, assist with behavioral health, impact social determinants of disease, and improve the health of Atlantans for years to come.”

 

About the new caregivers:

Dr. Amy Swartz earned her medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia and did her residency at Emory University. She served as attending physician at Pride for the last 14 years and was a senior medical associate at the Grady Infectious Disease Center for 10 years before that. She is Board Certified from the American Board of Internal Medicine and is certified in HIV care by the American Academy of HIV Medicine. She’s a member of the American Medical Association, the Southern Medical Association, and the Medical Association of Georgia.

 

Terry Hackworth is an adult nurse practitioner. He diagnoses and helps patients manage acute and chronic illness, working both independently and collaboratively with other caregivers. He earned his bachelor’s degree in nursing from Morehead State University, his MBA from the University of Phoenix, and his Masters of Science in Nursing at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where he specialized in adult/gerontological care.

 

AbsoluteCARE Medical Center and Pharmacy, established in 2000, has developed an innovative, superior model of care.  This NCQA level III accredited Patient Centered Medical Home uses care managers, dietitians, social workers, integrated behavioral health services, pharmacists, and educators along with a superb caregiver team to serve its patients.  As one of Georgia’s largest providers for insured patients with HIV, AbsoluteCARE also serves as a chronic care center for those with multiple chronic comorbid conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, COPD, hypertension,  and more.  AbsoluteCARE also features an on-site reference laboratory, infusion services, and Georgia’s largest single-site, independent pharmacy.  AbsoluteCARE is located in Buckhead, Atlanta.

 

# # #

The Pneumococcal Vaccination

-The pneumococcal vaccination can prevent severe illness and death from pneumococcal disease.

-Pneumococcal disease refers to any infection caused by bacteria called streptococcus pneumoniae.  These bacteria commonly effect the lungs, causing pneumonia, as well as affecting the sinuses, ears and upper respiratory tract.  Pneumococcal disease is not usually severe, but for some it can be a life threatening infection involving the brain, bloodstream, and lungs.  This is called invasive pneumococcal disease and can be prevented with vaccination.

-There are two types of pneumococcal vaccines (23-valent & 13-valent vaccine).  All children under the age of 5 years should receive 13-valent vaccine.  Adults over the age of 65 should receive both types of vaccine but not at the same time.  Healthy adults between ages of 9 to 65 years of age do not need vaccination.

-Adults with long-term health problems should also receive the vaccines.  People with heart disease, lung disease, HIV, people who have had surgical removal of their spleen, and those with some types of cancer are good candidates for the vaccinations.

-Talk to your healthcare provider at your next visit to determine if you are a candidate for this vaccination.

Do you Have Advance Directives in Place?

Do you have advance directives in place to help your family and doctors respect your health care wishes? If not, please check out this information, provided by Dr. Stahura, and contact us at 404.231.4431 to schedule an appointment for assistance with creating your advance directives.

-Advance directives help your family and doctors respect your health care wishes.

-Advance directives are written instructions you prepare to guide your medical care. They apply in situations such as a terminal illness or severe injury that render you unable to make decisions about your medical care.

-One common directive is a living will. In a living will you define what medical treatments you do or do not want for yourself. Another directive is medical power of attorney. This involves choosing someone you trust to make decisions about your medical care if you are unable.

-Advance directives are not legally binding. A healthcare provider can refuse to honor your advance directives on moral or religious basis or if the care you request is not medically appropriate. Talking with your healthcare provider ahead of time will help prevent these situations from occurring.

-Advance directives are appropriate for everyone. They are not solely for the elderly or very sick. Young adults who become suddenly ill or injured will be placing loved ones in difficult situations if they do not have advance directives in place. Knowing what type of care you want for yourself will make the decisions they face much easier.

-In preparing advance directives, determine what your healthcare goals and values are if you are seriously ill. Talk to your family and doctors.

-The social services department at AbsoluteCARE has prepared the necessary forms and can assist you. Advance directives should be reviewed and updated as your health and life changes.

Advance Directives

-Advance directives help your family and doctors respect your health care wishes.

-Advance directives are written instructions you prepare to guide your medical care. They apply in situations such as a terminal illness or severe injury that render you unable to make decisions about your medical care.

-One common directive is a living will. In a living will you define what medical treatments you do or do not want for yourself. Another directive is medical power of attorney. This involves choosing someone you trust to make decisions about your medical care if you are unable.

-Advance directives are not legally binding. A healthcare provider can refuse to honor your advance directives on moral or religious basis or if the care you request is not medically appropriate. Talking with your healthcare provider ahead of time will help prevent these situations from occurring.

-Advance directives are appropriate for everyone. They are not solely for the elderly or very sick. Young adults who become suddenly ill or injured will be placing loved ones in difficult situations if they do not have advance directives in place. Knowing what type of care you want for yourself will make the decisions they face much easier.

-In preparing advance directives, determine what your healthcare goals and values are if you are seriously ill. Talk to your family and doctors.

-The social services department at AbsoluteCARE has prepared the necessary forms and can assist you. Please call 404.231.4431 to schedule an appointment. Advance directives should be reviewed and updated as your health and life changes.